Lupita Nyong'o

Actress,

The daughter of Kenyan politician Anyang’ Nyong’o, Lupita Nyong’o left her native Kenya to study film and theater in the United States. After earning her degree from Hampshire College, the multi-talented actress worked on production crews for various American films, including 2005’s The Constant Gardener. She built her name as a reputable screenwriter, director and actress in Kenya for a short stint before returning to the US and enrolling in the Yale School of Drama. Lupita made her feature film debut in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave with a performance that has critics ranking her a front runner for Best Supporting Actress at the 2014 Academy Awards.