That morning, she woke up in London. But tomorrow, it could be New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Paris or Nairobi. Although her family is from the Luo tribe in Kenya, Lupita Nyong’o was born in Mexico City in 1983, the second of five siblings. She grew up in East Africa, even though she holds dual Kenyan and Mexican nationality; speaks Spanish, Swahili, Luo and English, and has lived in the USA for twenty years. When asked where she feels at home, she sighs slightly: “That’s the question I sometimes ask myself. I’ve grown up and lived in so many different places… Today, I don’t think ‘home’ is a place. It’s more a state of mind, perhaps simply the feeling of satisfaction I get from being closer to my family, from completing a dream project… or from getting a good night’s sleep. Home is where I like to be, where I feel comfortable, wherever that may be.“

“Discover F, Art de vivre in full

A citizen of the world, today’s actress and author nevertheless envisaged her career more behind the camera than in front of it. One audition, however, decided her career: for the role of Patsey in the filmTwelve Years a Slave from Steve McQueenproduced by Brad Pittfor which she was chosen from over a thousand candidates. For her performance, she won nineteen awards, including Best Supporting Actress in 2014. Not bad for a debut! A graduate of Yale University’s theater department, she also participated in Star Wars episodes VII and VIII, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, performs in theater, plays Nakia the warrior in the film Black Panther, the character who most resembles her: “Apart from her martial arts skills and her stubborn streak, I can identify with her integrity as a woman and as a human being.“Lupita has also written a children’s book, Sulwe (“star” in Luo), which reached number 1 on the bestseller list of the New York Times.

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The year 2024 was a busy one: presidency of the international jury at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, a role in A Quiet Place: Day One. She also took on the role of executive producer for Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s first feature, Goodbye Julia. She also lent her voice to the main character in DreamWorks’ animated film, The Wild Robotbased on the trilogy of children’s novels by Peter Brown, written and directed by Chris Sanders; and received the CinemaCon Star of the Year award in Las Vegas, recognizing her career and new projects. But above all, last September, this headstrong young woman launched her weekly podcast “Mind Your Own”. An intimate, light-hearted reading of ordinary African stories to comfort homesick people around the world… just like her, when she arrived in the USA to pursue her studies. A podcast that also allows her to contribute to the understanding of African culture.

In a different vein, a few weeks ago Lupita became an “ambassador” for Africa. Chanel“a house whose creations she has long worn and whose founder’s life inspires her: “I was lucky enough to visit her private apartment on rue Cambon. I was fascinated by her collector’s eye and her books. She had a difficult start in life, and yet she achieved so much. I don’t know if she would have recognized herself in this term, but for me, she was a feminist, showing the way for independent women. She always persevered in her undertakings, was attentive to others and generous, qualities I deeply admire..”

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For this intellectual, clothing is much more than an ornament. In 2025, she will make her grand return to the stage as Viola in the summer production of Shakespeare in the ParkTwelfth Night, directed by Tony Award-nominated director Saheem Ali. A role in which she will have to dress and pass herself off as a man. Does appearance lead to role, or is it the other way around? “It’s a symbiotic relationship, never linear. Sometimes, something I understand about the character leads me to a specific garment. Other times, the garment sheds light on some aspect of the role. In general, the costume reveals a lot about the character. Clothes are an expression of an inner story, or at least they can be. They reveal you before you’ve even opened your mouth! That’s why, when I’m working on a character, I’m curious to know what the clothes tell me about him or her. So I can’t wait to discover Viola’s.“

She grew up in Kenya as a little schoolgirl in uniform: “And I liked that: not having to worry about what to wear every day. I never followed trends, I always used clothing as a means of personal expression, in an experimental and joyful way. My mother taught me to dress appropriately for every occasion. I love the fact that Chanel clothes are of such high quality, that they are made to last. Plus, Gabrielle Chanel created her house with a profound intention, an avant-garde vision, a strong DNA. That’s why her creative voice resonates with us to this day..”