Last month, I confessed that I want Lupita Nyong’o “on every Hollywood short list [and] swiming in gold doubloons inside a McScrooge-like vault.”
Since her Best Supporting Actress Oscar win six weeks ago, Nyong’o has slowly been realizing my dreams (and I suppose hers too) by scoring a series of small victories as an actress and a beauty icon.
Nyong’o hasn’t lined up any prominent roles yet, but I prefer to think it’s because she’s being choosy. She’s rumored to be lending her voice talents to the live-action/CG remake of The Jungle Book, alongside Scarlett Johansson and Idris Elba. Nyong’o would play Rakcha, the maternal wolf who adopts Mowgli, while Johansson and Elba would portray the villainous python and the tiger, respectively.
Hopefully Nyong’o’s new agency, CAA, can get her in meetings for something more substantial soon.
In the meantime, the actress will be seen on newstands and in magazine ads. The Kenyan-Mexican star made the cover of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful” issue this week. In the quarter-century that People has been in the “most beautiful” game, only two other black women have made the cover, Halle Berry and Beyonce, both of whom are relatively light-skinned. Wall Street Journal columnist Teri Agins said of the cover, “She has African features, she’s dark-skinned with nappy hair. And — she’s beautiful.”
Last month, Nyong’o also became the first black celebrity spokeswoman for Lancome cosmetics.
Previously: Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o Poignantly Discusses “Black Beauty” at Essence Event
