Skip to content
MovieCove
Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o

Actor · Born March 1, 1983 (43) · Mexico City, Mexico

Oscar winner · 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards · Primetime Emmy nominee · 4 other major award bodies

Lupita Amondi Nyong'o (born 1 March 1983) is a Kenyan-Mexican actress and author. She began her career in Hollywood as a production assistant. In 2008, she made her acting debut with the short film East River and subsequently returned to Kenya to star in the television series Shuga (2009–2012). In 2009, she wrote, produced and directed the documentary In My Genes. She then pursued a master's degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama. She had her first feature film role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which she received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She became the first Kenyan and Mexican actress to win an Academy Award. She made her Broadway debut as a teenage orphan in the play Eclipsed (2015), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She went on to perform a motion capture role as Maz Kanata in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019) and a lead voice role as Raksha in The Jungle Book (2016). Her career progressed with her role as Nakia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Black Panther (2018) and her starring role in Jordan Peele's critically acclaimed horror film Us (2019). In addition to acting, she supports historic preservation. She is vocal about preventing sexual harassment and working for women's and animal rights. In 2014, she was named the most beautiful woman by People. She has also written a children's book named Sulwe (2019), which became a number-one New York Times Best-Seller. Also in 2019, she narrated the Discovery Channel docu-series Serengeti, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Narrator. She was named among Africa's "50 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes in 2020. Description above is from the Wikipedia article Lupita Nyong'o, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 1, 1983 (43)
From
Mexico City, Mexico
Works as
Actor
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 40 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 17% in 30 days

What are Lupita Nyong'o's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 96th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
20%
Self
20%
Survival
17%
Ideas
13%
Society
12%
Morality
11%
Power
6%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy4 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 4 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 6

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 4 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 5

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Threshold guardian
2 of 13
Mentor
2 of 13
Herald
1 of 13
Shadow
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Hopeful
9
Thrilling
6
Dread
3
Melancholic
7
Other
17

How their films linger

Hopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lupita Nyong'o's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lupita Nyong'o's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

40 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page; 40 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Odyssey(2026)

    as Helen / Clytemnestra

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Twelfth Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Viola

  • The Wild Robot(2024)

    as Roz / Rummage (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • A Quiet Place: Day One(2024)

    as Samira

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Goodbye Julia(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever(2023)

    Show 1 episode · Thanks · as Self - Actress

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever(2022)

    as Nakia

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Human Resources(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Shame Wizard Asha (voice)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The 355(2022)

    as Khadijah Adiyeme

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Super Sema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 19 episodes · as Sema

  • Marvel Studios: Legends(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · as Nakia (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Bookmarks(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Black Is King(2020)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Worlds Beyond Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker(2019)

    as Maz Kanata

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong'o(2019)

    as Host

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Little Monsters(2019)

    as Miss Caroline

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Serengeti(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Us(2019)

    as Adelaide Wilson / Red

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Konbini Vidéo Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • My Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Jack (Part 1) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Giant

  • Black Panther(2018)

    as Nakia

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi(2017)

    as Maz Kanata

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Big Mouth(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Asha (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Star Wars: Forces of Destiny(2017)

    Show 32 episodes · as Maz Kanata (voice)

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Queen of Katwe(2016)

    as Nakku Harriet

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Jungle Book(2016)

    as Raksha (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens(2015)

    as Maz Kanata

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Nature Is Speaking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Flower

  • Non-Stop(2014)

    as Gwen

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • 12 Years a Slave(2013)

    as Patsey

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • In My Genes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer · Publicist · Sound Editor

  • East River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Shuga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ayira

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Viola

  • Lunik Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Miss Universe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Actor

  • Serengeti (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Strawweight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles, 36 of them dated from 1971 to 2026; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

$2.1B worldwide

Highest rated

The Wild Robot (2024)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19712026

Peak 2024 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting37 of 40: 36 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndDirecting1 of 40: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing3 of 40: 1 only producing, 2 with another roleEditing1 of 40: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 40: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting2000s3 · 2 acting · 1 crew2010s18 · acting2020s14 · 12 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 27% of 15 roles
1318

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

an Oscar, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards and 2 other major awards from 13 major nominations, 2014–2022.

WinNomination
  1. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  2. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress
  3. 2019
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  4. 2014
    • Oscar, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 wins
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actress
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Supporting Female

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Lupita Nyong'o's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 79th percentile, the median of all 18; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 81st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 25 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive4
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Black Is King (2020)

99th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Wild Robot (2024)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lupita Nyong'o's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity and alcohol & drugs lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles48–90 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles6–50 · median 17 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles4–81 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles4–42 · median 15 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles48–85 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lupita Nyong'o work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lupita Nyong'o's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Boyega shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles