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Lupita Nyong’o offers her perspective on the toxic online criticism faced by the Oscar-winning actress who played Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s film. Odyssey.
In a new profile on deerthe actress was asked about the backlash among right-wing critics who claimed a black actress should not play “the most beautiful woman in the world” in Universal’s big-budget film adaptation of Homer’s classic tale.
First, Nyong’o reminds readers that “this is a mythical story”—not some kind of historical drama, as it is often described.
“I very much support Chris’ intent with it and the version of this story he’s telling,” she said. “Our crew represents the world. I don’t spend my time thinking about defense. The criticism is going to be there whether I’m in it or not. … It’s a great thing to be a part of.” OdysseyBecause it’s so great. It extends to worlds. That’s why the cast is what it is. We are occupying the epic narrative of our time. …I was very honored to be assigned to this role.
Nyong’o also rejected the idea of focusing on the character as “the face that launched 1,000 ships.”
“You can’t perform beauty,” she said. “I want to know who the character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond appearance? That’s the thing about doing such a popular text, which has been studied and interpreted and worked out. The research can be endless. The good thing about working with a writer like Chris is that he’s on the page. The investigation starts with the pages you’re given. That’s what I based it on.”
Backlash hit mainstream media after conservative political commentator W Daily Wire Host Matt Walsh took issue with the casting process on X last week. His post which included a screenshot of Hollywood ReporterTuesday’s report on Nyong’o’s roles in OdysseyIt caught Elon Musk’s attention.
“There is not a single person on the planet who actually believes that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world.’ “But Christopher Nolan knew he would be called a racist if he gave the role of ‘most beautiful woman’ to a white woman,” Walsh wrote. “Nolan is artistically gifted but a coward. He is very afraid to do anything that challenges the spirit of the times even slightly. “Correct,” Musk quickly responded.
“I can’t spend my time thinking about all the people who still don’t like me,” Nyong’o added in the new interview. “You’ll find actors who believe in you, and you’ll keep going. I want to believe that I was built to last.”
