Lupita Nyong'o's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Lupita Nyong'o.

Lupita Nyong'o is a highly acclaimed actress recognized for her exceptional talent and versatility. She has earned prestigious awards, including an Academy Award and a Daytime Emmy Award. She also has received nominations for a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award, highlighting her impactful presence across film and theater.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

2011: Won Herschel Williams Prize

During the 2011-12 academic year, Lupita Nyong'o won the Herschel Williams Prize for acting students with outstanding ability while at Yale School of Drama.

2013: Breakthrough Role in 12 Years a Slave

In 2013, Lupita Nyong'o had her first feature film role as Patsey in Steve McQueen's '12 Years a Slave', receiving critical acclaim.

2013: Cast in 12 Years a Slave

In 2013, Lupita Nyong'o landed her breakthrough role in '12 Years a Slave', receiving widespread critical acclaim and winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

February 2014: Essence Black Women in Hollywood Speech

On 27 February 2014, at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon in Beverly Hills, Lupita Nyong'o delivered a speech on the beauty of Black women and opened up about her teenage insecurities.

2014: Named Most Beautiful Woman

In 2014, Lupita Nyong'o was named the most beautiful woman by People.

October 2015: "Lupita Nyong'o Day" in Harlem

In October 2015, Congressman Charles Rangel and Voza Rivers announced that the day is officially "Lupita Nyong'o Day" in Harlem, New York.

2015: Broadway Debut in Eclipsed

In 2015, Lupita Nyong'o made her Broadway debut in the play 'Eclipsed', receiving a Tony Award nomination.

May 2016: Sardi's Caricature Portrait

In May 2016, Lupita Nyong'o was honoured with a caricature portrait at Sardi's restaurant in New York City for her debut on Broadway.

October 2016: Vogue Cover and Elle Women in Hollywood Awards

In October 2016, Lupita Nyong'o appeared on Vogue′s cover for the third time and was an honouree at the 2016 Elle Women in Hollywood Awards.

2016: Involvement with Mother Health International

In 2016, Lupita Nyong'o was involved with the organisation Mother Health International, which aims to provide relief to women and children in Uganda by creating locally engaged birthing centres. Variety honoured her for her work.

2016: Nomination for Best Virtual Performance

In 2016, Lupita Nyong'o was nominated for Best Virtual Performance at the MTV Movie Awards for her role in Star Wars.

June 2018: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

In June 2018, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced Lupita Nyong'o will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

October 2018: Elle Women in Hollywood Honoree

In October 2018, Lupita Nyong'o became a two-time honouree for Elle magazine's "Women in Hollywood" issue.

2018: Pulitzer Prize for Public Service

In 2018, Nyong'o's op-ed was part of a collection of stories by The New York Times and The New Yorker that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

2019: Publication of Sulwe

In 2019, Lupita Nyong'o made her writing debut with a children's book titled Sulwe, which became a number-one New York Times Best-Seller.

2019: Serengeti Documentary Series

In 2019, Lupita Nyong'o narrated the Discovery Channel documentary series Serengeti, focusing on wildlife in the Serengeti ecosystem. She received an Emmy nomination for her narration and emphasized the importance of African women narrating such documentaries, using her native Kenyan accent.

2019: Hollywood Walk of Fame Honouree

In 2019, Lupita Nyong'o officially became a Hollywood Walk of Fame honouree.

2019: Starred in Little Monsters and Us

In 2019, Lupita Nyong'o starred in 'Little Monsters' and Jordan Peele's 'Us', receiving a Screen Actors Guild nomination for her role in 'Us'.

March 2020: Africa's 50 Most Powerful Women

In March 2020, Lupita Nyong'o appeared on Africa's "50 Most Powerful Women" list by Forbes.

2020: Named One of Africa's Most Powerful Women

In 2020, Lupita Nyong'o was named one of Africa's 50 Most Powerful Women by Forbes.

2020: Awards for Sulwe

In 2020, Sulwe was selected for the Illustrator Honor at the Coretta Scott King Awards and won for Outstanding Literary Work – Children at the 2020 NAACP Image Awards.

2021: Super Sema and Other Projects

In 2021, Lupita Nyong'o partnered with Kukua for YouTube Originals' Super Sema, an animated series where she served as an executive producer and voice actress. She also starred in Romeo y Julieta, a bilingual radio play, and narrated Who Are You, Charlie Brown?. Additionally, she reprised her role in Serengeti and received her second Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2021.