2014 has been a great year for Lupita Nyong’o.
Following her breakout role in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Lupita has been everywhere from photo spreads to red carpets to award shows [taking home every award she’s been nominated for].
Now, the Academy Award winning actress has another accomplishment to add to her already impressive resume – snagging the cover of Vogue.
In the article, Lupita talks about being a Lancôme ambassador, her red carpet style, her child hood and more.
Check out some highlights below:
On being a Lancôme ambassador:
“What I appreciate about all of the ambassadors [currently Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, and Penélope Cruz], is that they are very different, unique women—it’s not about conforming to an already established idea of what is beautiful, and I like that.”
On her life changing following the release of 12 Years a Slave:
“It just feels like the entertainment industry exploded into my life. People who seemed so distant all of a sudden were right in front of me and recognizing me—before I recognized them!”
“I remember after the SAG awards, I arrived late one night at the airport and they [paparazzi] were everywhere. For a split second I looked behind me to see who they were flashing at—and it was me!”
“That was, I think, the beginning of the end of my anonymity.”
On her fashion inspiration:
“I’ve always enjoyed fashion. Growing up in Kenya, I designed my own clothes because it was cheaper than buying retail.
I even made my own prom dress. It was a velvet miniskirt with a matching little top and an iridescent silver translucent fabric that flowed to the ground. It was kind of ridiculous, but it was fabulous at the time.
On her red carpet style:
“As I was getting ready for award season, I realized that I needed help [laughs]. So I eventually met Micael Erlanger [styled Scarlett Johansson and the Olsen twins.]
And I remember meeting with them for the first time with my Pinterest board of ideas. I wanted bold color, interesting prints, interesting silhouettes -simple but architectural and feminine- and we made it happen.
Micael and I would have six hour fittings. It’s a job; it’s work, you know! We’d just try, try, try, try, try, try, try. At first it was very daunting, but I ended up really having fun with it.”
For the bigger award shows, the dress let me know it was going to be worn. It’s quite scary when you fall in love with a dress, because it’s nothing to do with your brain. It’s like a gut reaction.” Like the red Ralph Lauren gown for the Golden Globes… We got goose bumps. “
On her 12 Years a Slave experience:
“I was really nervous about seeing myself in 12 Years a Slave, because it had been such a profound experience in all ways.
I remember it being one of the most joyful times in my life—and also one of the most sorrowful. I didn’t want my experience to be a vain one.
But I will say that when I watched it, my heartstrings were pulled so tight for Solomon that I couldn’t go into the ego trip. I cried—I mean, I was inconsolable. I wept for an hour after the movie.”
Luptia’s issue of Vogue is available now.
