The pretty and talented Oscar Winner for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work on "12 Years a Slave" Lupita Nyong’o arrives in the image here for the live ABC Telecast of The 86th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. Photo Credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S. The film also won the Oscar for Best Picture. The pretty and talented Lupita, who is a classically trained actor from the Ivy league school of Yale University, is living proof that women, and African American women included, can succeed to the greatest heights possible in Hollywood, with enough talent and determination. The Hollywood Sentinel congratulates Lupita Nyong'o, director Steve McQueen, producers Dede Gardner and Brad Pitt, and all of the other great talents associated with the film on screen, and behind the scenes. The following is an excerpt of a great rare interview Backstage at The Oscars with Lupita Nyong'o after her big Oscar win.
Question: And how are you feeling now?
Lupita: I'm a little dazed. I can't believe this (Oscar) is in my hands. I can't believe this is real life. Yeah, I'm just -- I don't know. I'm really overwhelmed.
Question: You (spoke) in your acceptance speech (about ...) the spirit of the dead (being thankful for this film. Please explain).
Lupita: Well, it was something I said with regards to Steve McQueen. I think that he's really honored a people that really have been unsung for a really long time, through doing this film, and I just feel that their spirits have been honored, is what I meant.
Question: What on this journey that you've been on, are you going to take and understand about the human spirit?
Lupita: (...) What I will say is that what I have learned for myself is that I don't have to be anybody else; and that myself is good enough; and that when I am being true to that self, then (...) I can avail myself to extraordinary things such as this, you know, -- that I didn't think was necessarily possible; but I didn't cancel it out of my realm (...) of possibility, and I think that's the thing. You have to allow for the impossible to be possible.
Question: You've been known for your incredible acting and your fashion on the red carpet, but you've also been really known for your poised attitude. You're very humble. What has led you to become this way and will you continue to be such a humble lady in this industry?
Lupita: I think credit must be given to my parents. I have phenomenal parents. My father is famous in his own right, (he) has done amazing things for our country, Kenya, and my mother, too; she's a trailblazer, she's a pioneer. And to watch those two people do so much and mean so much to everyone but (...) at the end of the day still have the humility to serve, I (...) think (of) their example because at the end of the day I just feel it is my deeds that are more important than my (...) fame (...) you know? (...)
Question: How are you going to be celebrating this?
Lupita: I'm going to the Governors Ball, and I'm going to be doing all things Oscar-related. This is my first time here, and it's all been -- it's like I -- I don't know... It's like I feel like Willie Wonka in the chocolate factory!
Oscars' Best Picture - 12 Years a Slave
The following is an excerpt of the interview backstage at the Oscars with 12 Years a Slave Producers Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen and Anthony Katagas.
Brad Pitt: (...) I love this movie. Just as a film, as a lover of film, the filmmaking, this heroic story of a man in this inhumane situation trying to get back to his family. I love this film. I love the filmmaking. It's counterintuitive to the way we're making films today. It's a real achievement by Mr. McQueen here. I love this movie. (...) I think it's important because it deals with our history (...), it's important that we understand our history not for any kind of guilt, but that we understand who we were, so we can better understand who we are now, and why we're having the specific problems we're having, or the successes we're having; and more (...) importantly, who we're going to be. So it's important for that. But, listen, at the end of the day we just hope that this film remains a gentle reminder that we're all equal. We all want the same. We want dignity and opportunity for ourselves and our family, and that another's freedom is every bit as important as our own; and that's it, and that's everything.
Question: What would you say to the kids (...) who are (...) wanting to get into the film industry and will be inspired by what's happened to you tonight?
Steve McQueen: I would say, yeah, go ahead. Go and, you know, just go for it. Do it. Make it a reality. Just go. It's just one of those things where dreams do come true in that way. But it's not a fantasy. It can actually be a reality. So just go and do it. I will say that.
Question: Lupita got the Best Supporting Actress, but all of the other actors and actresses did a great job on the film. Do you want to say something for the cast members?
Brad Pitt: Sure, I mean, we had an exquisite cast that were all drawn because of; one, the story, and, two; because of Steve. Lupita is an absolute gem, grace incarnate, and a rare find, and I so look forward to seeing what she does in the future. She's very, very special. But I also want to mention Chiwetel's performance, because, for me, the restraint and the elegance in trying to maintain his dignity throughout these scenes, I'm telling you as an actor it's exhausting, and he was just pitch perfect. And for me as a fellow actor watching that performance is incredibly, incredibly inspiring to me. And I think everyone -- you know, everyone fell in line to tell the story. Everyone was behind it, including the day players in from New Orleans who were also really committed and gifted, and we also have to thank the great city of New Orleans.
This content is © 2014, The Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved, with kind courtesy from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Plan B.
The backstage interviews are © 2014, AMPAS, all rights reserved, with very special thanks to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.