LUPITA NYONG’O

On Jordan Peele, fame and Maz Kanata…

Jordan Peele is the man of the moment. How was he to work with? He’s an actor in his own right so he’s very sympathetic. When I first met him, he asked me a question that no director has: “What is your process and what do you need from me?” It was such a touching question that it actually brought me to tears. He’s compassionate and communicative. And for a person with such a warped mind, he’s also extremely gentle! What is your process and what did you need from him? Well, I wouldn’t tell you that. [laughs] What’s more important is that he asked the question, and in asking it, he was knocking on an intimate door. My trust grew immediately.

You’ve been on a dizzying ride since 12 Years

A Slave…

[laughs] It was dizzying but I surrounded myself with people who have known me for a long time, and having them close keeps me grounded. I feel a lot more comfortable with myself and my position in the world now than I was four years ago. It’s a lot more familiar. So many of your roles deal with gruelling material. Is it a relief to play Maz in the Star Wars movies? Maz is a totally different world and a different kind of challenge – playing the motion-capture. I love being able to have this kind of diversity in my career.

Were you a Star Wars fan before you got the part?

I watched Star Wars, but I wasn’t aware of the fanaticism. I enjoyed it growing up [in Kenya], but I wasn’t aware it was a thing until I came to the United States and realised how influential that film had been on the culture. So yeah, being associated with Star Wars is never a bad thing! JG