Lupita Nyong’o is speaking publicly for the first time about the strong backlash over her casting in The Odyssey, including criticism amplified by Elon Musk. In a new interview with Elle, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on the online debate surrounding her role as Helen of Troy, a character often described as “the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Lupita Nyong’o on criticism over The Odyssey role: ‘You can’t perform beauty’
“You can’t perform beauty,” Nyong’o said. Instead of focusing on appearance, the actress explained that her priority has always been understanding the emotional and psychological depth of a character. “I want to know who the character is,” she said. “What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks?”
Nyong’o acknowledged the enormous cultural weight surrounding Homer’s Odyssey, noting that the story has been interpreted and reinterpreted for centuries. “The good thing about working with a writer like Chris is that it’s on the page,” she explained. “Research could be endless.” Still, she said working with director Christopher Nolan helped ground the project creatively. “The investigation starts with the pages you’re given. That’s what I based it on,” she said.
As criticism surrounding the film spread online, some viewers questioned the casting choices for Nolan’s adaptation. “I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling,” she said, adding that the “cast is representative of the world.” The actress said she has chosen not to spend her energy trying to justify the role to detractors. “The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not,” she explained. In the interview, Nyong’o described the project as one of the largest and most ambitious productions she has ever joined.“It’s quite something to be a part of The Odyssey because it is so grand,” she said. “It spans worlds.”
