Lupita Nyong’o recently appeared on the popular YouTube series “Hot Ones,” where celebrities are interviewed while eating progressively spicier hot wings. The episode was timed to promote her upcoming film, “A Quiet Place: Day One.” As she braved the fiery wings, Nyong’o opened up about various aspects of her career, including her fear of cats, her experiences with horror films, and even a memorable interaction with Taylor Swift.
### Playing a Silent Role in “A Quiet Place: Day One”
Nyong’o discussed the unique challenges of her role in “A Quiet Place: Day One,” where she plays a character who must remain silent to survive. “When you don’t have lines and everything is in the nuance of bodily and facial expression, you have to listen in every take in a more nuanced way,” she explained. “It makes it more exciting, actually. I found it very liberating.”
### Overcoming Fear of Cats for the Film
One of the more surprising revelations was Nyong’o’s fear of cats, which she had to confront for her role in the film. “I was very afraid of cats before I took this film, and it was one of the things that was holding me back from saying yes,” she confessed. Her role required her to interact closely with a cat, adding another layer of personal growth to her professional journey.
### Managing Dual Roles in “Us”
Reflecting on her challenging performance in “Us,” where she played both Adelaide and her doppelgänger Red, Nyong’o described the experience as a “complete mindf-ck.” She elaborated, “They are the opposite. It was almost like a mathematical calculation building both characters. It was very, very difficult to keep the lines straight, and so it took a lot of very odd diagrams.”
### Staying in Character as Red
Nyong’o also discussed the intensity of staying in character as Red throughout the filming day. “The vocal posture was very difficult to get into, so what I would do is at the beginning of the day, I would warm up and get into my vocal posture and then I would hold that all day. It just so happened that me holding my vocal posture made everybody on set really nervous…they would just be so awkward around me and it was so entertaining.”
### Reaching Out to Taylor Swift for “Shake It Off” in “Little Monsters”
One of the standout moments of the episode was Nyong’o recounting how she contacted Taylor Swift to get clearance for “Shake It Off” in “Little Monsters.” “When they came and they told me ‘aw, no we can’t get the rights,’ I decided okay. I’m going to go, I’m going to make a pitch, I’m going to let Taylor know what this song means to me and I told her that story about how it lifted me from an almost depression and the next thing I knew, it was cleared.”
### Adjusting to Public Life Post-Oscars
Winning an Oscar brought Nyong’o a new level of fame, which required significant adjustment. She shared, “Yes, it was odd and it was overwhelming and it took me some time to adjust to it. To be a public figure, they have a projection of who you are, it’s bestowed on you and you kind of participate…Code shifting is very much a part of being human and so I code shift into my public persona.”
### Breaking Down Jay-Z’s Lyrics “On My Nyong’o”
In a fun segment, Nyong’o broke down Jay-Z’s lyric, “on my Nyong’o,” explaining, “It’s this, it’s this right here. It’s like they’re coming at you, they’re trying to pull you down but you’re winning. That’s what being on one’s Lupita Nyong’o is.”
### Conclusion
Lupita Nyong’o’s appearance on “Hot Ones” was a delightful mix of humor, vulnerability, and insight into her multifaceted career. From overcoming her fear of cats to discussing the complexities of her roles in horror films, Nyong’o showcased her resilience and dedication to her craft. Her candidness about reaching out to Taylor Swift and adjusting to life post-Oscars added a personal touch that resonated with viewers. As she continues to take on challenging roles and break new ground in her career, Nyong’o remains an inspiring figure in the entertainment industry.
Source: First We Feast, Getty Images
