In a new profile featured in Elle magazine, Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o addresses the toxic online criticism she's received for portraying Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey. The backlash, primarily fueled by right-wing pundits, has contended that a Black actress should not embody "the most beautiful woman in the world" in Universal's ambitious production of Homer's timeless tale.
Nyong'o first clarifies that this is a mythological story, not a historical drama as it's often misconstrued. "I'm fully supportive of Chris's vision for this project and the version of the story he's telling," she explains. "Our cast reflects the world we live in today. I'm not going to waste my time justifying myself. Criticism will persist whether I engage with it or not." She continues, "It's an incredible honor to be a part of The Odyssey because it spans multiple worlds and eras. We're telling an epic narrative that's relevant to our time. I was deeply humbled to be entrusted with this role."
The actress also dismisses the notion of focusing solely on her character as "the face that launched 1,000 ships." "You can't perform beauty," she asserts. "I want to understand who this character is beyond her physical appearance. That's the beauty of working with a well-known text that's been studied, interpreted, and derived from countless sources. The research is endless. The good thing about working with Chris is that it all starts on the page—that's where my investigation began."
The backlash reached mainstream media after conservative political commentator and Daily Wire host Matt Walsh took issue with the casting last week. His post, which featured a screenshot of The Hollywood Reporter's Tuesday article on Nyong'o's roles in The Odyssey, caught the attention of Elon Musk. "Not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong'o is 'the most beautiful woman in the world,' but Christopher Nolan knows that he would be labeled racist if he gave 'the most beautiful woman' role to a white woman," Walsh wrote. "Nolan is technically talented but a coward. Too afraid to do anything that even slightly challenges the spirit of the age." Musk quickly agreed, writing, "True."
In the new interview, Nyong'o adds, "I can't spend my time worrying about all the people who still don't love me. You'll find the supporters who believe in you, and you'll get on with it. I want to believe I'm built to last."
