Recently, Lupita Nyong'o spoke out about the controversy surrounding the role of Helen of Troy in director Christopher Nolan's new film project.
According to some sources from the film crew, the star of "Black Panther" not only plays Helen, she can also transform into Clytemnestra - the twin sister of this character in Greek mythology.
In an interview with Elle magazine, Lupita said that she is not too concerned about negative comments on social networks.
The actress emphasized that "The Odyssey" is originally a mythological story and she completely believes in director Christopher Nolan's direction of construction.
This is a myth. I believe in how Chris wants to tell this story. Our cast reflects the diversity of the world today. I don't see the need to explain or justify myself. Criticism will always come," she shared.
In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy is famous for her beauty, likened to "the face that sent a thousand warships to sea", and also the cause of the legendary Trojan war.
However, Lupita said that she does not want to only appear on screen as a simple "beautiful beauty".
This role cannot only show external beauty. What I want to explore is the true person of the character behind that beauty title," the actress said. "The best thing about working with Christopher Nolan is that everything is built very clearly right from the script. That gives me a good foundation to develop the character.
The Oscar-winning actress also said that being assigned an iconic role like Helen of Troy is a great honor in her career.
On Christopher Nolan's side, despite remaining silent about the controversy about the actor's skin color, the director of "Oppenheimer" still gave Nyong'o "winged" compliments on Elle.
He affirmed that he was "extremely eager" to get her nod for this project, and also said that the actress possesses calmness and inner strength suitable for the image Helen he wants to build.
According to Lupita, the massive scale of "The Odyssey" is also the reason why the film has a diverse cast of actors in terms of color and culture. "We are recounting an epic story in the spirit of today's era," she added.
Closing the interview, Lupita Nyong'o affirmed that she would not let negative comments affect herself: "I don't want to waste time thinking about those who hate me. The important thing is to continue to accompany those who trust me and move forward.
The Odyssey" is currently one of Hollywood's most anticipated film projects with the participation of top stars such as Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland. The film is scheduled to premiere globally on July 17.
