Lupita Nyong'o

I have the opportunity to learn about the fashion world, and I appreciate it as an art form... But I never want it to take over my acting.

Being considered a fashion star is wonderful. It's definitely a bonus thing.

The first time I cut all my hair off was when I was 19. I just got fed up going to the salon every week. I'd had enough! On a whim, it was off. It's low-maintenance.

Growing up, I had really bad skin. I had a skin disorder. Yes, I did. And my mother went to great lengths to try to find something to remedy it. I remember she took a trip to Madagascar and came back with all these alternative, medicinal herbs and stuff. They didn't smell so good, but I think they worked some magic.

I feel privileged that people are looking up to me, and perhaps a dream will be born because of my presence.

Human beings have an instinct for freedom.

Part of being an artist is that you are always concerned you don't have what it takes. It... keeps us honest.

I value not being good at things, because children are not good at things.

I would love to have a career that's governed by the material; I always want to be part of stories that I feel are worthwhile.

I discovered that joy is not the negation of pain, but rather acknowledging the presence of pain and feeling happiness in spite of it.

I can speak of actors that I love. I love Cate Blanchett, Viola Davis, her tenacity. I love Charlize Theron. She's so surprising and so exhilarating, the kinds of projects she takes on. Marion Cotillard as well.

The muscles you flex in theater are muscles that you really need. I must always find a way to get back there. It's irreplaceable.

As human beings, we aren't as individual as we'd like to believe we are. And I think that's what makes acting possible. Despite the fact that I have not experienced something, I have it in my human capacity to imagine it and to put myself in someone else's shoes, and to take someone else's circumstances personally.

To this day, I love eating steak tacos before going to the red carpets.

Ralph Fiennes was a pivotal influence on me. He asked me, 'So what is it you want to do?' I very shyly, timidly admitted that I wanted to be an actor. He sighed, and he said, 'Lupita, only be an actor if you feel there is nothing else in the world you want to do - only do it if you feel you cannot live without acting.'

My parents gave me a Mexican name. In our culture, we are named after the events of the day.

As human beings, what makes us able to empathize with people is a connection that is not necessarily understood mentally.

I had moved back to Kenya after undergrad, and I went through this crisis of, 'What is my life going to be about?'

I'm Mexican and Kenyan at the same time. I've seen the quarrels over my nationality, but I'm Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. So again, I am Mexican-Kenyan, and I am fascinated by carne asada tacos.

Steve McQueen is a genius. And I think that word is overused, but I think with Steve it's rightly used. He's a genius.