Lupita Nyong’o Responds to Critiques of Her Casting in “The Odyssey”: 'This Is a Mythological Story'

Jack SmartThu, May 21, 2026 at 9:02 PM UTC

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Lupita Nyong'o in March 2025
Credit: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage -

Lupita Nyong’o will play Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, in theaters July 17

Addressing critiques of her casting in an Elle cover story, the Kenyan-Mexican Oscar winner said, “I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense”

“This is a mythological story,” Nyong’o pointed out, saying she’s “very supportive of Chris’s intention with it”

Lupita Nyong’o is reacting to critiques of her casting inThe Odyssey.

Following the confirmation that the Kenyan-Mexican star, 43, will be playing Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra in Christopher Nolan’s star-studded adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, some social media users shared racist-tinged criticism about the casting decision, igniting backlash.

“This is a mythological story,” said Nyong’o in a new Elle magazine cover story. Homer's ancient Greek epic, one of the oldest surviving works of literature, follows the treacherous homecoming journey of Odysseus (played onscreen by Matt Damon) from the Trojan War.

“I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling,” continued Nyong’o. “Our cast is representative of the world. I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”

Lupita Nyong'o in May 2024
Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty

The Odyssey “is so grand,” added the Oscar winner. “It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time.”

Elle’s Summer 2026 The Epic Issue highlighted the four female stars of The Odyssey, with distinct covers for Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron. The movie also stars Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Travis Scott and more.

“The strength and the poise were so important to the character of Helen,” Nolan, 55, told Elle. “And Lupita makes it look effortless. I’m sure there’s a tremendous amount of discipline and training that goes into projecting that kind of poise and feeling the emotion bubbling beneath the character, the layers of the character right there underneath.”

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Calling the actress “an incredible person to work with,” the Oppenheimer filmmaker added, “I was absolutely desperate for her to do the part.”

'The Odyssey'
Credit: Universal Pictures

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Asked about the legend surrounding the character of Helen — that her beautiful face launched a thousand ships — Nyong’o said an actor “can’t perform beauty.”

“I want to know who a character is,” she explained. “What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks? That’s the thing about doing such a well-known text, which has been studied and interpreted and derived from. The research could be endless. The good thing about working with a writer like Chris is that it’s on the page. The investigation starts with the pages you’re given. That’s what I based it on.”

Nyong’o added that she was “so deeply honored to be entrusted with” playing Helen. “I mean, she is iconic. What more can I say?”

Universal Pictures will release The Odyssey into theaters on July 17.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”