Top 76 Quotes by Lupita Nyong'o

There's always a sense of newness with acting, because every role, you come to every role fresh.

Human beings have an instinct for freedom.

I grew up in a world where the majority of people were black, so that wasn't the defining quality of anyone. When you're describing someone, you don't start out with 'he's black, he's white.'

I never, in my wildest dreams, could I have thought that the first role I get out of school would lead to an Oscar nomination.

I am thrilled beyond words that The Academy has recognized my performance in Steve McQueen's '12 Years a Slave,' and I am deeply proud to be in the company of my fellow nominees.

My father used to act in high school. He was in a production of 'Othello;' I don't know who he played, but it wasn't Othello. He would talk about it, though, and read Shakespeare to me.

In the madness, you have to find calm.

Personally, I don't ever want to depend on makeup to feel beautiful.

I'm pretty awesome at making salad dressings.

Being a part of '12 Years a Slave' has been one of the most profound experiences of my life.