Lupita Nyong’o has hit back at criticism over her casting in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, making it clear she won’t let backlash define her performance.
In a new Elle profile, the Oscar winner addressed the controversy, including making Elon Musk’s pointed remarks about her role as Helen of Troy, often described as “the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“You can’t show off beauty,” Nyong’o said. “I want to know who a character is. What’s beyond beauty? What’s beyond looks?”
The 43-year-old stressed that Homer’s epic is mythological, not historical, and praised Nolan’s vision for assembling a cast that reflects today’s world.
“I fully support Chris’s intention and the version of this story he’s telling,” she explained. “Criticism will exist whether I engage in it or not.”
The actress also highlighted the scale of the project.
“It’s something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it’s so grandiose. It crosses worlds. That’s why the cast is what it is. We occupy the epic narrative of our times,” she explained.
Musk previously criticized the decision to cast Nyong’o to play both Helen and her sister Clytemnestra, accusing Nolan of chasing awards.
Alec Baldwin publicly defended Nyong’o, calling her “the most beautiful woman in the world,” while Jimmy Kimmel mocked Musk in a late-night monologue.
Nolan himself strongly supported his choice.
He praised Helen’s “strength and poise”, demonstrating his confidence in the actress and her ability to portray him.
He also called her “an incredible person to work with.”
