Cover Trends: Lupita Nyong’o Sizzles on the Cover of Essence Magazine

Mexican-born Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o is ending the year with a bang! Not only is she the Cover Girl for the latest issue of Essence magazine – In just a couple of weeks, Nyong’o will be celebrating the release of the most anticipated and celebrated movie in recent memory – Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

She is also currently flexing her acting chops in the off-Broadway play Eclipsed – written by The Walking Dead actress Danai Gurira who also stars. Eclipsed, which has been greenit for a Broadway run in February tells the story of five women through each of their experiences in the aftermath of the civil war in Liberia.

The Oscar-winner – who gave a memorably affecting performance in 2013’s 12 Years a Slave is channeling those same vibes for the emotionally damaged character she is bringing to life onstage. She admits the role is “physically and emotionally” exhausting but also rewarding.

The stunning beauty is proud to be part of an ensemble featuring vulnerable African women with layered complexities – especially since it’s not something she wasn’t privy to as a novice in the industry. “I didn’t grow up seeing African women in African stories. I was in love with the world Danai created”.

Lupta also reflects on her meteoric rise and the headiness of it all, “After 12 Years a Slave” and the quote-unquote meteoric rise, I felt like there was a moment where I was suffering from whiplash. I had talked so much about who I was that I’d forgotten who I was”.

Well, it looks like she’s a is doing a good job keeping up with her enviable schedule. Click here for more on Nyong’o.