Exclusive: NYFF ’13 Lupita Nyong’o talks 12 Years a SlaveBy Wilson Morales
October 9, 2013
Earlier this week members of the press got a look at Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, which will be shown at the New York Film Festival. From it’s showings at Telluride and Toronto, the response has been overwhelming positive. Early indicators have positioned this film as the film to beat at next year’s Academy Awards.
“12 Years a Slave” is based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity.
Playing the role of Patsey the slave who faced the same amount of brutality that Solomon endured is newcomer Lupita Nyong’o. A recent grad from the Yale School of Drama, Nyong’o hits a home run in her film debut. Not only is her performance great and memorable, but look for her name to be among those nominated for an Academy Award and possibly win it.
In speaking exclusively with Blackfilm.com, Nyong’o talks about getting the role, embracing it, and what the film’s history has taught her.
What did you do for the audition that landed you one of the most coveted roles in the film?
Lupita Nyong’o: I auditioned three times in three different states. My first audition was in New York. I put myself on tape. I went to LA for the Yale showcase because I was about to graduate from the School of Drama. I went in to see the casting director Francine Maisler. I did another audition, which was about an hour and very grueling. Finally, I was shortlisted and sent to Louisiana to meet with Steve, where I auditioned for the third time.
Had you read the book prior to doing this?
LN: No. I read the book after my second audition, when I knew I had been short listed. I was graduating and had a lot of things on my mind. I was so shocked that I had never heard of this story and that I had never read it.
Born in Mexico but raised in Kenya how do you explain your nationality?
LN: Sometimes I do say that I am Mexican. Not always but I do have a Mexican passport.
How much did you know about slavery growing up?
LN: In school, we had a term where we spent learning about American history and we definitely skated by slavery. I remembered it being mentioned and I definitely watched ‘Roots.’ I knew about slavery but I didn’t know about slavery. I think a lot of people will experience that watching this film because we see the ins and outs of the economy that slavery was. When you’re reading a theoretical book, it doesn’t really stay with you. It’s not as relatable as when you hear a very specific personal account of slavery and that’s the gift that Solomon Northrup’s book is to us. We can identify with him. We can identify wit his humanity. The idea that he was stolen from freedom, something that we have now. We could imagine what it could have been like to go into this absurd environment that slavery was. This has been an education that I didn’t know I needed when I got this role. I’m so glad I got to take this time period so personally because it will never be the same for me. I cannot see cotton and it is the same. I’m forever changed by this experience. It’s given me a deep appreciation for the fact that I can be here. I can only be here because of what people like Patsey went through.
What did Steve do to help you with your first film?
LN: That was definitely a journey and it was a conversation that I had to have with myself and with a lot of my friends. It did not come easy to get the confidence to do this. I went to school for three years and this is what I was training to do. That gave me some confidence and then Steve cast me, and he doesn’t cast easy. That was something that gave me confidence as well. In seeing his work, I know that he has a high standard for the truth. I passed it by getting the role so I knew I had it in me even when I didn’t know I had it in me. Also, what Steve said to me in my audition and later as we went on, he said, “I want Patsy to be simple. She’s not a noble slave. She’s simple and trying to get by. I just want you to be simple.” That really was a guiding principle for me in doing the role. It’s easy to get entrapped in this idea of nobility because she’s withstanding all this pain and “Oh, poor her.” I felt, when reading the script, I felt sympathy. I wanted to hold her and make it all right. That’s no way to play. I had to let go of that and recognized that Patsey’s abuse was the norm. She didn’t get to sentimentalize her abuse. She didn’t have time to wallow in it. She needed to live through it and it was coming from all directions. It was physical, it was emotional, and it was psychological. She was always trying to get through it and those are things that guided me and prepared me to do this role. I also recognized that this is a true story and I had the privilege of doing it for fake. That was humbling.
How emotional were you the night before the big scene with Fassbender was shot?
LN: There was no escaping Patsey or that grief. In the book, Solomon talks about the day that Patsey got whipped and it being the darkest day of all time. It was normal on Master Epps’ plantation, that kind of beating. I was aware of it, but if you are on a road and a car is coming at you, the last thing you should do is brace yourself. You will get hurt more. That scene with Patsey is coming sure and fast and I couldn’t brace myself because I wouldn’t make it. I had to allow it to happen because that’s what I signed up for.
What has this publicity done for you mentally? Are you prepared for this?
LN: School didn’t train me for this. Right now, I’m so happy that ’12 Years a Slave’ is getting received more that I had imagined. I knew I was part of taking history when I took on this project. I felt that way and it felt larger than our time. This is one for the ages and I’m really happy it’s being received as such. That’s really exciting. This wave means that I go along with it. I’m taking refuge in the fact that I’m not alone. That I have this family from ’12 Years a Slave’ and people to go through it with. I don’t know if I’m prepared for it because it’s something you can’t even fathom. I’m taking it day by day and counting my blessings along the way and hopefully I will make it through with my soul in tact.
