Lupita Nyong’o is currently starring in an off-Broadway (but soon-to-be-Broadway) play called Eclipsed. Photographers have been getting some street style photos of her every now and then as she enters and leaves the Public Theater. I like the fact that Lupita is staying busy, because for a while there, I was worried that her movie career wasn’t taking off properly. I want her to work. And this play sounds like a good project for her. Unfortunately, someone at the Public Theater decided that Lupita was and is an unhinged diva, or at least that’s the story being sold to the Daily Mail. Seriously… is Lupita Nyong’o a diva? I truly do not believe it.
A source tells Daily Mail Online Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o is really a diva who is completely overshadowing her co-stars of the Broadway-bound play Eclipsed with her backstage antics. Theater actresses Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah, and Saycon Sengbloh were all initially excited to work with Hollywood’s breakout star, but now the four women can barely stand to share the stage with her, theatre sources reveal. Theatre maverick Stephen C. Byrd, who is executive producer of the play’s Broadway run, was adamant that Nyong’o be cast in the show after learning she was turned down for the role while an undergrad at Yale School of Drama.
‘Stephen paid her top-dollar to be in this production. He’s head over heels to have her in the show and has made it clear to everyone, whatever Lupita wants, she gets. He’s assured her that this is her show and he’ll move mountains to please her,’ a source told Daily Mail Online, before adding: ‘And she’s milking that!’
A story of four women during the Civil War of Liberia circa 2003 confined to slave-like quarters in a rural compound by a warlord rebel leader; Nyong’o’s co-stars thought the ladies should build chemistry by having lunch off-site together during rehearsals for the show this past summer.
‘She declined all invitations to go out to lunch with her cast members and keeps to herself in the shared dressing room quarters while the ladies went out. She even tried to get her own separate dressing room at The Public Theater, but the venue didn’t have the space for it,’ the source explained. ‘If Stephen could have done it, he would’ve. I’m surprised he didn’t get a trailer for her like she was on a film set outside the venue.’
Though the 12 Years a Slave star comes across as Hollywood’s darling and America’s sweetheart in public, her Eclipsed co-stars feel she’s an ‘ice princess’ and a ‘manipulative b****’ behind the scenes.
‘She doesn’t speak to anyone when she’s not on stage and in character. She has security backstage because she claims she has a stalker. She only wants to do press interviews alone, despite the show being an ensemble piece. She’s done everything she can to alienate herself from her co-stars,’ said the source.
Regardless, Eclipsed is playing to a sold-out run at The Public and it has already been announced that the show will move to Broadway in February 2016. Only Nyong’o has been confirmed for the Broadway transfer and Byrd has told her she can decide which of her co-stars she would like to take along, sources claim.
‘Now the fate of these actresses is in the hands of a woman who barely speaks to them. They are all walking on eggshells and are all appalled that just a few years ago, the director wouldn’t even cast her in the show and now she’s determining who’s joining her in her Broadway debut,’ added the source.
‘She’s the nucleus of the backstage drama but she knows that the only thing she has to do is wear her designer fashions, flash her dazzling smile and she will win over the masses,’ the source continued. ‘She’s so good at playing the ‘damsel in distress’ role that many people think she’s really an ingénue but her backstage behavior only exacerbates the fact that she’s an ice, cold, untouchable diva.’
Eh. Maybe Lupita isn’t super-friendly with her co-stars. Maybe she doesn’t want to get buddy-buddy with people who are willing to sell her out to a media outlet? Or maybe she’s truly a pill. While her adorable-princess vibe might be an act, we’ve seen a lot of Lupita’s personality over the past few years. She wasn’t some sullen teenager when she won her Oscar, you know? She was already 30 years old. She is an adult and she behaves as a professional in every setting we’ve seen her in. So… do you believe this?
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
I doubt it’s true, she always seemed very proffesional. but why would someone make something like this up? Very weird.
Having said that, during red carpet interviews she did seem quite stuck up and conceited, which was especially strange considering she was a newcomer.
And that’s just my opinion, don’t kill me, I know she’s untouchable round here.
That was my thought as well – no one involved in the production has anything to gain by completely making this story up. There must be at least a grain of truth, even if the Daily Fail exaggerated it.
I kind of agree. Nobody really gains anything by these Lupita-ice-queen stories coming out. And if these actresses really left that play early and voluntarily because they couldn’t stand the social atmosphere – well they can’t have gained anything by leaving like that. Quitters don’t look good ever even if they quit for valid reasons.
I think Lupita was a bit miffed that her acting career didn’t really take off after 12 Years a Slave and an Oscar. Theatre plays often are a cause of last resort for actors and actresses who don’t get offered decent movie parts. I think that was the case in Lupita’s case: after the Oscar she didn’t get decent movie parts.
To Pondering thoughts — I have no idea whether these stories about Lupita are true, but to suggest that doing theatre is a “last resort” for any actor is ridiculous. She’s currently achieving critical acclaim in an off-Broadway production successful enough to warrant a Broadway transfer where she could very well receive a Tony nomination. Many, many movie stars (Bradley Cooper and Jake Gyllenhaal, to name two of the most recent examples from the past year alone) have done theatre for any number of reasons — that’s where they got their start (Lupita trained at the Yale School of Drama), they enjoy the immediacy, fluidity, and challenge of the medium, or they just want some level of critical prestige that working in theatre seems to afford. Whether or not she’s a diva, I see no reason to suggest that Lupita is doing the play for any reason other than the chance to challenge herself with material by a talented, up-and-coming playwright.
I don’t think her career trajectory is that odd. After Jennifer Lawrence was nominated for Best Actress (granted hers was a nom but it was also in the higher profile Best Actress category) she worked the next 2 years (until Hunger Games) in: 2011 Like Crazy; 2011 The Beaver and 2011 X-Men: First Class. The first 2 were small films that she had supporting roles in and X-Men was a big franchise that she had a smaller role in ala Lupita in Star Wars perhaps. Lupita did 2014 Non-Stop (very small role probably before 12 years came out) then signed for Star Wars: The Force Awakens then has 2016 The Jungle Book as a voice role and then has Mira Nair’s The Queen of Katwe with David Oyelowo. It’s always hard for any actress to bust out to big budget leading roles but I don’t think Lupita’s path is bad especially given the ‘supporting actress curse’. She’s got 2 high profile movies–one the most anticipated movie in a long time–and one a lead role in what could be a small but Oscar-baity film with a respected costar. If she wants the chance to do a mix of big budget and high class indie she seems to be on a good path.
@ Kori
Lupita’s path is odd or “slowed down” because the better / bigger roles still aren’t coming to her. 12 years a slave came out 2013 and she got that Oscar in early 2014 and now 2015 is nearly over and there still aren’t any big movie roles on her imdb. Not even prospects.
As for her imminent future see here: she played:
Gwen in Non-Stop was such a minor supporting role that she doesn’t even get mentioned in the plot synopsis.
see here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024469/synopsis?ref_=ttpl_pl_syn
Queen of Katwe isn’t out yet.
Star Wars’ Maz Kanata is a very minor role and it is CGI (computer generated imagery) so one can’t even see her face. At best it is her moves.
@ Margo
Several actresses and actors had to resort to theatre because they didn’t get movies. It polishes their acting skill credentials and their work ethics credentials.
Matter of fact. Kidman, Blanchett, Zeta Jones, Zellweger …
Check your facts. Some did openly say so.
Movie is easier because you can repeat scenes and it is paid better.
Of course some film actors pursue theatrical projects to burnish their credentials, which is why I mentioned prestige as a motivator. I guess this could be the case for Lupita, though she’s already a highly acclaimed actress. I still think it just as likely in her case that she’s being selective about her choices; for me, anyway, the play is an interesting choice.
I’ll take your word that the actors you named have referred to theatre as a last resort when they couldn’t get film work (certainly can believe that of Zeta-Jones with A Little Night Music and that Kidman viewed The Blue Room as a stepping stone), though I’m startled that Cate Blanchett, who served as co-artistic director of a theatre company for five years — well after she’d been established as a film star — would make such a statement. But actors who do theatre in the prime of their career or return repeatedly to it must surely have some investment in it as an art form.
And they didn’t run to the media until she presented herself as an Ice Queen. I can believe there is some truth to the story.
I’ve heard stories of this for a bit. The award season riding high kept this stuff at a distance.
What if she’s just shy? I know people whose shyness is mistaken for snobbery.
Loulou
There’s a difference. I find that possibility unlikely given the situations and how this has persisted.
“But why is it when it’s a celeb that most adore they get a pass by saying this isn’t true, or this is made up. But if it was someone such as Kim K people would most likely believe it?”
“According to cognitive dissonance theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions (i.e., beliefs, opinions). When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors (dissonance), something must change to eliminate the dissonance.”
MND
Confirmation Bias.
If you want to believe it you are more likely to. Any points that could counter that is easily dismissed even if facts are solid. You mind finds a way to explain it all.
I don’t think its made up but do you notice all they really say is she doesn’t hang out with them? They call her a diva but her only demand is to be left alone…not great, but sounds like a weak argument to me
Well maybe it’s the way in which she declines their offer. Maybe she gives them the Naomi Campbell bitch face or the Meryl Streep stare from The Devils Wears Prada. Sometimes you don’t even need words.
But why is it when it’s a celeb that most adore they get a pass by saying this isn’t true, or this is made up. But if it was someone such as Kim K people would most likely believe it?
Maybe fame went to her head? It happens.
In Hollywood hardly anyone is what they seem to be thanks to the grinding PR machine. Over and over again we see the mask slip and show that the public persona holds no resemblance to the real person. I doubt this is made up, maybe embellished a bit.
I found her majorly lacking a personality when she was doing press for 12 Years. I still don’t find her to be interesting. I just really love her style and think she’s beautiful.
I also felt the exact same way with Eddie Redmayne. He’s harmless – like Lupita – but couldn’t pick his (lack of) personality out of a lineup. They both are bland but EXTREMELY well dressed.
Come on now, I’m surprised everyone is falling for this PR bullshit – it about selling tickets
I don’t think so. And if she is being cold to them, perhaps it isn’t unfounded. Maybe she feels they are being unprofessional and is distancing herself? Maybe she dosent like them? I don’t know. My friend works on Broadway and some of the people are just melodramatic, crazy, and/or unreasonable. Which is probably why the perform their roles well 😛
If I got the story correctly, she didn’t get the part at first, but then got it when she became famous? Maybe that’s why they’re pissed.
No, completely different productions. She auditioned for a role in a drama school production of the same play many years ago and didn’t get it.
Even if it IS true, who cares? I don’t want to spend any extra time with my co-workers outside of the office. I see them every f*cking day and that’s more than enough. When I have spare time, I want to be around my BF, friends, and family.
I’m professional, polite and courteous to everyone I work with and that’s all that I owe them.
To me, this story sounds like sour grapes from some butt-hurt cast member who expected to become besties with Lupita.
Sincerely,
Ice Kitten
@Kitten. When did being an adult become a crime. When did going in to work and working and leaving make you an icy.
I am amazed at what I have to deal with, adults wanting to be coddled and treated as a special snowflake. It is not my job to make you special ( I am a manager), it is my job to make sure you are trained to do yours so the office can be ran efficiently.
Exactly. I’ve said it before: I’ve had a “nice” professional mentors/managers and I’ve had a “competent” manager. The former was incredibly sweet but dumb as a box of hair. Professionally, she was useless to me. The latter was smart as a whip but a bit…..brash, shall we say? 😉
Learned EVERYTHING I know from the latter and I respect her to death, even if she’s someone I’ve never entirely warmed to.
So yeah, competence, intelligence, and professionalism over “nice” any day of the week.
I agree. I mean, I have no idea if that’s what’s going on here, but the only behavior being presented here is the desire to not be best friends with her coworkers. I even *like* my coworkers, but I don’t want to hang out with them.
I actually enjoy some of my co-workers. I have become friends with a couple of them. We don’t hang out the way I do with my close friends but we enjoy lunch together (especially the liquid lunch) and some of us will hit up the local watering holes after work every now and then and I have attended some events that some have hosted. I work with some interesting people and they are loads of fun when the drinks are constantly pouring. One aspect of my job involves childcare and boy the stories we laugh about over a few cocktails will leave you in stitches. If you worked where I do you might invite spending a cocktail hour or two with co-workers who can relate 100% when you tell them about your day at work. The extra bonus for my job is this is where I met my current SO.
Even though I no longer work in the HR department the former HR director who is now a consultant still invites me out to lunch every now and then. That being said I do have a few co-workers that not only do I not want to spend time with after work but I don’t want to be around then during office hours. Thank God I have my own office in a building separate from theirs. I only have to see them when I go to the main administration building for conferences, meetings and so on.
Exactly – she owes them nothing beyond showing up, doing her work, and being professional.
Maybe her process is that she needs time alone to prepare for a performance. Or maybe she just has a lot of stuff on her plate besides this show and she doesn’t have free time to hang out outside of work hours.
This completely sounds like someone wanted something from her and she didn’t give them exactly what they wanted, so now she’s a “diva”. Not buying it.
With that kind of money and that kind of work (theatre) you can’t just leave after a work shift.
In office work things are highly standardized: the forms that have to be filled out and the ways of dealing with colleagues or the ways of criticising colleagues. There is a certain distance between colleagues working in an office.
In theatre it is not possible to deal with each other in that way: because you need to adapt to and reach out to your fellow actors in a way that isn’t required in an office. You need to criticise them without causing any kind of rifts and you need to trust them very much. Remember when Fassbender described that they had little rituals after difficult scenes while filming 12 years a Slave?
Office work and theatre productions don’t compare.
But Ice Kitten!
Do you actively avoid your coworkers and refuse anything past professional encounters?
This comes out the same way how Lupita still hangs out with Uncle Terry. Slowly, with much denial until it’s just out there.
@kitten
I presume you are not an actor. Actors can’t be compared to how normal coworkers relate to eachother. They work very closely and share private stuff, emotions, even get physcial very quickly. There has to be a degree of trust in order to do the job well.Its a completely different work relationship than a more normal job.
From what I saw while she was promoting 12 YAS and during the Oscar run up, she was very charming and seems like a real nice person.
Just because she does not want to hang out does not make her an ice queen. How old are these women? If these actresses are complaining to the media, I would never want to hire them if I were in a position to do so.
Too many times people who are just shy, reserved, and/or introverted are called cold and unfriendly.
I will never believe a story by The Daily Mail about a black woman because they are racist as f–k. They always make black women out to be angry divas.
Ain’t it the truth? In fact, I use this rag instead of a diva cup. That’s how much their stories are worth.
OMG, Pinky. *dead*
LOL!!!
The Daily Mail’s MO is as transparent as the day is long.
They have a very racist readership as well, as evidenced by the comment section of their Malala Yousafzai story about winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
People say bad things about Malala??? I officially do not want to live in this world any more.
Yup. And you can definitely pick up on the way they describe certain people/celebs as opposed to others, mainly POC or black women ex. Twigs
Their article about Nadiya who won Bake Off (which was entirely focused on the fact she came from the same city as as Islamic terrorist – which so do millions of people!) was the worst example of this.
I’ve always hated the DM but their stuff about Nadiya was just awful.
She was wonderfully brilliant on Bake Off! Loved her from the first episode.
What did they say about Nadiya? How could someone not like Nadiya, she is so awesome?
Franca – there was one op-ed about how the BBC was obviously using Bake Off to shove PC values down people’s throats and that Flora was kicked off simply for being white and middle class. It contained the now-infamous sentence about how Flora would have needed to have baked a “chocolate Mosque” to have stood a chance.
Then there was another article, I actually went and looked it up just now to see if it was a gobsmacking as I remember. It went: “Nadiya’s hometown of Leeds is bursting with pride. It was ten years ago this summer – the same year Nadiya wed her husband – that Islamic terrorist bombers attacked London; three of them were raised in or near Leeds.” Not Even Paraphrased. It’s literally, Nadiya’s from Leeds, where Islamic terrorists are from.
WOW. To all of that. Is the Daily Mail owned by Fox News? geez.
The DM is awful. That said, what I do believe is that it’s entirely possible there is tension backstage – especially at the Public, and especially if the regulars feel there’s stunt casting involved. The jump to Bway makes the stakes a lot higher, too = more tension all around for everybody. And if it’s true that one cast member has the Nero thumbs up or down on whether other actors can make the move, that’s on the producer’s head for setting up even MORE tension there, too.
Angry.
African descent.
Naomi.
I don’t WANT to believe it, but for some reason I kind of do believe it : (
Same. It wouldn’t surprise me if this turns out to be true, although I wish it isn’t true.
Yeah it’s like people refused to believe their beloved Lupita is a little stuck on herself. That’s why I don’t put celebs on pedestal.
Yup.
I have no problem believing it because there’s nothing particularly scandalous about what’s been said. She isn’t friendly with her co-stars. She’s being treated like a marquee name by the theatre director and the press. She’s the big name in this production, and that comes with certain perks. Doesn’t sound like a big deal to me.
That outfit with the trench coat and wedges. Werk, girl. Werk.
I hate the wedges. At least the tone is seperate enough to not resemble hooves.
I keep hearing this “oh I want her to work!”, “I’m worried”. I get it, I do. But apparently she was offered roles in Southpaw, Creed, and Concussion. 99% of actresses would kill to get, let alone be turning away, that kind of work. Now should she be turning down so much? That remains to be seen.
The role in Southpaw was tiny and she wasn’t offered Creed…she was offered a role as a slave in the Freestate of Jones. I completely understand why she might not want to play another slave. She’s not getting offered the roles Alicia Vikander, Margot Robbie, or Jennifer Lawrence are which is unfortunate and oh so typical of Hollywood. The only role that seems a little silly to have turned down is Concussion.
HOWEVER, she still has a very solid career. A MIra Nair film, voice acting, the Star Wars role, and a Broadway play are nothing to sneeze at.
> The role in Southpaw was tiny and
I think I am with Mia. She needs to take many smaller roles in good movies so that she can demonstrate her range and prove herself instead of going after the lead roles.
It is like that in every career. You take on many small projects, so that you can say I’ve done a similar thing there and a similar thing there.
People need reassurances and proof when they are putting billions of dollars into a movie.
Oh her career is solid, don’t get me wrong. I think it also depends on the type of career she’s looking for. Prestige work will always be available to her (this play sounds amazing!).
The trouble with Hollywood though is that the Oscar interests them for about two weeks…and then they only care about your box office record (See: Mira Sorvino, Adrien Brody, and Cuba Gooding Jr). Jennifer Lawrence gets all the roles because of box office, not the Oscar. Vikander and Robbie? Beautiful, white and under 30. Lupita has one of those three. She’ll need to do a lot of work and sell a lot of tickets to be a superstar…but then again, maybe she’d rather just be a great actress. Nothing wrong with that but others may not feel that’s enough.
It also depends on the schedule those roles involved. They may have conflicted with something else she wanted to do, or she simply didn’t like the script or had a better offer elsewhere.
I have no reason to believe this story.
If you see the video from her Vogue photoshoot, it is hard to believe. I can’t help but think it’s a cultural thing? (Like maybe more brits go to pub then americans or nigerians?)
I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle. I would say from what I saw of her in interviews and red carpets, she is very beautiful, well brought up, but it not a people person, she is not comfortable with people and doesn’t know how to charm them. Her appearance is charming but she doesn’t know how to charm.
That kind of person can appear as stuck up and cold regardless of whether it is true or not.
This is where I’m landing too, EN. Taking this story at face value, it sounds to me like she’s more of an introvert, or perhaps just wasn’t into becoming friends with her co-stars, right? Which makes me ask, why is it so bad that she doesn’t want to spend her free time with people that maybe she doesn’t like or care for? A friend of mine hates eating lunch with her coworkers because she can’t recharge around a bunch of extroverts who don’t always shut the work talk off, and that’s not a break for her. It’s possible that Lupita feels the same way, and if she can keep things professional and doesn’t get in the way of anyone doing their job, I can give her the benefit of the doubt.
Then she and Alicia Vikander should work out their charism ability. Both of you are actresses, for peats sake.
There is a vey important difference between introverts and extroverts and it has nothing to do with acting ability.
Introverts recharge and rest on alone time, so that then they can go out and be nice and nurturing towards other people.
Extroverts recharge from being with people. A perfect example – Bill Clinton. Those people never tire of company , they are unhappy when they are alone.
If you force introverts go without alone time they get angry and eventually go koo-koo because they are tired.
En. I understand extroverts and introverts as well. But they both have charm too. Look at Audrey Hepburn, an introvert but still carried herself with grace and poise.
I adore her, but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that she’s let the adulation go to her head a bit (or that she has a stalker, honestly – people are nuts about movie stars, as the comments on certain threads here prove daily). I don’t think she’s to blame for whatever the director’s doing, though. That’s on him.
It sounds like a piece targeted primarily against the executive producer of the play which, if true, is a moron and idiot.
I’ll buy there is some entitlement to Lupita and it has less to do with the Oscar and more to do with her education – not all Kenyans afford going to Yale to study drama.
It could be. She grew up extremely priviledged, that’s bound to bring some entitlement.
Thank you! I can’t venture whether or not the story is true. She is an extremely talented, poised, gorgeous woman who looks good in anything. But I think people get so excited to have such a fabulous black female icon right now that they forget. Lupita is not down home. She’s not just privileged. She’s extremely privileged. Her parents were diplomats. She’s lived all over the world. She had a job assisting Ralph Fiennes on set before she was acting. Her parents sent her to Yale. Yale drama school. Perhaps she got some scholarship, but I doubt it. Most people coming to American universities from 3rd world countries are not trying to study drama. They are pre-med, engineering, etc. Because opportunities like that are not a dime a dozen.
Good for her. She’s like a black Grace Kelly to me. But it would not be surprising if she were a bit aloof with the common people. Not okay. But not surprising.
Absolutely ridiculous. There’s no reason to believe she is anything beyond professional and well brought up. She does her work well, selects roles she wants and is doing things her way – that makes her a privileged diva. She went to Yale so what? So do many, many people from emerging economies – not 3rd world countries – get a grip. The statements being made here smack of arrogance and ignorance of persons from yes I’m going to say it – the first world.
I did not say she’s a priviledged diva. I did say she grew up extremely priviledged with her parents being diplomats and being able to study abroad. I’m from a “first” world country and wouldn’t be able to study in America. Ever. Unless I got some ludacris schoolarship.
I love the idea of Ludacris giving out scholarships.
Had a feeling this would happen, just not so fast.
Possible reasons for this:
She has her own way of working
She thinks they’re too cliquey
She’s a shy/private person when not “on” for cameras or public
OR She’s a bit of a diva, but if this is the case, why would they want to hang out with her?
Sounds like some ice-cold haterism to me. I bet she’s just quiet and the rest is co-star jealousy.
Women just can’t win. By being calm, cool and profession means she’s an Ice Princess?! Really?
And ALL women get called a bitch at some point in their lives. I wear mine as a badge of honor!
Exactly! Especially black women when we assert ourselves we get the Angry Black Woman label.
And I’m sure all guys get called names at some point in their lives, too. Isn’t that just life?
Yup, this story irritates me. She couldn’t win for losing.
Agreed!
Isn’t this a thing, though, with actors? Anne Hathaway confirmed that Meryl Streep did this to her on the set of Devil Wears Prada. They don’t want to develop warm feelings for co-stars they need to be mean to on film or on stage, so they don’t really interact with them. They come off as “cold” but it’s a method thing, I guess. It just seems weird. And even if you take everything in the article as true, it would just paint her as really stand-offish and introverted. It’s not accusing her of harassing anybody, getting anybody fired or demoted or anything like that. I’m not a very outgoing person either, and I’ve been accused of being standoffish and “cold” and it’s not the case. If that’s what’s going on with her, I can sympathize.
nice comment. there has to be a crazy kind of working dynamic in acting…your performance is intellectual, emotional and physical. and handling performance anxiety can look so different—some folks probably find lunching and laughing as a great de-stressor and others might need solitude. especially for Lupita, the pressure to perform is going to be immense post Oscar, so she might just need to re-balance during the off time.
Except that in this play they play female prisoners of war who bond while being held captive. I don’t trust or like the Daily Mail, but it does say the women were hanging out to get to know one another and create comraderie, since that’s the vibe in the play. If it’s a Method acting thing, Lupita should spend time with them regardless of whether or not she actually wants to be their friends after the play ends and they go their separate ways.
If getting to close makes her uncomfortable then that would hurt her performance, the article only says she keeps to herself which isn’t a horrible thing. Some of the kindest best people I work with refuse to eat lunch or socialize with anyone at work. They want to keep it seperate it helps them do a better job. You can’t fault them for that.
I live and work in LA. You’d be amazed at how fast fame goes to some ‘nice’ people’s heads.
This. Especially when the first thing you do is a success and you win an Oscar.
Sooner or later there is blowback on all popular actors. I’m kind of surprised that this is the first time I’m hearing of it. Regardless of how she is personally, I LOVE looking at her and watching her work so pooh pooh to the naysayers.
‘Now the fate of these actresses is in the hands of a woman who barely speaks to them. They are all walking on eggshells and are all appalled that just a few years ago, the director wouldn’t even cast her in the show and now she’s determining who’s joining her in her Broadway debut,’
If that part is true I could see how that would get a bad reaction from her cast mates. The whole thing seems like a lot of conjecture.
Huh, I just noticed that – the article majorly contradicts itself. It starts by saying that Lupita auditioned for a student production of the same play years ago, and that when the director learned that she’d once auditioned unsuccessfully for it, he decided he wanted to cast her in a production himself. Then later it implies the same man directed the student production all those years ago, who is currently directing the Broadway one. Which makes no sense. If it was the same man who directed both productions, why would he need to “learn” that Lupita had once auditioned for the same play? Surely he would remember her auditioning for him?? It doesn’t say “when he learned that Lupita had once auditioned for him and he’s turned her down…” – the wording at the start of the article implies he had nothing to do with the first production.
If it was the same man who directed both plays, the article would have said so explicitly, I think. Or there would be something in the press and publicity about him having directed the play before. I really don’t believe he directed both. Besides, even if he did, comparing someone when they’re an aspiring drama student, to years later when they’re a successful actress, is just stupid.
There were plenty of stories like this floating around before, that she’s bitchy and entitled. And no, I don’t mean that she’s just opinionated and strong and people mistake it for bitchy, but that she’s an actual mean person in private. Considering her privileged background it wouldn’t be surprisin. She’s used to getting what she wants.
This is indeed not the first time. Her brother is a good example of how entitlement works for them.
She’s not a nice person, but she’s gorgeous, so perhaps I can understand how fame made her even less kind.
Her brother? Why?
Her career is not going anywhere. There are just no roles for her, unless she creates projects for herself.
She’s in a broadway play and she’s in the new star wars film. Her career is going somewhere.
But how big is her role in the Star Wars Film? And a lot of actors/actresses/ reality stars have done Broadway and it didn’t garner much stardom for them. Even Nene Leakes of the RHOA was on Broadway.
She’s beautiful on the red carpet and won an Oscar but I don’t know anything else about her. With the star-f*cking system she’s a part of though – it’s only a matter of time before this story is true … so, I’m not surprised I guess.
While I bet most of this is just made up by the DM or some jealous people ran to the DM to do a hit piece, I really fail to see how a lot of this is “bitchy.” I’m not sure how attempting to get her own dressing room makes her a diva unless she throws a fit about it. Some people are super gregarious and some people like to keep to themselves….and being the latter is absolutely fine. The main “complaint” or rumor seems to be that she just keeps to herself, which is hardly a crime. Also, I doubt she tries to do the press all on her own…it’s probably like the major press is only interested in her because she’s quite famous.
I have no idea why you even gave this attention. This source sounds like a whiny, jealous 14 year old. Good gossip isn’t good gossip if it’s bs. Since when does the daily mail have the inside scoop on anything, let alone a play in New York?
I don’t believe it. Theatre is not like movies at all. Theatre is all about the ensemble and collaboration. When you make a movie, you can easily sit in a dressing room or trailer and just come out to shoot your scenes without talking to anyone else out of character.
That’s simply not possible to do (in fact it’s laughable) throughout a 5 week theatre rehearsal period. Anyone who’s ever rehearsed a professional stage play and knows what theatre rehearsals involve and what the atmosphere of a rehearsal room is like, will understand.
Maybe she’s not friendly outside of work and maybe she’s pissed people off by asking for special treatment – I have no reason to believe or disbelieve any of it. But the article is written by someone who clearly doesn’t have a clue what doing theatre involves. I bet it’s coming from one person who just has a grudge against her for some reason.
Yes, I see lots of commenters saying “but I don’t like to hang out with my co-workers, that doesn’t make me a bitch!” Acting is very different from working in an office. You ARE going to get to know your castmates, very well – it’s unavoidable.
So it seems possible that she pissed off someone in the cast by asking for special treatment of the sort that JUST doesn’t happen in the theatre. It just doesn’t happen.
So I’m not sure I buy this story, but as someone else pointed out upthread, we don’t REALLY know anything about Lupita except that she is a talented actress and wears dresses very well.
I’ll reply to you since it seems like you might be referencing my comment up-thread. I work in a small, family-owned-and-run office of seven employees and I’ve been here for ten years. Trust me when I tell you that I know these people FAR better than Lupita has known any cast that she has ever worked with. These are people I’ll be inviting to my wedding.
And you know what? They all know ME very well and they know that I’m not the type to share my business at work or go to after-work functions. I’d rather be at the gym or watching Newsroom with my BF and they all understand and respect that.
I truly don’t get why some people are offended by introverts. It’s not personal guys.
Of course we don’t know if this is true about Lupita or not but my point is that none of the behavior described here is evidence of a “diva” attitude.
Kitten – I totally agree with you. Totally. (And I know your comment wasn’t in response to mine.) But theatre rehearsals do have practices that engender intimacy very quickly; practices that would be considered outrageous and illegal in most jobs. For example one common warmup exercise, at least in the UK, involves actors giving each other what amounts to a full-body (clothed) massages.
You meet someone and within an hour you’re massaging them, naked with them, kissing them, being encouraged to share your most personal secrets with them. The intimacy it creates is a false intimacy and I’m sure nothing like the real friendship you have with your co-workers. Actually, now I’m writing this out, I wonder if maybe that’s why problems develop between actors. It can be weird and hurtful to go through the enforced intimacy of the rehearsal room with someone and then see that intimacy evaporate completely once it’s all over. I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud.
I still think you make a mistake when persist in comparing your own work with acting in the theatre. Its the nature of the work involved thats the point her. Its not like working in an office. Trust me.
That said i have no opinion on this story, i like her and hope she does well.
I don’t know what to believe! I could say that she wants to be professional in her acting career. But if this true, she need to get off her OSCAR winning high horse and try to keep an acting job while she could. This ” diva” schick doesn’ t work for a person who just recently shine in the spotlight just overnight.
She’s a beautiful woman and I’m surprised it took so long for someone to knock her off her pedestal. There may be elements of truth in the story, but so what, she has something beautifully unique about her, so let them bow down.
Such a sexist way to describe a woman. I’ve never and will likely never see a man described as an ice prince.
Also, why princess? It in infantalises her. She’s a grown woman. Why not ice queen?
Again, if this were a man he’d be “professional, solemn, serious”
Just like at work. An authoritative man is “strong and competent”. An authoritative woman is a bitch.
“I’ve never and will likely never see a man described as an ice prince.”
Nah, they just get called a**holes.
Exactly! The Daily Mail seems to make a habit of this. Taking women down a few every chance they get
Not sure I believe this .
This is a woman who basically claimed The Color Purple was a earth shattering experience for her and she’d turn down the opportunity to have lunch, even once, with Akosua Busia, the unforgettable Nettie? Weird.
She’d refuse to spend time with Sengbloh, who took part in The color Purple, the musical Oprah Winfrey produced? Not wanting to spend all your free time with colleagues, sure but refusing to even chat with them when they took part in a project you claim to admire so much is a little suprising.
She gained a fair bit of weight but I really think it suits her. She looks beautiful
I don’t like the Daily Mail at all, and I’m sure there is exaggeration at play, but I’ve heard similar things from a Lancome commercial group. I was disappointed to hear they found Lupita was very cold and treated the low-level personnel very rudely. They said she was demanding and rude and would only turn it on when the Lancome reps were around. Otherwise she made everything go through assistants because she refused to talk to anyone. They didn’t call her bitchy, or cite any specifically mean behavior, but they made her sound very spoiled and precious.
Hm, that’s interesting. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if more stories like this come out. Taken at face value, without anything to corroborate it, I’m tempted to ignore this story, but I guess time will tell.
When I first heard about the Lancome thing, I thought maybe they just caught her on a bad few days, but then I read this and now I’m kind of reconsidering that maybe she wasn’t just having an off period on that Lancome commercial. But like you said, if she really is this way, word will get around eventually.
“Lupita…treated the low-level personnel very rudely”
I really, really hope this isn’t true – it’s a sign of poor character. I try not to judge other people (unless of course they’re already judging me), but for behaviors like this I’ll make an exception.
People who are rude to low-status individuals but then put on the smiles and charm for high-status individuals are scum. Pure scum. Really hoping this isn’t true! 🙁 Lupita seems so nice and pretty.
Not socializing with your coworkers is fine, and all that ‘ice princess’ stuff is baloney, but if you treat the help like dirt I have no time for you.
Uh yeah, I call BS.
There seems to be a bit of an undercurrent of resentment from the B’way regular actors when a star from H’wood enters their home. That could be a bit of what this is about(I’m sure she has done live theater before, but B’way/off is hardly where she made her name). And, if you like conspiracy theories, those other actresses floated this story to make sure they make the trip to B’way- otherwise, it’s all true!!😏
I admit that I did not really read the article. I stopped at “Daily Fail” (typo intended). If there’s any truth to this at all, it’s only because of that principle that even a broken clock is right twice a day. If you’re ever feeling too happy and want to weep for humanity, just peruse the comments on a daily mail article.
Complete and utter BS. Some people live to kick others off of the pedestal,instead of looking into their own lives. Lupita is nothing but sweet and successful – sadly for her, she’s a woman and black and educated – most dont like that In the entertainment industry. Anyway, I dont see her being this rude to co-workers. She comes across as humble and friendly. And if this did happen, then she could be just shy and an introvert. As an introvert who works with extroverts, I always have to think up an excuse to avoid them at lunch and dine alone, else im afraid ill turn into Dexter the serial killer with all their constant yapping. Someone on that set just has their ego hurt and are jealous of the attention Lupita gets from the director. Someone at dailymail is just full of it,as usual.
Worst they say is that she avoids socialising with her costars. Maybe she’s an introvert and needs her free time to recharge, how evil of her.
I find adults who take personal offence and get distressed because someone, especially a stranger, doesn’t give them the attention they want often have serious emotional issues and tend to come off as too intense, obsessive and needy. Not everybody is comfortable being the focus of people like that. So that could be a part of it too. Assuming there’s any truth in the reports of course.
We need a “like” button so desperately around here.
So much word to everything you say.
That’s what I’m reading from it. I’m also wondering how much of this is, “Pretty woman doesn’t smile and act friendly at all times.”
The Daily Mail seems to have a woman problem. Lately they seem super critical of women in power behaving in ways they find totally acceptable about men. Adele, Angeline Jolie and now Lupita all in a week. I hesitate to swallow their BS.
I think I’ve read similar things about Meryl Streep; that on some sets she stays to herself. Specifically I think Anne Hathaway indicated as much in an interview. Lupita shouldn’t have to answer for the fact that she needs space; I can imagine there is a tremendous amount of unspoken pressure for her to carry that play, which presumably wouldn’t have made it as far without her name recognition attached to it. I don’t think her career is stable and it is important for her to stand out a bit. Might be unpleasant for her costars, but it’s what might be best to keep her focused and in the game.
I think the majority of actors/celebrities out there have probably gone through a time where their ego was super inflated. When you suddenly have millions of people know your name overnight and you have magazines calling you all the time wanting to do interviews etc., its probably really hard to avoid it happening. I think some people are able to get out of it, and some people stay. But as I said, I’m sure it probably has happened to the majority of people in Hollywood at some point.
Maybe she is, maybe she isn’t. It wouldn’t really surprise me either way.
I follow her on instagram and while instagram is not real life, she comes off as a warm person. She’s not really big on selfies and she takes a lot of pics with/of other people. My diva radar just doesn’t bing with her.
Eh, could be true. For an actress who’s only had one noteworthy role released so far she gets a lot of attention and love, but it doesn’t seem to be based on much at this point. Her personality isn’t really a known quality, we’ve only seen her do a small-ish press and awards tour where 90% of the focus was on her clothes.
I think she’s beautiful and classy – but I was not particularly taken with her acting. Actually, the acting in 12 years a slave in general was hit or miss for me – I felt like some of it was stellar, some was distractingly bad (particularly his wife – WOW)
One hit wonder!
So her co-stars are mad because she isn’t besties with them? Amazing how petty people can be.
Why do I feel like “ice cold diva” is code here for “assertive woman who doesn’t feel the need to be amenable to everyone around her?”
My guess – a co-star or someone involved the production thought her being involved meant they would be able to obtain stardom via close association with the Oscar winner. And she is not playing along. She is here to do her job and get on with her life.
Considering no other person who has worked with her has spoken poorly about her, I doubt this. Maybe not have the standard actress “please desperately like me” neurosis means that others can’t exploit her the way they had intended and this is there only avenue of trying to get what they want. Force her to play damage control and then be forced out in a staged pap outing with the co-stars to “put the rumours to bed”. She has always comes across as very grounded and not caught up in the industry hoopla.
Interesting this comes along in the lead up the Star Wars release. Trying to force her hand???
She is a Piscean, and Piscean females are known to be closeted but enormous bitches.
Woah, someone is really jealous of her!
entire quote ===> “you got the part i wanted Damn you, Lupita Nyong’o!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I know nobody will agree with me, but I don’t see what the big deal is with this woman. She’s attractive, not beautiful, and gave one great performance (I didn’t see it, but heard she was wonderful in 12 Years a Slave) and now everyone thinks she’s amazing?!
And she’s got some bad looking, shapeless legs. Sorry for the snarkiness, but I call them like I see them.
I agree, and I do believe she is very snotty because of how privileged she grew up and how quickly she became famous and won an Oscar. She grew up very rich in Kenya and went to Yale University because of her privilege.
Some not so famous celeb who just wanted to take a pic with her said she was rude and felt that the person was not ‘A list enough’ which I think is rude. If Lupita has a mindest like that, then she won’t get very far in Hollywood.
Kenyans also complained about her being snobbish when she visited the country recently.