Gwyneth x Lupita Nyong’o: On Giving Yourself Permission to Learn

Gwyneth x Lupita Nyong’o: On Giving Yourself Permission to Learn

GP hung out at Universal Studios with Oscar-winning actor Lupita Nyong’o as she prepped for the release of her new film Us (written and directed by the talented Jordan Peele). They talked about Nyong’o’s path to the platform she has today: growing up in Mexico and Kenya, her politician-professor father who was in self-exile, Nyong’o’s education (and why getting an Ivy League degree was important to her), landing her role in 12 Years a Slave, the cultural significance of Black Panther. They talked about shame—in the context of women’s sexuality and also the shame of not understanding something. “Ignorance doesn't have to be permanent. It can be momentary,” says Nyong’o. “You have to allow yourself to learn. And it starts with admitting what you don’t know.” Other highlights: the pair’s perspective on how beauty is being redefined in the culture, Nyong’o’s description of the most “dangerous” (in a good way) actor she’s ever worked with, and some critical tips on getting through a scary movie. (For more, see The goop Podcast hub.)