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Oscar for ’12 Years a Slave’
Nyong’o returned to the States and, pursuing her interest in acting, earned a master’s degree from the Yale School of Drama in 2012, having performed in works like The Winter’s Tale with the school’s Repertory Theatre.

Weeks before graduating she found out that she had landed a part in director Steve McQueen’s drama 12 Years a Slave. The Brad Pitt-produced film is based on the 19th century narrative written by Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Northern-based free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South.

Nyong’o played the role of Patsey, an enslaved young woman who befriends Northup while being horrifically abused by plantation master Edwin Epps and his wife, portrayed by Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson. For her performance in the film, Nyong’o earned a slew of award nominations, before taking home the 2014 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.