Lupita Nyongo has enjoyed an impressive success streak for the past couple of years. If you thought her star role in Black Panther was the peak of her achievements, think again. This Hollywood wondergirl has many surprises up her sleeves. She yesterday announced plans to work on Trevor Noah’s biopic Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood.
She will be co-producing and starring in the film adaptation of Trevor’s autobiography. The book tracks his life growing up in post-Apartheid South Africa as a mixed race child. His father was white while his mother was black. During that era such children were regarded as pariahs.
The acclaimed actress will star in the film as Patricia, Trevor’s mother. She was shot in the head by Noah’s stepfather in 2009 but survived the attack. The book delves into Patricia’s strong influence on her son’s life, as well as her unwavering religious beliefs.
Lupita broke the exciting news on her Twitter timeline: “When I read @TrevorNoah’s “Born A Crime,” I could not put the book down. Excited to announce that I will be starring in and producing its feature film adaptation! #BornACrime”. Trevor responded “I’m in heaven!”
Since being released in 2006, Born A Crime has won two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Work, and the James Thurber Prize for American Humour.