Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong'o has revealed she was entirely unfamiliar with Homer's ancient Greek epic The Odyssey when she agreed to star in Christopher Nolan's ambitious screen adaptation — and had to undertake a crash course in Greek mythology before filming began. The 43-year-old Oscar winner plays the dual roles of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra in the upcoming film, which is set for release in July.

A Crash Course in Greek Mythology

Speaking to ELLE magazine, Nyong'o was candid about her initial unfamiliarity with the source material. 'I really had no idea what The Odyssey was. I was like, Oh, snap, I don't know the first thing about this. So it was a crash course. I picked up the books and read them immediately. I have this film to thank for my Greek mythological education,' she said.

The admission is a striking one given the cultural weight of Homer's text, considered one of the foundational works of Western literature. Nyong'o's willingness to commit before fully understanding the material speaks to the pull of Nolan's name in Hollywood.

What Nyong'o Said About Working With Nolan

The 12 Years a Slave star also spoke warmly about her experience on set with the Oppenheimer director, describing him as far more actor-friendly than his enigmatic public image suggests. 'He has quite an enigmatic persona, but working with him was so accessible. He's really great with actors. I felt supported. I felt challenged. And what I love most about his approach is that he really wants to know what the actors think. He really gives us the responsibility and the authority to advocate for our characters. You're very much a part of consultations about hair, makeup, wardrobe, all of that,' she said.

Notably, Nolan's reputation for tight secrecy around productions makes Nyong'o's description of an inclusive, collaborative process a revealing glimpse behind the curtain of one of cinema's most anticipated releases.

Racist Backlash and Her Response

Nyong'o has reportedly faced racist criticism following her casting as Helen of Troy — the figure famously described as 'the face that launched a thousand ships' — but says she is not engaging with her detractors. 'I'm very supportive of Chris' intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I'm not spending my time thinking of a defence,' she said.

She added: 'The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not. It's quite something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that's why the cast is what it is. We're occupying the epic narrative of our time.'

On Portraying Beauty and Character Depth

Reflecting on the challenge of embodying one of mythology's most iconic figures, Nyong'o said she refused to approach the role through the lens of appearance alone. 'You can't perform beauty. I want to know who a character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks? That's the thing about doing such a well-known text, which has been studied and interpreted and derived from. The research could be endless. The good thing about working with a writer like Chris is that it's on the page,' she said.

The film also stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway. With Nolan at the helm and a cast of this scale, The Odyssey is shaping up as one of the most closely watched releases of the year.