Lupita Nyong'o is set to star in Jordan Peele's eagerly anticipated horror, Us.
And thanks to her work in critically acclaimed work, Lupita has touched upon her previous award season experiences, especially the one in 2014 when she was heavily rumoured to be dating actor Jared Leto.
In an candid interview with NET-A-PORTER’s weekly digital magazine PorterEdit, the Oscar winner, 36, admitted that he is still very much a part of her life as there was an 'intimacy that grew between them' amongst the dating hear'say.
Hollywood was awash with dating rumours involving Nyong'o and Leto a few years earlier, and the star fondly admits: 'He’s still on speed dial, because we were on that journey together and he’s so embracing of me.
'There was an intimacy that grew from that, that goes beyond the dating rumours, beyond all that,' she revealed.
Meanwhile, stunning in the series of stylish, yet simplistic snaps - styled by Tracy Taylor and photographed by Paola Kudacki, Lupita joyfully detailed being protected by Hollywood's elite upon arrival in the industry.
'Starting with 12 Years a Slave, I was welcomed [in Hollywood] with such warmth. My castmates surrounded me. I don’t know if they are aware of this, but I felt so protected.'
Lupita proudly gave details: 'Sarah Paulson: my God, that girl, she was like everything to me. And Alfre Woodard, she was invaluable. Oprah embraced my mom and my brother and invited them to her house for lunch without me.
'I was just like, "Wow, this is an incredibly supportive industry." I didn’t feel isolated. Gabrielle Union: we’d gone to a fashion show in France together and she’d been so open and embracing, exchanging phone numbers with me – there was a ‘you need anything kind’ of vibe.
'I didn’t feel alone within the black community, I didn’t feel alone within the Hollywood community. [12 Years A Slave director] Steve McQueen really did look out for me big time. Brad Pitt, same thing,' she delightedly expressed.
Lupita's initial fearlessness in the industry stemmed from her upbringing in Kenya, as she recalled: 'I come from a very sexist society. I did need to be conditioned for that kind of world, but it was always a step removed from my home life.
