Celebrity News

Lupita stays grounded despite whirlwind success

Oscar nominee Lupita Nyong’o is Hollywood’s newest fixation. But she still hasn’t forgotten those who first noticed her in “12 Years a Slave.”

Lupita Nyong’o embraces Steve McQueen at the SAG awards.Michael Buckner/WireImage

Before Nyong’o was signed on to the movie by director Steve McQueen, she was virtually unknown. Now she is a nominee for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar and is being feted by Vogue’s Anna Wintour and fashion brands including Miu Miu and Calvin Klein.

Nyong’o, wearing a Peter Pilotto geometric and floral dress, celebrated her cover of Jason Binn’s DuJour magazine at Butter Midtown restaurant on Wednesday.

The actress, brought up in Kenya, said of the winter-issue cover (which she shot last September): “I was thrilled . . . it was the first cover I was ever asked to do since being in the States.”

She has since been featured on the cover of W, New York and Vanity Fair.