Lupita Amondi Nyong’o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress. Nyong’o began her career in Hollywood as a production assistant. In 2008, she made her acting debut with the short film East River and subsequently returned to Kenya to star in the television series Shuga (2009–2012). Also in 2009, she wrote, produced, and directed the documentary In My Genes. She had her first feature film role as Patsey in Steve McQueen’s biographical period drama 12 Years a Slave (2013).