Lupita Nyong’o has broken her silence on harsh criticism of her casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s version of “The Odyssey” — some of which came from Elon Musk.
“You can’t perform beauty,” the actress told Elle of backlash over her role as “the most beautiful woman in the world” in a profile published on Thursday.
“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,” she continued.
“Research could be endless. The good thing about working with a writer like Chris is that it’s on the page,” she added of the acclaimed director.
“The investigation starts with the pages you’re given. That’s what I based it on.”
Nyong’o, 43, also reminded readers that Homer’s epic “is a mythological story” versus a historical account.
“I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling,” the “12 Years a Slave” actress told the magazine, noting that the “cast is representative of the world.”
“I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense,” she explained. “The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the model noted, “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.”
Criticism emerged online after casting details were released for Universal’s epic movie, helmed by the “Oppenheimer” director.
Musk took to X earlier this year to blast the decision to cast Nyong’o as both Helen of Troy and Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra. In January, he wrote, “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.”
And earlier in May, the Tesla CEO agreed with a conservative commentator’s suggestion that Nolan would be branded a racist if he gave the role to a white woman.
Another X user called out that the Academy Awards has implemented diversity requirements, with Musk writing that the “Dark Knight” director “wants the awards.”
Alec Baldwin hit back at Musk, writing via Instagram, “Dear Elon… but she IS the most beautiful woman in the world…Alec.”
Late night giant Jimmy Kimmel also lashed out in a recent monologue, saying Musk should “stay in [his] lane.”
Nolan, meanwhile, is standing behind his decision. “The strength and the poise were so important to the character of Helen. And Lupita makes it look effortless,” he told the magazine.
“I’m sure there’s a tremendous amount of discipline and training that goes into projecting that kind of poise and feeling the emotion bubbling beneath the character, the layers of the character right there underneath.”
He concluded, “She’s just an incredible person to work with, and I was absolutely desperate for her to do the part.”
