Lupita Nyong’o Co-Directed with Christopher Nolan for Her Scenes in The Odyssey

Lupita Nyong’o stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss her advocacy campaign Make Fibroids Count, her unforgettable experience working with Christopher Nolan on The Odyssey, and even put her knowledge of Greek mythology to the test in a fun game with Fallon.

Nyong’o shared that after moving back to New York City from Los Angeles, she’s enjoying spending more time in the Big Apple though her beloved cat, Yo-Yo, hasn’t exactly embraced the change. She joked that the feline gives her a daily look that says, “We used to have it better than this,” prompting plenty of laughs from the audience. To keep him happy, she occasionally takes him upstate so he can enjoy the open space he once had in California.

The Oscar winner then shifted to a cause that’s deeply personal to her. Nyong’o spoke about launching Make Fibroids Count, a campaign inspired by her own experience with uterine fibroids. She explained that while the condition affects nearly 80% of women, it remains underfunded and under-researched.

“We’ve raised money for two studies focused on less-invasive treatments,” she shared. “But we need more research, and research requires funding.” Nyong’o encouraged viewers to contact their senators in support of legislation that would expand resources and treatment options for women.

Fallon also asked about starring in Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey, which was filmed across seven countries, including Greece and Morocco. Nyong’o described the production as an immersive experience that relied heavily on real-world locations instead of visual effects.

“When you see it in IMAX, you really appreciate the beauty of the real world,” she said. “Very little of what you’re seeing is CGI. Those are the actual places where we filmed.”

While many cast members endured physically demanding scenes, Nyong’o joked that she had it a bit easier because she portrayed two queens Helen of Troy and her sister, Clytemnestra.

She also recalled one of the most surprising moments on set when Nolan unexpectedly asked her to direct the background actors during a pivotal scene.

“I thought, ‘Wait… am I directing now?'” she laughed. “Then I realized, ‘Well, I am the queen.'”

Thanks to her preparation, she confidently assigned tasks to the actors before stepping back into character herself. Looking back, she joked that she may have briefly become Christopher Nolan’s co-director.

Nyong’o revealed that Nolan had originally invited her to a meeting for what was described as a “secret project” and told her he had only one actor in mind to play Helen of Troy. Before she’d even finished reading the script, she had already accepted the role. When Nolan revealed she’d also be playing Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra, her answer became an enthusiastic “double yes.”

To wrap up the interview, Fallon challenged Nyong’o to a lighthearted Greek mythology trivia game inspired by The Odyssey. The pair breezed through questions about mythological figures, laughing their way through each round before correctly identifying Uranus as the real figure in the final bonus question. Their playful chemistry made for a fitting end to an interview that balanced meaningful advocacy with plenty of humor.

The Odyssey is in theaters