Born in Mexico City, Lupita Nyong'o was destined to be a star. As a child she told her mother elaborate stories about her day at school.
Later, the Yale Drama School prepped this Pisces beauty for acting, but it's her sensitivity that has allowed her to respond so passionately to the people and situations around her. Her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave propelled her onto the world's radar.
And she's wise beyond her years, "You go to acting school thinking you're going to learn how to be other people, but really, it taught me how to be myself. It's in understanding yourself deeply that you can lend yourself to another person's circumstances and another person's experience."