Lupita inches closer to an Oscar

By SHIRLEY GENGA

It is now clear the sky is not even the limit for Lupita Nyong’o who has won a prestigious Hollywood award… and there could be more in store for her.

Lupita bagged her first award at the 17th annual Hollywood Film Awards where she received the ‘New Hollywood Awards’ for her stunning performance as a slave in 12 years a slave, while the film’s director Steve McQueen won ‘Hollywood Breakout Director Award’.

The prizes were announced at the 17th annual Hollywood Film Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California.

The event was attended by Hollywood’s finest and most glamorous stars.

Newly engaged Kanye West and Angela Bassett were in attendance  to present the awards to Steve McQueen and Lupita.

Also, Jane Fonda and Forest Whitaker presented Lee Daniels with the ‘Hollywood Director Award’ for his success with Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

The Hollywood Film Awards, founded in 1997 and determined by founder and executive director Carlos de Abreu and an advisory committee, have proven to be a great indicator of future Academy Award nominees.

Jennifer Lawrence and Ben Affleck, who were honoured at last year’s event ,went on to take home Oscars. 

To make it to the coveted Best supporting Actress Oscar nomination list, Lupita will have to battle big names like Oprah Winfrey, Naomie Harris, Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Octavia Spencer and Jennifer Lawrence, but so far things are looking up for Hollywood’s newest starlet, and with her Hollywood award chances are high that she will be named later in the year as an Oscar award nominee.

Last month, The Nairobian reported that predictions on blogs and on high-traffic websites seemed to suggest that Lupita – the daughter of Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o – may be nominated for the Oscars later in the year.