Lupita Nyong’o earns acclaim after ‘The Odyssey’ casting backlash 

Lupita Nyong’o has emerged as one of the standout performers in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey after receiving widespread praise for her portrayal of Helen of Troy following backlash over her casting.

The Oscar-winning actress appeared confident and radiant in New York on Thursday as she continued promoting the highly anticipated epic, days after critics highlighted her performance following the lifting of the film’s review embargo.

Several reviewers praised Nyong’o’s portrayal, with critics describing her performance as “vivid” and arguing that the actress brought depth and intensity to the role.

Her casting as Helen of Troy, one of Greek mythology’s most famous figures, had earlier sparked controversy online, with some critics questioning Nolan’s decision to cast the Kenyan-Mexican actress in the role.

However, Nyong’o said she was not focused on defending the decision, expressing support for Nolan’s creative vision.

“I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world,” she told Elle.

“I’m not spending my time thinking of a defence. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not,” she added.

The debate intensified after some public figures criticised the casting on social media, including comments from entrepreneur Elon Musk and conservative commentator Matt Walsh.

But following the release of early reviews, several critics defended Nolan’s choice and praised Nyong’o’s contribution to the film.

The Independent gave the movie a five-star review, noting that while the film features a large ensemble cast, its female characters stood out.

RogerEbert.com editor-at-large Matt Zoller Seitz described Nolan’s casting choices as “not just defensible but inspiring,” while the Financial Times praised Nyong’o’s performance as “vivid and bristling.”

Nolan previously addressed criticism surrounding the film’s casting, saying he approaches historical and mythological stories by considering the most compelling interpretation rather than simply reproducing expectations.

The director compared his approach to his 2014 science-fiction film Interstellar, explaining that his goal is to create a world based on thoughtful speculation.

Meanwhile, The Odyssey has received strong early reviews, earning a 96 per cent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes from more than 60 reviews.

The film marks Nolan’s 13th feature and currently ranks among his highest-rated works, surpassing several of his previous acclaimed films.