Lupita Nyong’o Wins Critics Choice ‘Best Supporting Actress’ Award

It’s a pretty good day to be Lupita Nyong’o.
Not only did she earn herself an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress early on Thursday (Jan. 16), but she also took home a trophy in the same category for her work in “12 Years a Slave” at the 2014 Critics’ Choice Awards later than evening.
“Thank you. I’m a little terrified,” she says after taking the stage with tears in her eyes. “I’m so honored to be here and I just want to thank the BFCA for this incredible honor. This has been an incredible year of excellent performances and in my category, I feel so honored to be with the likes of June Squibb and Jennifer Lawrence and Julia Roberts and Scarlett Johansson.”
She left off nominee Oprah Winfrey, but it didn’t matter to the legend, who was caught on camera with tears in her eyes as Nyong’o accepted her honor. In fact, it seemed as if the entire audience was overcome with emotion. Many jumped to their feet, while her directorSteve McQueen, who later accepted Best Picture for his stirring film, was caught looking a little misty as well.
“I’d like to dedicate this to my uncle … who always came to watch every single play I was in … and on one of the last performances he saw me in, he said ‘You’re good, but let’s see what Hollywood thinks of you,'” she says to close her speech. “He didn’t live to see this day, but I’m sure he’s proud of me.”