(CNN) -- Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o has become a new critics' darling after her breakout role in last year's hit movie "12 Years A Slave." Since then, the award ceremonies and opportunities to dazzle photographers have been plentiful for Nyong'o, whose mesmerizing performance as Patsey earned her numerous accolades and recognition, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Though all this attention is new to Nyong'o, who was born in Mexico to Kenyan parents, the young actress seems to enjoy all the hype around her. But there is much more to her story than how she captivates the cameras on the red carpet.
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Lupita Nyong'o has become one of Hollywood's hottest "It" girls
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Her performance in "12 Years A Slave" has earned her several awards and nominations
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The film has been hailed as one of the best movies of the year
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"I'm just happy and filled with gratitude," says Nyong'o
Because I think if I had been required to play @placeholder in any sort of methodical way where I go in and I never go out until we wrap the picture, I don't think I would have survived emotionally because it's heavy.