Lupita Nyong'o rejects criticism of Helen of Troy role

Actress Lupita Nyong'o has told radical who person criticised her casting arsenic Helen of Troy successful Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey to retrieve that "this is simply a mythological story".

The Oscar victor volition play Helen, whose quality famously "launched a 1000 ships" and resulted successful the Trojan war, according to Homer's past Greek legend.

But her casting has present sparked a civilization warfare too, with critics including Elon Musk claiming it's incorrect to formed a achromatic histrion arsenic the quality successful Nolan's hotly anticipated movie.

Speaking to Elle, Nyong'o responded: "I'm precise supportive of Chris's volition with it and with the mentation of this communicative that helium is telling. Our formed is typical of the world."

She added: "I'm not spending my clip reasoning of a defence. The disapproval volition beryllium whether I prosecute with it oregon not."

Nyong'o besides told the outlet: "It's rather thing to beryllium a portion of The Odyssey, due to the fact that it is truthful grand. It spans worlds. So that's wherefore the formed is what it is. We're occupying the epic communicative of our time."

The disapproval erupted aft Nyongo's casting was revealed past week.

Musk said manager Nolan has "grossly insulted the Greek people", and replied "true" to a meme of a antheral supposedly dancing connected Homer's grave.

The X proprietor wrote: "I hold that she [Nyong'o] is beautiful, but casting a Black pistillate to play a White pistillate successful a foundational enactment of European lit is nary much close than casting a White antheral to play Shaka Zulu!"

Shaka Zulu was a famed person of the Zulu nation.

Musk renewed his onslaught connected Friday, penning connected X: "Chris Nolan is an anti-White racist."

Nolan has not responded to the criticism.

The Briton, 1 of the astir celebrated film-makers successful Hollywood, has directed and written the caller mentation of Homer's epic poem.

Nolan won 2 Oscars successful 2024 for his past release, Oppenheimer, and besides is known for films including Dunkirk, Inception, Interstellar and The Dark Knight.

Nyong'o won an Oscar successful 2014 for 12 Years a Slave, and has besides starred successful Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Black Panther.

The Odyssey volition besides prima Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Charlize Theron, and volition beryllium released successful cinemas successful the US and UK connected 17 July.