Boss Lady: How Lupita Runs the World

The star celebrates two Vogue covers, and more to come.

En Vogue - Lupita Nyong'o's most recent — and second Vogue cover in a little over a year — is just another example of what the regal Oscar winner is capable of. But there’s more on her horizon. Here’s a look at her next few years. By Kellee Terrell (Photo: Vogue Magazine, October 2015, July 2014)

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En Vogue - Lupita Nyong'o's most recent — and second Vogue cover in a little over a year — is just another example of what the regal Oscar winner is capable of. But there’s more on her horizon. Here’s a look at her next few years. By Kellee Terrell (Photo: Vogue Magazine, October 2015, July 2014)

Photo By Photo: Vogue Magazine

Off-Broadway Shining Star - This October, Lupita will be making her New York stage debut starring in the play Eclipse, written by her BFF Danai Gurira (Michonne from The Walking Dead). Set during the Liberian Civil War, Eclipsed follows a group of women who are the captive wives of a rebel officer, and what happens when a new woman arrives.(Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Marie Claire)

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Off-Broadway Shining Star - This October, Lupita will be making her New York stage debut starring in the play Eclipse, written by her BFF Danai Gurira (Michonne from The Walking Dead). Set during the Liberian Civil War, Eclipsed follows a group of women who are the captive wives of a rebel officer, and what happens when a new woman arrives.(Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Marie Claire)

May the Force Be With You - A mere two years of winning her first Academy Award, Lupita will be a major force in one of the most lucrative movie franchises in history. This December, the actress will play pirate Maz Kanata in the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens.   (Photo: Disney Enterprises)

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May the Force Be With You - A mere two years of winning her first Academy Award, Lupita will be a major force in one of the most lucrative movie franchises in history. This December, the actress will play pirate Maz Kanata in the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. (Photo: Disney Enterprises)

Jungle Love - Her second upcoming Disney film is a live-action version of the classic cartoon The Jungle Book. Lupita plays Raksha, the mama wolf to her human son Mowgli, and will join forces with Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson. She told the press, “I really enjoy that process, playing a mother of this boy,” she said. “Just the love between a human and a wolf was something really cool to explore.”(Photo: Disney Enterprises)

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Jungle Love - Her second upcoming Disney film is a live-action version of the classic cartoon The Jungle Book. Lupita plays Raksha, the mama wolf to her human son Mowgli, and will join forces with Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson. She told the press, “I really enjoy that process, playing a mother of this boy,” she said. “Just the love between a human and a wolf was something really cool to explore.”(Photo: Disney Enterprises)

African Queen - In a film helmed by award-winning director Mira Nair, Lupita will play opposite her 12 Years a Slave co-star David Oyelowo in the upcoming film Queen of Katwe. Shot in South Africa and Uganda, the film tells the true-life story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Lupita will be playing Phiona’s mother, Harriet.(Photo: ISAAC KASAMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

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African Queen - In a film helmed by award-winning director Mira Nair, Lupita will play opposite her 12 Years a Slave co-star David Oyelowo in the upcoming film Queen of Katwe. Shot in South Africa and Uganda, the film tells the true-life story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Lupita will be playing Phiona’s mother, Harriet.(Photo: ISAAC KASAMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Producer Gal - Lupita knows that finding roles for women of color is hard. She’s decided not to wait for roles to come to her, but to create them herself. In 2014, she optioned Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah, which centers on a pair of Nigerian immigrants and how their relationship grows over time. No production schedule has been set as of yet, but look for this film in the next few years.(Photo:  Alfred A. Knopf) 

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Producer Gal - Lupita knows that finding roles for women of color is hard. She’s decided not to wait for roles to come to her, but to create them herself. In 2014, she optioned Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah, which centers on a pair of Nigerian immigrants and how their relationship grows over time. No production schedule has been set as of yet, but look for this film in the next few years.(Photo:  Alfred A. Knopf) 

Makeup Maven - In addition to being an actress, in 2014 Lupita was named a new face of cosmetics brand Lancôme Paris — the company’s first Black ambassador. Cannot wait to see her new ads for this season!(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

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Makeup Maven - In addition to being an actress, in 2014 Lupita was named a new face of cosmetics brand Lancôme Paris — the company’s first Black ambassador. Cannot wait to see her new ads for this season!(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

Animal Lover - Lupita doesn’t just lend her face to Lancôme but also to animal rights causes. This year, she was named the Global Elephant ambassador to WildAid, an organization committed to the lives of endangered animals as well as women’s issues in her native Kenya. (Photo: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust via Instagram)

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Animal Lover - Lupita doesn’t just lend her face to Lancôme but also to animal rights causes. This year, she was named the Global Elephant ambassador to WildAid, an organization committed to the lives of endangered animals as well as women’s issues in her native Kenya. (Photo: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust via Instagram)

Cover Star - Despite being crazy-busy and crazy-successful, Lupita admits to needing that down time to stay centered. She recently told Vogue that she can’t wait to get back to her Brooklyn apartment to lay low, take the subway, do yoga, and meditate. She also doesn’t let the fame get to her head, being clear that will always think of herself as a “child of Kenya.”(Photo: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)

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Cover Star - Despite being crazy-busy and crazy-successful, Lupita admits to needing that down time to stay centered. She recently told Vogue that she can’t wait to get back to her Brooklyn apartment to lay low, take the subway, do yoga, and meditate. She also doesn’t let the fame get to her head, being clear that will always think of herself as a “child of Kenya.”(Photo: Craig Barritt/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)