Kenyan Lupita is the favourite to win the 2014 EE Bafta awards following her nomination for the rising star awards category for her unwavering debut in the Steve McQueens brutal 12years a slave.

LUPITA NYONG’O the Mexican born, Kenyan raised schooled in the USA, where she graduated from the Yale School of Drama’s acting program. Her breakthrough performance with her debut on 12 years a slave was honoured with the New Hollywood Award and helped to cement her place on Variety’s admired annual 10 Actors to Watch list.

As well as acting, Lupita is also an award-winning film-maker. She wrote, directed, and produced In My Genes; a fascinating documentary about the treatment of Kenya’s often misunderstood albino population.

Speaking of her fast rising profile, She says, “I am absolutely delighted to be nominated for the EE Rising Star Award and feel so honoured to be in the company of past and present nominees.”