by Benson Agoha
The revelation in last Sunday's Golden Globes Awards ceremony for which cast and crew of `12 Years a Slave' won the Golden Globes, seems to have been one and only one person.
And I am not talking of Steve McQueen.
No..not this already accomplished director of the film, who did his best at modesty, playing down his directing efforts in making the film, but put forward the efforts of the cast and crew (see how he scratched his scalp when the interviewer interjected "..and a little bit also to the directing and the power of the story".
Not Chiwetel Ejiofor, an (OBE) and experienced actor who had previously done roles alongside top Hollywood Stars like Denzen Washington (American Gangster - 2007) and John Cusack (in a 2009 film `2012'), described as among the list of highest-grossing films of all time after it place 5th of tops films for that year, racking in over $700m.
Like McQueen Ejiofor was modest about `12 years a slave'. He agreed with the suggestion of serendipity and said indeed `..a bit of luck is involved in the achievement as well as the efforts of the cast and crew'.
Not Benedict Cumberbatch, experienced and often in the news, who only recently was back in 2013, wave-surffing with his portrayal of Julian Assange in `The Fifth Estate'.
Not even Michael Fassbender, the Heidelberg born, Irish-German actor, who has already achieved fame in previous roles, including Shame, for which he won the `Volpi Cup best actor award' at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in August 2011, and over which he was nominated for the Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards.
It is the debutant Lupita Nyongo'o.
This Mexican-born actress of Kenyan descent made her American film debut in `12 Years a Slave' (2013) as Patsey. And clips showed she gave it her all - and it has paid off, handsomely, beautifully.
Whatever anyone says, Nyongo'o was made for fame - not only was she cast in a film destined for success, but nature and her - whatdoy'allcallit - make-up artist blended everything perfectly.
But although Nyongo'o's performance in `12 Years a Slave' won her recognition and her smiles admiration, her outfit at the ceremony was equally outstanding.
Unsurprisingly, the 30 year old has, suddenly, been thrust to the limelight. But it has been a long time coming.
Nyongo starred in a 2008 short film `East River' in the US, before returning to Kenya to star in a Kenya television series `Shuga' also in 2008.
In 2009, she wrote, directed and produced a documentary, `In My Genes', which was about the treatment of Kenya's albino population. The film played at several film festivals.
As if naturally built for fame, she is riding her recent wave of popularity fairly well.
In an industry continually in search of new talent and at a time that black faces appear to be vanishing from the red carpet, Nyongo'o's arrival is certainly filling a void and she has been well packaged. Whoever recommended that red frock certainly made a good choice.
Success may bring confidence, but does it bring elegance? In the film industry, it appears that elegance brings success.
For the new arrival, everything seems to be perfectly falling into place.
Her publicity is being well managed and the media love her coy smile and demure appearance in the face of the instant fame that accompanies the Golden Globes Awards.
And whether it is luck, talent, beauty, mere co-incidence or a combination of all, may it stay with you sister for the long haul and may other aspirants learn from your success.
More powers to the elbows of Steve McQueen and everyone one who contributed to the success recorded by `12 Years A Slave' at the Golden Globes Awards.
* Twitter: @bensonagoha.
* Twitter: @woolwichonline.
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* Photos Credit: Oprah Winfrey and Francois Duhamel/AP.
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