While many of us might not be thrilled with the fact that her character, Maz Kanata, will be created with CGI, it’s certain that they wouldn’t have cast an actress of Nyong’o’s Yale graduate/Oscar-winning caliber if this weren’t an awesome role. What’s more, in the concept art newly revealed in Indie Revolver, we can see that this would’ve been a really difficult make-up job.
Just look at that face! There’s a story there. And while we will sadly be deprived of Nyong’o’s natural beauty, creating a new character in a huge film franchise is an opportunity that every actor relishes. Representation is about more than just the audience seeing themselves on screen. It’s about actors of color having the opportunity to play the types of nuanced, or fun, or profitable characters that white actors do.
