Lupita Nyong'o left body behind for Star Wars

Actress Lupita Nyong'o relished her role in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, because she didn't win it based on "physical attributes".

The star may have won an Oscar for her turn in 2013's 12 Years a Slave, but she only has five film credits to her name. Among them is the latest Star Wars instalment, in which she plays CGI character Maz Kanata. For Lupita, it was a refreshing chance to leave her body behind the scenes and portray the role simply via voice and movement.

"It gives you a unique opportunity to play a role that is not restricted to your visible attributes or circumstances," she explained to Empire magazine. "I was interested in that extra flexing of my imagination to create a totally different body than my own."

Lupita loved the atmosphere on set, revealing that the makers were "very open" to ideas from their cast. However: "At a certain point, as the layman, you can't see how it can get any cooler," she added.

The Force Awakens is the first Star Wars film since Disney acquired the rights from Lucasfilm in 2012. With lots of anticipation surrounding the December 2015 release, the cast and crew have worked hard to keep the movie, directed by J. J. Abrams, shrouded in mystery.

Lupita previously revealed the secrecy of the project is something she really struggled with. "I'm convinced that if I say anything about Star Wars, I'll be struck by lightning," she laughed to Britain's Hello! magazine. "All I can say is that the very first time I walked on set, I walked onto another planet."

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens has an impressive cast, which also includes original star Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis and Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie.