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Lupita Nyong’o has shared some moving words about her friend and Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman, who passed away last month from colon cancer.
The Hollywood star shared a photo of the two of them laughing together on her social media account, followed by a series of slides expressing the impact of his death and reminding us all to live life to the fullest, just like he did.
“I write these words from a place of hopelessness, to honor a man who had great hope. I am struggling to think and speak about my friend, Chadwick Boseman, in the past tense. It doesn’t make sense. The news of his passing is a punch to my gut every morning,” she begins.
“I am aware that we all mortal but you come across some people in life that possess an immortal energy, that seem like they have existed before, that are exactly where they are supposed to be – here!….that seem ageless….Chadwick was one of those people,” she continues.
“Chadwick was a man who made the most of his time, and somehow also managed to take his time.”
Lupita continues to describe his “quiet, powerful presence” on set and how he was always “fully present and also somehow fully aware of things in the distant future.”
She describes his dedication to his craft and his fellow actors:
“He showed up to every rehearsal and training and shoot day with his game face on. He was absorbent. Agile. He set the bar high by working with a generosity of spirit, creating an ego-free environment by sheer example, and he always had a warm gaze and a strong embrace to share.”
And she explains how he always used his words to lift people up:
“I never heard him complain – and there were definitely some things worth complaining about! I think he understood the power of words and chose to manifest power through his word. He used his mouth to build, to edify, never to break. And he used it to tell some regrettably lame dad jokes.”
Lupita continues by describing how he used his body not only in film but in life:
“He did his own stunts, drummed his own parties, danced many a night away, mastered martial arts…the list goes on. He loved, honored and respected that body, doing more with it than most. In si doing, he took the risk to be alive, fully alive. So it seems that it was life that gave up on Chadwick long before Chadwick gave up on life.”
She explains how being around him made her want to “be better, less petty, more purposeful.”
“He cared so deeply about humanity, about Black people, about his people. He activated out pride….We are all charged by his work as a result, his presence in our lives.”
Lupita ends by promising to live her life with purpose, like he did.
“I promise not to waste my time. I hope you will do the same.”