Lupita Nyong'o shares behind-the-scenes video showing how she brought CGI character Maz Kanata to life in Star Wars

By Caitlin O'toole For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:46 EST, 29 March 2016 | Updated: 01:32 EST, 30 March 2016

Lupita Nyong'o has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at how she brought alien Maz Kanata to life in Star Wars.

The star shared a Twitter video glimpse as she worked with special effects experts to create the CGI character in The Force Awakens.

'Happy #MazMonday!' she captioned the clip.

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Focused: Lupita Nyong'o wears a motion-capture suit and is covered in white dots as she works with Star Wars director JJ Abrams to film her role as Maz Kanata

Focused: Lupita Nyong'o wears a motion-capture suit and is covered in white dots as she works with Star Wars director JJ Abrams to film her role as Maz Kanata

Lupita is seen collaborating with The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, special effects experts at Industrial Light And Magic, and costar Andy Serkis in the behind-the-scenes clip.

Looking focused, the 33-year-old wears a dark motion-capture bodysuit.

Her face is covered in white dots, and tiny camera strapped to her head convert her every move into the on-screen Maz in real-time.

'Lupita could actually perform as a normal human, which suddenly released her and we could actually composite that as she was performing on the motion-capture stage in real time,' explains Special Effects Supervisor Ben Morris.

Impressive: The special effects experts were able to create Maz in real-time as Lupita acted out the role on the sound stage

Impressive: The special effects experts were able to create Maz in real-time as Lupita acted out the role on the sound stage

In character: The Oscar-winner played the wise, ancient alien in blockbuster The Force Awakens

In character: The Oscar-winner played the wise, ancient alien in blockbuster The Force Awakens

In character: Lupita's face was covered in white dots and tiny cameras captured her every move

In character: Lupita's face was covered in white dots and tiny cameras captured her every move

And SFX supervisor Roger Guyett adds: 'Somebody said to me 'What's The Magic?' and to me, the magic is when we were doing Maz. 

'You saw Lupita just make that character come to life.' 

The 12 Years A Slave star is also seen watching with delight as she sees Maz come to life on screen. She's also seen consulting with costar and CGI acting pioneer Andy Serkis, who plays Snoke in The Force Awakens.

Director J.J. Abrams said the result was a character that seemed completely real.

Motion-capture: Lupita and costar Andy Serkis on the sound stage, as Maz appears on the screen 

Motion-capture: Lupita and costar Andy Serkis on the sound stage, as Maz appears on the screen 

Loving it: The actor beams as she watches Maz come to life alongside costar Andy, right

Loving it: The actor beams as she watches Maz come to life alongside costar Andy, right

Captivating: The special effects experts said Lupita brought 'magic' to the character

Captivating: The special effects experts said Lupita brought 'magic' to the character

'She looks like she fits in,' he says of Maz. 'They've done an extraordinary job bringing a character to life in CG... you would never know.'

The clip also shows the Oscar-winner kneeling with Daisy Ridley's Rey character in one of the blockbuster's pivotal scenes.

In addition to her role in The Force Awakens, Lupita has been busy on stage, and recently made her Broadway debut in searing African drama Eclipsed. 

She will next be seen in The Jungle Book, voicing wolf mother Raksha in the live-action Disney reboot, which hits US theaters on April 15.

Key moment: Lupita, as Maz, counsels Daisy Ridley's Rey character in The Force Awakens

Key moment: Lupita, as Maz, counsels Daisy Ridley's Rey character in The Force Awakens

 

 

 

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