Day One Helped Her Overcome a Fear of Cats

In a heartwarming revelation, acclaimed actress Lupita Nyong’o has shared how her latest movie, A Quiet Place: Day One helped her conquer her lifelong fear of cats. The talented performer, known for her collaborations with director Jordan Peele, credited the movie for transforming her perception of feline companions and even led her to bond with them in a life-altering way. The movie, which serves as both a spin-off and prequel to the successful A Quiet Place franchise, also stars Joseph Quinn and Alex Wolff.

Nyong’o portrays Samira, a terminally ill character who finds solace in her cat, Frodo, while an otherworldly invasion from sound-hunting aliens creates chaos and destruction around her. In an interview with CBS Mornings on Tuesday, Nyong’o revealed how diving in the role led her to face a personal fear. From her initial apprehension to the gradual overcoming of her fear, the actor spoke candidly. “I’ve been terrified of cats my entire life,” she shared in the interview, adding:

“I wouldn’t be in a room with a cat, I would cry … I just found them suspicious, you know? They’re like little lions, and like, if they were any bigger, they would eat us.”

A Quiet Place: Day One

3/5

A Quiet Place: Day One is a spin-off of the A Quiet Place franchise conceived by John Krasinski. The film is set at the beginning of the invasion as humanity scrambles to survive, before the events of the original film, with Lupita Nyong’O leading the cast, directed by Michael Sarnoski.

Release Date

June 28, 2024

Nyong’o said she even begged director Michael Sarnoski to consider a different animal, like an armadillo, for the part. But eventually, she decided to take exposure therapy, where someone released cats into her home and she stood on the other side of the room to get comfortable enough in their presence. To say the least, it worked.

“I had to spend time with cats over a period of a few weeks to get acclimatized and to understand them enough not to be suspicious of them because I really needed to look like I was a cat owner.”

How One Film & a Tabby Cat Changed Everything for Lupita Nyong’o

When shooting wrapped, Nyong’o found herself emotionally attached to her feline co-stars, Nico and Schnitzel, who were adorable and immensely talented. After bonding intensely over the months of production, saying goodbye was bittersweet. But it also marked a turning point in her relationship with cats because, last year, Nyong’o announced that she had adopted an orange tabby cat named Yoyo. The decision came after her breakup, and the Instagram post highlighted how it was “time to embrace change and new possibilities” for Nyong’o.

“I never understood people whose phones were full of photos and videos of their pets — now I am one of those people! It may look like I saved Yoyo, but really, Yoyo is saving me.”

Related

A Quiet Place: Day One Review | Lupita Nyong’o Shines in a Blockbuster Prequel

A cancer-stricken woman (Lupita Nyong’o), her cat, and other survivors try to escape New York City after an alien attack.

Nyong’o always had presumptions about cats because of her cultural background and upbringing. But A Quiet Place: Day One allowed her to understand what exposure can do for a person. Similarly, Lupita Nyong’o’s performance throughout her career has been nothing short of exceptional. From her breakout role in 12 Years a Slave to her enchanting work in Peele’s Us, she has consistently delivered powerful performances.