Lupita Nyongo revealed she had to go on three months of vocal rest after developing a vocal cord polyp due to the strain from using a "super-positive voice" for her role in the animated film, "The Wild Robot". Despite the injury, she didn't miss out on seeing Taylor Swift and Beyoncé in concert.
On the June 20 episode of "Late Night with Seth Meyers", the Academy Award winner shared insights about her character Roz, a robot who embarks on a journey to discover humanity and empathy. Nyong'o explained that she chose a high-pitched, cheerful voice for Roz, which was not within her natural vocal range and eventually led to the vocal strain.
"I did it for way too long over a number of days, and I got a vocal polyp," Nyong'o shared, noting that her voice is naturally much lower.
The Cleveland Clinic describes benign vocal cord lesions, such as the polyp Nyong'o developed, as noncancerous growths that can form due to overuse or misuse of the vocal cords. Treatments can include voice therapy, behavior changes, and sometimes surgery.
Nyong'o, 41, recounted how she lost her ability to speak and was placed on vocal rest for three months. Initially scheduled for surgery, she was determined to be part of the 35% of people who recover naturally and managed to heal without the procedure.
While on vocal rest, Nyong'o still attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, using signs and buttons to inform people of her condition.
"Sometimes people thought I was being rude because I wouldn't say anything," she said, explaining that she would wave and smile to communicate. To avoid misunderstandings, she made a sign at home and later upgraded to a button for Beyoncé's concert to explain her situation.
Her proactive approach helped her manage social interactions and maintain courtesy during her recovery.
The Quran - Chapter Al-Waqi'ah : 35
Indeed, We will have perfectly created their mates,
