Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o has won her first Oscar as best supporting actress. 

Nyong’o won the Oscar from her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave, her first film-acting role.  The film, directed by Steve McQueen, was based on the real-life memoir of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped into slavery.

In her acceptance speech last night, she thanked her co-stars and director saying: "Thank you for putting me in this position; it has been the joy of my life…” 

Her speech concluded with a message to young children everywhere: "No matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.”

Nyong’o is one of the five black women ever to win an Oscar award as Best Supporting Actress.