Cape Town – SA-born director Liesl Tommy will helm the film adaption of Trevor Noah’s book, Born a Crime, actress Lupita Nyong’o announced on Twitter.

Oscar winner Nyong’o will play Noah’s mother Patricia in the film based on the SA comedian’s autobiography.

She tweeted on Monday night: “Thrilled to share that @LieslTommy is directing the film adaptation of @TrevorNoah’s #BornACrime! She’s a powerhouse whom I have known & admired for years & directed my broadway debut, Eclipsed. I can’t wait & am proud to have a South African woman at the helm of this story.”

Thrilled to share that @LieslTommy is directing the film adaptation of @TrevorNoah‘s #BornACrime! She’s a powerhouse whom I have known & admired for years & directed my broadway debut, Eclipsed. I can’t wait & am proud to have a South African woman at the helm of this story. pic.twitter.com/zKluX1u0nU

 — Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) March 26, 2018

Tommy was born and raised in Cape Town. Her family moved to Massachusetts, in the US, when she was 15 years old.

She is now a sought-after theatre director and was nominated for a Tony award for directing Eclipsed on Broadway. Eclipsed was the the first Broadway production to have an all female cast, director, and playwright.

She has also directed an episode of the TV series Queen Sugar.