Before she was famous: Lingerie-clad Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o juggled two men in sexually-charged Kenyan soap opera

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Her exotic beauty and heart-wrenching portrayal of tormented slave Patsey in 12 Years a Slave catapulted her into stardom.

But five years ago, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o starred in Shuga, a sexually-charged MTV Base Africa soap opera in which she juggled two men.

In the three-part first season, the 31-year-old actress played ambitious go-getter Ayira, who sleeps with her boss at Maverick Advertising.

Her first major role! Five years ago, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o starred in Shuga, a sexually-charged MTV Base Africa soap opera in which she juggled two men

'You got what you wanted, right? Now it's my turn,' wealthy Felix said, kissing Ayira over a conference table.

'Do you have rubbers?' Ayira asked.

'Are you sleeping with anyone else?' Felix asked and when she said no he added: 'Then there's no problem, is there?'

Workplace tryst: In the three-part first season, the 31-year-old actress played ambitious go-getter Ayira, who sleeps with her boss at Maverick Advertising

'You got what you wanted, right? Now it's my turn,' wealthy Felix said, kissing Ayira over a conference table

'Are you sleeping with anyone else?' Felix asked and when Ayira said no he added: 'Then there's no problem, is there?'

PSA: The show's numerous steamy sex scenes proved a great way to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, and by the third part Ayira discovers she might have contracted the deadly disease

Lupita Nyong'o in sexually-charged Kenyan soap opera 'Shuga'

The show's numerous steamy sex scenes proved a great way to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, and by the third part Ayira discovers she might have contracted the deadly disease.

In a previous encounter with her older boss, the flawless It Girl straddles his lap in little more than a black lacy bra before his daughter interrupts the frisky pair.

Lupita's college student character is often in various states of undress throughout the series.

Getting down: In a previous encounter with her older boss, the flawless It Girl straddles his lap wearing little more than a black lacy bra

Drama: The advertising CEO's daughter then interrupts the frisky pair

Caught in the act: Lupita's college student character is often in various states of undress throughout the series.

Even a serene shower sequence gets transformed into a love scene when her boyfriend Ty unexpectedly joins her from behind.

Between school, a waitress job, a boyfriend, and supporting her mother - Nyong'o is literally rushing from scene to scene, even in her panties.

Shuga turned out to be a hit - airing in 40 different African countries before eventually airing internationally on 70 TV stations.

Wet and wild: Lupita takes a serene shower at one point in the series

Juggling two men: But even that sequence gets transformed into a love scene when her boyfriend Ty unexpectedly joins her from behind

'Where are my jeans?' Between school, a waitress job, a boyfriend, and supporting her mother - Nyong'o is literally rushing from scene to scene, even in her panties

Roommates: Shuga turned out to be a hit - airing in 40 different African countries before eventually airing internationally on 70 TV stations

'I think one thing [Shuga] is trying to do is talk about how HIV and AIDS is not a death sentence': Through her work on Shuga, Nyong'o became an ambassador for HIV and AIDS

'I think one thing [Shuga] is trying to do is talk about how HIV and AIDS is not a death sentence,' Lupita told CNN in 2010.

'[HIV] is a condition that can be managed, if one chooses to do so, if one catches it early on you can live a healthy life with HIV. I’ve been able to be an ambassador for HIV and AIDS.'

After wrapping, the entire Shuga cast even made a pact to all get tested for HIV together.

Life-changing role: Her heart-wrenching portrayal of tormented slave Patsey in 12 Years a Slave scored her the Oscar for best supporting actress on Sunday

'Chilling': The Yale School of Drama graduate - who shaved her head at 19 - was born in Mexico, raised in Kenya, and now resides in Brooklyn

'Congrats': The Miu Miu model - who used to have a labret piercing - got a shout-out from MTV Shuga's Twitter page after she began sweeping awards season

The Miu Miu model - who used to have a labret piercing - got a shout-out from MTV Shuga's Twitter page after she began sweeping awards season.

The Yale School of Drama graduate - who shaved her head at 19 - was born in Mexico, raised in Kenya, and now resides in Brooklyn.

Lupita can currently be seen as flight attendant Gwen in the action flick Non-Stop with Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, and Michelle Dockery.

In theatres now! Lupita currently can be seen as flight attendant Gwen in the action flick Non-Stop with Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, and Michelle Dockery