Lupita Nyong'o was given some "very practical" life advice from Reese Witherspoon

In a video filmed for Harper's Bazaar, she explained: "The best piece of life advice I've received from another woman ... This is very, very practical. Reese Witherspoon advised me to always be the first to answer group emails.

"And I think that's great advice, because it means people will have to take you seriously as you're quick to respond. I try."

Lupita went on to reveal she feels like "administrative work" such as answering emails saps her "vitality" so she tries to make time for herself so she can be creative.

She added: "There's so many demands on our lives today for me there's a lot of administrative work, lots of emails to answer - dishes in the sink! All of that and it can take away a lot of my vitality.

"So for me, creativity is something that I have to safeguard, I have to make time for it, and I have to be very deliberate ... Creativity comes to me in the shower."

She also admitted she works hard to keep her confidence levels up, explaining: "It's not something that you have one day and then you have it forever. Your confidence will always be tried, and so it's important to put in the work to keep it alive, keep it taut, keep it in play."

Lupita concluded by sharing her own piece of life advice, urging others to live in the present rather than be fixated on the future.

She said: "It's important to have goals and dreams but your life is being lived now so enjoy it while you have it."