'Twelve Years a Slave' trivia and fun facts

McQueen took part in the first writing the screenplay with John Ridley; the final script is signed only by Ridley.

The tree where Solomon sees several men being lynched was actually used for lynching and is surrounded by the graves of murdered slaves.

Of the seven titles directed by Steve McQueen through 1993 (including short films), this movie is the first which does not have a one-word title.

'Twelve Years a Slave' was the debut as an actress for Lupita Nyong'o, and she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

Steve McQueen's daughter told him to hire Sarah Paulson after viewing her audition tape because she found her scary.