Helen of Troy
noun phrase
: the wife of Menelaus whose abduction by Paris brings about the Trojan War
Examples of Helen of Troy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Director Nolan has confirmed that Kenyan Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o is playing Helen of Troy in his upcoming blockbuster film version of Homer’s epic.
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The Week Us, TheWeek, 2 June 2026
The 29-year-old actress is on the cover of Elle's Summer 2026 The Epic Issue, alongside her female costars Anne Hathaway (Odysseus' wife Penelope), Lupita Nyong'o (playing Helen of Troy, as well as the character's twin sister Clytemnestra), and Charlize Theron (the nymph Calypso).
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Tom Holland plays their son, Telemachus; Lupita Nyong’o plays Helen of Troy.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Actress Lupita Nyong'o will portray Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's upcoming retelling of The Odyssey.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
The film also stars (to name a few) Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o in the dual role of Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra, Zendaya as Athena, and Charlize Theron as Calypso.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
The all-star cast is rounded out by Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, and Benny Safdie as Agamemnon.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 12 May 2026
Along the way, the poets encounter the likes of Cleopatra and the various antagonists of the Trojan War — Achilles, Helen of Troy and Paris — in the second circle where those who fell under the sin of lust end up.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Bardot appeared with Kirk Douglas in Act of Love (1953), in Concert of Intrigue (1954) and in Robert Wise’s Helen of Troy (1956) before her career breakthrough in And God Created Woman, Vadim’s directorial debut.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 28 Dec. 2025
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The Week Us, TheWeek, 2 June 2026
The 29-year-old actress is on the cover of Elle's Summer 2026 The Epic Issue, alongside her female costars Anne Hathaway (Odysseus' wife Penelope), Lupita Nyong'o (playing Helen of Troy, as well as the character's twin sister Clytemnestra), and Charlize Theron (the nymph Calypso).
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Tom Holland plays their son, Telemachus; Lupita Nyong’o plays Helen of Troy.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Actress Lupita Nyong'o will portray Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's upcoming retelling of The Odyssey.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
The film also stars (to name a few) Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o in the dual role of Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra, Zendaya as Athena, and Charlize Theron as Calypso.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
The all-star cast is rounded out by Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, and Benny Safdie as Agamemnon.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 12 May 2026
Along the way, the poets encounter the likes of Cleopatra and the various antagonists of the Trojan War — Achilles, Helen of Troy and Paris — in the second circle where those who fell under the sin of lust end up.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Bardot appeared with Kirk Douglas in Act of Love (1953), in Concert of Intrigue (1954) and in Robert Wise’s Helen of Troy (1956) before her career breakthrough in And God Created Woman, Vadim’s directorial debut.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 28 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Helen of Troy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Helen%20of%20Troy. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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