David Oyelowo has heaped praise on women directors following the release of his latest film the Queen Of Katwe, which features Lupita Nyong’o in the lead role.

But were it directed by a man and not Mira Nair, the Selma star thinks we would be getting a very different film.

“Some of the best directors I work with have been women and their perspective on story is still very fresh because it’s still quite rare to have it,” he said.

“I think the reason we have the focus of this film being the girl is because it is a female director. The temptation for a man I think would probably be to focus on the coach, as played by me.

“I think there is something really powerful about following this girl through this narrative.”

The Queen Of Katwe, which follows a young girl’s journey from a slum in Uganda to becoming a chess champion, is out now.