Alec Baldwin has defended Lupita Nyong'o after Elon Musk criticised the actor's casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's forthcoming epic The Odyssey.

The dispute erupted online after Matt Walsh, the conservative political commentator and podcast host, criticised Christopher's decision to cast actress Lupita, 43, in the adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek poem, with the Oscar-winning star set to portray Helen of Troy as well as Helen's sister Clytemnestra in the film, which has become one of Hollywood's most discussed productions following months of speculation over the cast, including rumours surrounding Elliot Page and the scale of Christopher's adaptation after the success of Oppenheimer.

Alec, 68, shared a photograph of Lupita on Instagram and said: "Dear Elon… but she IS the most beautiful woman in the world."

The comments followed a post on X by Walsh, who wrote: "Not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong'o is 'the most beautiful woman in the world'."

Walsh then criticised Christopher directly.

He said: "But Christopher Nolan knows that he would be called racist if he gave 'the most beautiful woman' role to a white woman. Nolan is technically talented but a coward. Too afraid to do anything that even slightly challenges the spirit of the age."

Elon, 54, responded to Walsh's post by writing: "True."

When another user asked: "Why is Christopher Nolan like so many other directors so keen to race swap white characters?" Elon replied: "He wants the awards."

Elon later added Christopher had "lost his integrity" by casting Lupita in the role.

In another post, Walsh wrote audiences would allegedly be "driven to murderous violence" if Sydney Sweeney, 28, had been cast as "the most beautiful woman in Africa".

Elon replied: "Absolutely true. Such hypocrisy in Hollywood."

The controversy comes amid heightened online discussion surrounding The Odyssey after rumours circulated earlier this month Elliot had been cast as Achilles.

Elon reacted to the speculation on X by writing that the idea was "one of the dumbest and twisted things I've ever heard".

It was later reported Elliot would instead portray Elpenor.

Elon subsequently reposted a tweet which read: "I'm not mocking her masculinity. I'm denying its existence."

Lupita, who won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2014 for playing Patsey in 12 Years a Slave, has long spoken publicly about beauty standards and representation in Hollywood.

The actress, who also starred in Black Panther, Us and A Quiet Place: Day One, was named People magazine's Most Beautiful person in 2014.

At the time, Lupita told People: "It was exciting and just a major, major compliment. I was happy for all the girls who would see me on (it) and feel a little more seen."

She also said: "Light skin and long, flowing, straight hair. Subconsciously you start to appreciate those things more than what you possess."

Lupita added her mother Dorothy had encouraged her confidence from an early age.

She said: "(My mum) always said I was beautiful, and I finally believed her at some point."