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Chiwetel Ejiofor

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Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor ( CHOO-ə-tel EJ-ee-oh-for; born 10 July 1977) is a British actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards. In 2008, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and in 2015, he was advanced to Commander (CBE) for his services to the arts. After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in 1995 and attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, at age 19 and three months into his course, Ejiofor was cast by Steven Spielberg to play a supporting role in the film Amistad (1997) as James Covey. He later won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for Othello (2008). Ejiofor earned the BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013). Ejiofor's other films include Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Love Actually (2003), Kinky Boots (2005), Four Brothers (2005), Serenity (2005),Children of Men (2006), Endgame (2009), 2012 (2009), Salt (2010), Savannah (2013), The Martian (2015), and Venom: The Last Dance (2024). He joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing Karl Mordo in Doctor Strange (2016) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). He also voiced Scar in The Lion King (2019). He directed, wrote, and starred in the films The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019) and Rob Peace (2024). On television, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his performance as a jazz band leader in the BBC Two miniseries Dancing on the Edge (2014). He also acted in the BBC drama series The Shadow Line (2011), the HBO television film Phil Spector (2013), and the Showtime science fiction series The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022).

Infobox

Born
Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor (1977-07-10) 10 July 1977 (age 48)London, England
Education
Dulwich College
Alma mater
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1995–present
Relatives
Zain Asher (sister)Kandi Ejiofor (sister)
Awards
Full list

Tables

Key · Acting credits
Denotes works that have not yet been released
· Acting credits › Film
1997
Role(s)
Ensign James Covey
Notes
Steven Spielberg
1999
Role(s)
Rix
Notes
John Strickland
2000
Role(s)
Nicky Burkett
Notes
Metin Hüseyin
2002
Role(s)
Okwe lander
Notes
Stephen Frears
2003
Role(s)
Peter
Notes
Richard Curtis
Role(s)
Mark Hayward
Notes
Mathias Ledoux
2004
Role(s)
Frank Wills
Notes
Spike Lee
Role(s)
Alex Mpondo
Notes
Tom Hooper
Role(s)
Ellis Moonsong
Notes
Woody Allen
2005
Role(s)
Victor Sweet
Notes
John Singleton
Role(s)
The Operative
Notes
Joss Whedon
Role(s)
Ty Trippin
Notes
Wayne Beach
Role(s)
Simon / Lola
Notes
Julian Jarrold
2006
Role(s)
Detective Bill Mitchell
Notes
Spike Lee
Role(s)
Luke
Notes
Alfonso Cuarón
2007
Role(s)
Dewey Hughes
Notes
Kasi Lemmons
Role(s)
Huey Lucas
Notes
Ridley Scott
2008
Role(s)
Mike Terry
Notes
David Mamet
Slapper
Notes
Himself
2009
Role(s)
Thabo Mbeki
Notes
Pete Travis
2010
Role(s)
Darryl Peabody
Notes
Phillip Noyce
2012
Adrian Helmsley
Role(s)
Roland Emmerich
2013
Role(s)
Christmas Moultrie
Notes
Annette Haywood-Carter
Role(s)
Solomon Northup
Notes
Steve McQueen
Role(s)
Odenigbo
Notes
Biyi Bandele
2015
Role(s)
John Loomis
Notes
Craig Zobel
Role(s)
Vincent Kapoor
Notes
Ridley Scott
Role(s)
Ray Kasten
Notes
Billy Ray
2016
Role(s)
Michael Atwood
Notes
John Hillcoat
Role(s)
Karl Mordo
Notes
Scott Derrickson
2018
Role(s)
Carlton Pearson
Notes
Joshua Marston
Role(s)
Peter
Notes
Garth Davis
Role(s)
Gnome Watson (voice)
Notes
John Stevenson
2019
Role(s)
Trywell Kamkwamba
Notes
Himself
Role(s)
Scar (voice)
Notes
Jon Favreau
Role(s)
Conall
Notes
Joachim Rønning
Role(s)
Narrator
Notes
Victoria Stone/Mark Deeble
2020
Role(s)
Copley
Notes
Gina Prince-Bythewood
2021
Role(s)
Paxton
Notes
Doug Liman
Role(s)
Bathurst 2020
Notes
Antoine Fuqua
2022
Role(s)
Karl Mordo (Earth-838)
Notes
Sam Raimi
2023
Role(s)
Alvy Novy
Notes
Sophie Barthes
2024
Role(s)
Skeet Douglas
Notes
Himself
Role(s)
Marty Anderson
Notes
Mike Flanagan
Role(s)
Rex Strickland
Notes
Kelly Marcel
2025
Role(s)
Mr. Wallaker
Notes
Michael Morris
Role(s)
Roger
Notes
Scarlett Johansson
Role(s)
Copley
Notes
Victoria Mahoney
2026
Role(s)
TBA
Notes
Kane Parsons
2027
Role(s)
King Saran
Notes
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Year
Title
Role
Director
Notes
Ref.
1997
Amistad
Ensign James Covey
Steven Spielberg
1999
G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time
Rix
John Strickland
2000
It Was an Accident
Nicky Burkett
Metin Hüseyin
2002
Dirty Pretty Things
Okwe lander
Stephen Frears
2003
Love Actually
Peter
Richard Curtis
Three Blind Mice
Mark Hayward
Mathias Ledoux
2004
She Hate Me
Frank Wills
Spike Lee
Red Dust
Alex Mpondo
Tom Hooper
Melinda and Melinda
Ellis Moonsong
Woody Allen
2005
Four Brothers
Victor Sweet
John Singleton
Serenity
The Operative
Joss Whedon
Slow Burn
Ty Trippin
Wayne Beach
Kinky Boots
Simon / Lola
Julian Jarrold
2006
Inside Man
Detective Bill Mitchell
Spike Lee
Children of Men
Luke
Alfonso Cuarón
2007
Talk to Me
Dewey Hughes
Kasi Lemmons
American Gangster
Huey Lucas
Ridley Scott
2008
Redbelt
Mike Terry
David Mamet
Slapper
Himself
Short film; writer, director
2009
Endgame
Thabo Mbeki
Pete Travis
2012
Adrian Helmsley
Roland Emmerich
2010
Salt
Darryl Peabody
Phillip Noyce
2013
Savannah
Christmas Moultrie
Annette Haywood-Carter
12 Years a Slave
Solomon Northup
Steve McQueen
Half of a Yellow Sun
Odenigbo
Biyi Bandele
2015
Z for Zachariah
John Loomis
Craig Zobel
The Martian
Vincent Kapoor
Ridley Scott
Secret in Their Eyes
Ray Kasten
Billy Ray
2016
Triple 9
Michael Atwood
John Hillcoat
Doctor Strange
Karl Mordo
Scott Derrickson
2018
Come Sunday
Carlton Pearson
Joshua Marston
Mary Magdalene
Peter
Garth Davis
Sherlock Gnomes
Gnome Watson (voice)
John Stevenson
2019
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Trywell Kamkwamba
Himself
Also writer and director
The Lion King
Scar (voice)
Jon Favreau
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Conall
Joachim Rønning
The Elephant Queen
Narrator
Victoria Stone/Mark Deeble
2020
The Old Guard
Copley
Gina Prince-Bythewood
2021
Locked Down
Paxton
Doug Liman
Infinite
Bathurst 2020
Antoine Fuqua
2022
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Karl Mordo (Earth-838)
Sam Raimi
2023
The Pod Generation
Alvy Novy
Sophie Barthes
2024
Rob Peace
Skeet Douglas
Himself
Also writer and director
The Life of Chuck
Marty Anderson
Mike Flanagan
Venom: The Last Dance
Rex Strickland
Kelly Marcel
2025
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Mr. Wallaker
Michael Morris
Eleanor the Great
Roger
Scarlett Johansson
The Old Guard 2
Copley
Victoria Mahoney
2026
The Backrooms †
TBA
Kane Parsons
Post-production
· Acting credits › Television
1996
Role(s)
Ebow
Notes
Television film
2001
Role(s)
DS McCorkindale
Notes
Episode: "Teacher"
2003
Role(s)
Orsino
Notes
Television film
Role(s)
Ashley Carter
Notes
6 episodes
Role(s)
Paul
Notes
Segment: The Knight's Tale
2006
Role(s)
Ian Carter
Notes
Television film
2007
Partition: The Day India Burned
Role(s)
Narrator
2011
Role(s)
Jonah Gabriel
Notes
7 episodes
2013
Role(s)
Louis Lester
Notes
6 episodes
Role(s)
Mock Prosecutor
Notes
Television film
2017
Role(s)
Peter
Notes
Television short film
2022
Role(s)
Faraday
Notes
Main role
Year
Title
Role
Notes
Ref.
1996
Deadly Voyage
Ebow
Television film
2001
Murder in Mind
DS McCorkindale
Episode: "Teacher"
2003
Twelfth Night
Orsino
Television film
Trust
Ashley Carter
6 episodes
The Canterbury Tales
Paul
Segment: The Knight's Tale
2006
Tsunami: The Aftermath
Ian Carter
Television film
2007
Partition: The Day India Burned
Narrator
2011
The Shadow Line
Jonah Gabriel
7 episodes
2013
Dancing on the Edge
Louis Lester
6 episodes
Phil Spector
Mock Prosecutor
Television film
2017
Red Nose Day Actually
Peter
Television short film
2022
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Faraday
Main role
· Acting credits › Theatre
1995
Role(s)
Othello
Notes
Bloomsbury Theatre
1997
Role(s)
Malcolm
Notes
Bristol Old Vic
1999
Role(s)
Russell
Notes
Royal National Theatre
2000
Role(s)
Chris
Notes
Royal National Theatre
Role(s)
Romeo
Notes
Royal National Theatre
Role(s)
Young Peer
Notes
Royal National Theatre
2002
Role(s)
Nicky Lancaster
Notes
Donmar Warehouse
2007
Role(s)
Boris Alexeyevich Trigorin
Notes
Royal Court Theatre
Othello
Role(s)
Othello
Notes
Donmar Warehouse
2013
Role(s)
Patrice Lumumba
Notes
Young Vic
2015
Role(s)
Everyman
Notes
Royal National Theatre
Year
Title
Role
Notes
Ref.
1995
Othello
Othello
Bloomsbury Theatre
1996
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
1997
Macbeth
Malcolm
Bristol Old Vic
1999
Sparkleshark
Russell
Royal National Theatre
2000
Blue/Orange
Chris
Royal National Theatre
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo
Royal National Theatre
Peer Gynt
Young Peer
Royal National Theatre
2002
The Vortex
Nicky Lancaster
Donmar Warehouse
2007
The Seagull
Boris Alexeyevich Trigorin
Royal Court Theatre
Othello
Othello
Donmar Warehouse
2013
A Season in the Congo
Patrice Lumumba
Young Vic
2015
Everyman
Everyman
Royal National Theatre

References

  1. Variety
    https://variety.com/2013/film/features/chiwetel-ejiofor-oscar-12-years-a-slave-1200964718/
  2. "BFI | Film & TV Database | EJIOFOR, Chiwetel"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090113172603/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/684742
  3. "British Airways safety video – director's cut"
    https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/YCoQwZ9BQ9Q
  4. "I am proud to be Nigerian, says Hollywood actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor | Premium Times Nigeria"
    https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/158567-i-am-proud-to-be-nigerian-says-hollywood-actor-chiwetel-ejiofor.html
  5. Hello
    http://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2008/12/19/chiwetel-ejiofor-obe/
  6. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/10157732/A-Season-in-the-Congo-interview-with-Chiwetel-Ejiofor.html
  7. Punch Newspapers
    http://punchng.com/nigerian-british-actor-chiwetel-ejiofor-joins-angelina-jolie-in-maleficent-2/
  8. "2014 Emmy Awards: 'Game of Thrones,' 'Fargo' Lead Nominations"
    https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/emmy-nominations-2014-list-emmys-nominees-1201260236/
  9. irishtimes.com
    https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/chiwetel-ejiofor-weapons-and-tactics-are-a-way-of-entering-a-guy-psychologically-1.2538295?mode=amp
  10. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/jul/10/theatre.dirtyprettythings
  11. The Times
    https://www.thetimes.com/article/chiwetel-ejiofor-racism-and-hollywood-vmsm6bgtb80
  12. mirror
    https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/oscars-watch-chiwetel-ejiofors-sister-3032828
  13. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/nov/03/londonfilmfestival2002.features1
  14. The Daily Telegraph
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080116020435/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2007%2F11%2F11%2Fsv_chiwetelejiofor.xml&page=2
  15. Southwark News
    https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwark/dulwich-colleges-cinematic-history/
  16. "Chiwetel Ejiofor Biography"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150403191445/http://www.biography.com/people/chiwetel-ejiofor-21333487#background-and-early-career
  17. Metacritic
    https://www.metacritic.com/person/chiwetel-ejiofor?filter-options=tv
  18. FocusFeatures.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070802190354/http://www.focusfeatures.com/talktome/
  19. Press reviews: Othello, BBC. Retrieved 5 December 2007
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7128683.stm
  20. The London Gazette
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58729/supplement/10
  21. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/jun/18/news.features
  22. "Interview: Steve McQueen Talks '12 Years A Slave,' 'Django Unchained', Pitt & Fassbender & More"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131205235039/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/interview-steve-mcqueen-talks-12-years-a-slave-django-unchained-pitt-fassbender-20130911
  23. The Denver Post
    http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_24381597/chiwetel-ejiofor-takes-us-down-rabbit-hole-12
  24. Los Angeles Times
    http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/moviesnow/la-et-mn-12-years-a-slave-20130909,0,5794457.story#axzz2jqWbdDIX
  25. Boston Globe
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2013/10/19/chiwetel-ejiofor-portrays-free-man-enslaved/xNQd4cbX85gpTlgsDru61K/story.html
  26. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/10/17/12-years-a-slave-behind-the-scenes/2995965/
  27. Buffalo News
    https://www.buffalonews.com/columns/jeff-simon/chiwetel-ejiofor-on-one-of-the-great-film-performances-of-2013-in-12-years-a-slave-20131103
  28. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/10/17/meet-the-men-of-12-years-a-slave/2995931/
  29. Entertainment Weekly
    http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/09/07/toronto-12-years-a-slave-is-a-landmark/
  30. The Atlantic
    https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/10/the-searing-visceral-em-12-years-a-slave-em/280672/
  31. The Hollywood Reporter
    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/twelve-years-a-slave/review/618848
  32. "Joe Wright To Direct Chiwetel Ejiofor in Adaptation of Play 'A Season in the Congo'"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131105082418/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/joe-wright-to-direct-chiwetel-ejiofor-in-adaptation-of-play-a-season-in-the-congo-20130916
  33. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/sep/14/young-vic-feature-films-season-congo
  34. "'Half of a Yellow Sun': Thandie Newton, typhoid and a tale of civil war"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/21/showbiz/half-of-a-yellow-sun/
  35. "Chiwetel Ejiofor set for drug dealer role", BBC News (Entertainment & Arts), 9 June 2014.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27761786
  36. Yahoo Movies UK
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150928145148/https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/post/126766340041/doctor-strange-at-d23-kevin-feige-confirms
  37. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jul/14/chiwetel-ejiofor-to-play-st-peter-apostle-mary-magdalene-film
  38. Lion King
    https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/chiwetel-ejiofor-will-voice-scar-in-live-action-lion-king-and-more-movie-news/
  39. Entertainment Weekly/YouTube
    https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/ftRPVHyELXo
  40. Entertainment Weekly
    https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/29/the-lion-king-scar/
  41. Walt Disney Studios
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190710182407/http://www.wdsmediafile.com/media/TheLionKing/writen-material/TheLionKing5d2601c7111d6.pdf
  42. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/movies/the-elephant-queen-review.html
  43. NPR
    https://www.npr.org/2019/02/28/699060631/chiwetel-ejiofors-directing-debut-takes-him-to-malawi-to-capture-the-wind
  44. Variety.com
    https://variety.com/2015/scene/vpage/chiwetel-ejiofor-david-oyelowo-talk-nigerias-girls-uzo-aduba-diversity-at-fundraiser-1201599744/
  45. Variety
    https://variety.com/2015/scene/vpage/chiwetel-ejiofor-david-oyelowo-talk-nigerias-girls-uzo-aduba-diversity-at-fundraiser-1201599744/
  46. UNHCR
    http://www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/stories/
  47. UNHCR
    http://www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/what-they-took-with-them/
  48. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/dec/02/theatre
  49. Queens_birthday_honours_list_2015.pdf
    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a816d1eed915d74e6232339/Queens_birthday_honours_list_2015.pdf
  50. School of Advanced Study, University of London
    https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/chiwetel-ejiofor-awarded-honorary-degree-sas-graduation-ceremony
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