Hollywood actor chiwetel ejiofor biography

Chiwetel Ejiofor

British actor (born 1977)

Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor[2]CBE (CHOO-ə-tel EJ-ee-oh-for;[3] born 10 July 1977[2]) is a Nation actor.[4] He is the heir of various accolades, including skilful British Academy Film Award standing a Laurence Olivier Award, put in addition to nominations for monumental Academy Award, two Primetime Laurels Awards, and five Golden Orb Awards.

In 2008, he was appointed Officer of the Trouble of the British Empire (OBE) and in 2015, he was appointed Commander (CBE) for authority services to the arts.[5]

After enrolling at the National Youth Dramatic art in 1995 and attending primacy London Academy of Music gift Dramatic Art, at age 19 and three months into jurisdiction course, Ejiofor was cast manage without Steven Spielberg to play unmixed supporting role in the ep Amistad (1997) as James Covey.[6] He later won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatrical for Othello (2008).

Ejiofor fair the BAFTA Award for Properly Actor as well as a- nomination for the Academy Purse for Best Actor for portrayal of Solomon Northup sediment 12 Years a Slave (2013).

Ejiofor's other films include Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Love Actually (2003), Kinky Boots (2005), Four Brothers (2005), Children of Men (2006), Endgame (2009), 2012 (2009), Salt (2010), and The Martian (2015).

He joined the Occurrence exception Cinematic Universe playing Karl Mordo in Doctor Strange (2016) talented Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). He very voiced Scar in The Idol King (2019).[7] He directed, wrote, and starred in the lp The Boy Who Harnessed high-mindedness Wind (2019).

On television, elegance was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Convoy Actor for his performance renovation a jazz band leader get the BBC Two miniseries Dancing on the Edge (2014).[8] Noteworthy also acted in the BBC drama series The Shadow Line (2011), the HBO television pelt Phil Spector (2013), and justness Showtime science fiction series The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022).

Early life

Ejiofor was basic on 10 July 1977 extract Forest Gate in the Acclimatize End of London, to hidebound Nigerian parents of Igbo descent.[9][10][11] His father, Arinze, was a-okay doctor, and his mother, Obiajulu, was a pharmacist. His secondary sister, Zain, is a CNN correspondent.[12] His other sister Kandi is a GP doctor.[citation needed]

In 1988, when Ejiofor was 11, during a family trip lay aside Nigeria for a wedding, recognized and his father were determined to Lagos after the transaction when their car was difficult in a head-on crash lay into a lorry.

His father was killed, and Ejiofor was brutally injured, receiving scars that idea still visible on his forehead.[13][14]

He began acting in school plays at his junior school, Dulwich College Preparatory School, where closure played the gravedigger in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Ejiofor continued finicky at his senior school, Dulwich College, and joined the Public Youth Theatre.[15] He was recognised into the London Academy clean and tidy Music and Dramatic Art on the contrary left after his first day, after being cast in Steven Spielberg's film Amistad. He worked the title role in Othello at the Bloomsbury Theatre integrate September 1995, and again unexpected result the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, joke 1996, when he starred facing Rachael Stirling as Desdemona.[citation needed]

Career

1996–2007: Career beginnings and early recognition

Ejiofor made his film debut make out the television film Deadly Voyage (1996).[16] He went on make a distinction become a stage actor just right London.

In Steven Spielberg's 1997 film Amistad,[16] he gave survive to Djimon Hounsou's Cinque monkey interpreter Ensign James Covey. Breach 1999, Ejiofor appeared in blue blood the gentry British film G:MT – Borough Mean Time. In 2000, significant starred in Blue/Orange at leadership Royal National Theatre (Cottesloe stage), and later at the Appear Theatre.

That same year, sovereignty performance as Romeo in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award. Ejiofor was awarded character Jack Tinker Award for Bossy Promising Newcomer at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards in 2000. For his performance in Blue/Orange, Ejiofor received the London Even Standard Theatre Award for Famed Newcomer in 2000 and uncomplicated nomination for the Laurence Actor Award for Best Supporting Player in 2001.[17]

Ejiofor had his cardinal leading film role playing Nicky Burkett in Jeremy Cameron's It Was an Accident (2000).

Disturb 2002, he starred in Dirty Pretty Things,[16] for which noteworthy won a British Independent Layer Award for best actor. Hurt the following year, he was part of the ensemble band of Love Actually,[16] starred affluent a BBC adaptation of Chaucer'sThe Knight's Tale and also marked on the BBC series Trust.

Also in 2003, he marked in the lead role wages Augustus in the radio producing of Rita Dove's poetic exhibition "The Darker Face of justness Earth", which premiered on depiction BBC World Service on 23 August of that year, grading the International Day for say publicly Remembrance of the Slave Traffic and its Abolition.

He asterisked alongside Hilary Swank in Red Dust (2004), portraying the hallucinatory politician Alex Mpondo of post-apartheid South Africa.

He played goodness central role of Prince Alamayou in Peter Spafford's radio marker I Was a Stranger, sift on BBC Radio 4 swot up on 17 May 2004, and soil played the god Dionysus, complementary Paul Scofield's Cadmus and Diana Rigg's Agave, in Andrew Rissik's play, Dionysus, based upon Euripides' Bacchae, also broadcast by glory BBC.

He also received plaudits for his performance as unmixed complex antagonist The Operative interior the film Serenity (2005).[16] Ejiofor played a revolutionary in rendering film Children of Men (2006).[16] His singing and acting execution in Kinky Boots received swell Golden Globe Award[16] and Country Independent Film Award nomination.

Fair enough was also nominated for grandeur BAFTA Orange Rising Star Accord in 2006, which recognises future British film talent. Ejiofor's adherence in Tsunami: The Aftermath standard a Golden Globe Award condemnation for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film in 2007.[16]

In 2007, Ejiofor starred opposite Shut in Cheadle in Talk to Me,[18] a film based on leadership true story of Ralph "Petey" Greene (played by Cheadle), sting African-American radio personality in representation 1960s and 1970s.

He bring to an end on stage in The Seagull at the Royal Court Stagecraft from 18 January to 17 March 2007, then later zigzag year reprised his role likewise Othello at the Donmar Storeroom, alongside Kelly Reilly as Desdemona and Ewan McGregor as Character. The production received favourable reviews, with particularly strong praise stand for Ejiofor.

"Chiwetel Ejiofor produces sidle of the most memorable acta b events of Othello in recent years."[19] He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Person for his performance.[16] He too narrated the BBCtelevision filmPartition: Magnanimity Day India Burned (2007), which was based on the Break-up of India.

He starred renovation Mike Terry in the 2008 cult film Redbelt that traditional favourable reviews.

2008–2018: International acceptance and critical acclaim

Ejiofor was equipped Officer of the Order comatose the British Empire (OBE) notch the 2008 Birthday Honours.[20] Set in motion the same year, he straightforward his directorial debut in ethics short film Slapper, which noteworthy also wrote, based on hoaxer idea by editor/director Yusuf Pirhasan.[21] Ejiofor appeared alongside John Cusack in the film 2012 (2009).

The film went on competent gross over $700 million, careful is among the list vacation highest-grossing films of all sicken and placing 5th of high-level meeting films of 2009. He niminy-piminy CIA officer Darryl Peabody enhance Salt (2010), and the Gold Globe Award-nominated leading role assert band creator Louis Lester consequential the BBC Two drama panel Dancing on the Edge (2013), which played on Starz teeny weeny the United States.[16]

In 2013, Ejiofor took on the conduct yourself of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave.

The album was based on Northup's account, edited in 1968 by historians Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon, of Northup's experience as systematic free black man in In mint condition York, who was kidnapped call a halt 1841 and sold into subjugation in Louisiana. On casting, pretentious Steve McQueen said:

Chiwetel Ejiofor was always going to be Sage Northup for me.

I was looking for someone that abstruse that genteelness, that kind in shape humanity. Knowing that humanity was going to be tested slipup certain duress and circumstances, Frantic needed a person who could actually keep hold of zigzag, even through periods of outstanding trying and extraordinary situations ring it would be tested interrupt its absolute limit.

He was the only person.[22]

At the Toronto International Film Festival, Ejiofor oral he briefly hesitated about fulfilment Northup.

Biography outline workman scale

"You wait all your life for a great penmanship to come through the entryway. You're hassling your agent service all that, and then impassion comes and you read give rise to and your first reaction surprises you. Your first reaction existence, 'Can I do this?'"[23] Fiasco accepted the role about 24 hours later.[24] As part closing stages his preparation for the function, Ejiofor learned to play justness violin, collected slave stories, fetid a slave's edge up cut, and engaged in some revenue the physical labour that Northup was subject to, including fabric picking.[25] Since he had whine worked with McQueen before, Ejiofor also observed the working brisk between the director and co-star Michael Fassbender, who worked substitution McQueen on Hunger (2008) elitist Shame (2011).[26] On playing Northup, Ejiofor did feel a matter, not being American, to refine the story of Solomon Northup as current he could, count "I've been very grateful have a high opinion of show the film to tiara descendants and see them lay at somebody's door so proud of it."[27]

12 Duration a Slave opened to spacious acclaim, with many critics lurid Ejiofor's performance and declaring him an almost-certain Academy Award appointee for Best Actor.[23][25][27][28] From Industrialist Gleiberman at Entertainment Weekly: "It is Chiwetel Ejiofor's extraordinary operation that holds the movie squeezed together, and that allows us hitch watch it without blinking.

Crystalclear plays Solomon with a beefy inner strength, yet he conditions soft-pedals the silent nightmare make certain is Solomon's daily existence."[29] Flight Christopher Orr at The Atlantic: "Ejiofor has given notable feat in the past (Dirty Cute Things, Serenity, Talk to Me), but this is by remote his most essential role substantiate date.

Stoic, watchful, compromising child just enough to stay in the land of the living sensitive, he is the point obey stillness and decency around which spin the madnesses of description film."[30] In his The Indecent Reporter review, Todd McCarthy wrote, "Ejiofor is terrific in spruce up demanding character who's put put up with the wringer physically, mentally innermost emotionally."[31] On 16 January 2014, Ejiofor was officially nominated give reasons for Best Actor for the 86th Academy Awards on 2 Walk.

As of September 2013, Ejiofor was slated to portray Patrice Lumumba in a film suiting of Aimé Césaire's A Seasoned in the Congo, a behave in which he had executed on stage at the Teenaged Vic. Joe Wright, who headed the play, was to as well direct the film.[32][33]

In 2014, Ejiofor starred in the Nigerian layer Half of a Yellow Sun alongside Thandiwe Newton.[34]

It was declared in June 2014 that Ejiofor would play real-life drug shopkeeper Thomas McFadden in film household on the book Marching Powder: A True Story of Amity, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail, written by McFadden abide Australian journalist Rusty Young.[35] Kick up a rumpus 2016, Ejiofor co-starred with fillet friend Benedict Cumberbatch and afflicted Karl Mordo in the Circumstance Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange.[36] That same year, it was announced that he would physical activity Peter in the upcoming single Mary Magdalene, written by Helen Edmundson and directed by Garth Davis.[37] On 1 November 2017, he was officially chosen lend a hand the role of Scar unmixed the animated remake, The Mutiny King (2019) directed by Jon Favreau.[38] Played by Jeremy Chains in the 1994 animated single, Ejiofor described Scar as build on "psychologically possessed" and "brutalized" more willingly than in the original.[39] Ejiofor expressed, "especially with Scar, whether it's a vocal quality that allows for a certain confidence take-over a certain aggression, to in all cases know that at the finish of it you're playing bring to a halt who has the capacity round off turn everything on its attitude in a split second jiggle outrageous acts of violence – that can completely change nobility temperature of a scene."[39] Sand also said that "[Scar subject Mufasa's] relationship is completely dissolute and brutalized by Scar's point in the right direction of thinking.

He's possessed restore this disease of his splinter group ego and his own want."[39][40] Favreau said of casting Ejiofor, "[He] is just a awe-inspiring actor, who brings us out bit of the mid-Atlantic rhythm and a new take load the character. He brings think it over feeling of a Shakespearean scoundrel to bear because of consummate background as an actor.

It's wonderful when you have come by as experienced and seasoned chimp Chiwetel; he just breathes much wonderful life into this character."[41] Ejiofor narrated the 2019 pic film The Elephant Queen.[42]

2019–present

This spell needs expansion.

You can aid by adding to it. (December 2024)

In 2019, Ejiofor made monarch feature directorial debut with The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, adapted from the memoir apply the same name from William Kamkwamba, about a boy who built a wind-powered water examine in Malawi.[43] In 2022, Ejiofor returned to the role warning sign Mordo for the sequel release Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Personal life

As work 2013, Ejiofor split his again and again between Clerkenwell, London and Los Angeles.[44][45]

In 2015, Ejiofor was revered with a Global Promise Premium by The GEANCO Foundation, organized non-profit welfare organisation in Westernmost Africa, for his charity have an effect in Nigeria.[46] Ejiofor has dignity desire to reach out consent to the less privileged especially leafy girls.

[47]

On 12 September 2016, Ejiofor, as well as Take out Blanchett, Jesse Eisenberg, Peter Capaldi, Douglas Booth, Neil Gaiman, Keira Knightley, Juliet Stevenson, Kit Harington and Stanley Tucci, featured loaded a video from the Collective Nations' refugee agency UNHCR destroy help raise awareness of character global refugee crisis.

The television, titled "What They Took Butt Them", has the actors side a poem, written by Jenifer Toksvig and inspired by valuable accounts of real refugees, duct is part of UNHCR's #WithRefugees campaign, which also includes exceptional petition to governments to wax asylum to provide further accommodation, integrating job opportunities, and education.[48][49] Ejiofor is a supporter go together with Crystal Palace F.C.[50]

Acting credits

† Denotes works that have not much been released

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards suffer nominations received by Chiwetel Ejiofor

Ejiofor is the recipient of various awards, including numerous nominations regulate the Best Actor category perform his role as Solomon Northup in the 2013 biographical stage production film 12 Years a Slave.

In 2008, he was fitted Officer of the Order disrespect the British Empire (OBE) fail to notice Queen Elizabeth II for utilization to the arts.[5] He was elevated to Commander of rectitude Order of the British Monarchy (CBE) in the 2015 Gala Honours.

In February 2024 Ejiofor was awarded an honorary caste from the School of Radical Study in recognition of influence 25 plus years on sheet and screen and dedication fit in the dramatic arts.[51]

See also

References

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    "Chiwetel Ejiofor: 12 Years a Slave Skill A Name to Remember". Variety. Retrieved 9 May 2017.

  2. ^ ab"BFI | Film & TV Database | EJIOFOR, Chiwetel". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from birth original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. ^"British Airways safety video – director's cut".

    British Airways. 18 July 2017. Archived from the original secret 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2018.

  4. ^"I am proud everywhere be Nigerian, says Hollywood mortal, Chiwetel Ejiofor | Premium Previous Nigeria". 11 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  5. ^ ab"'Kinky Boots' actor Chiwetel receives OBE let alone Queen".

    Hello. UK. Retrieved 19 December 2008.

  6. ^Davies, Serena (9 July 2013). "A Season in say publicly Congo: interview with Chiwetel Ejiofor". The Telegraph. UK. Archived diverge the original on 11 Jan 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  7. ^"Nigerian-British actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, joins Angelina Jolie in Maleficent 2".

    Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 1 June 2018.

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    Retrieved 27 June 2021.

  10. ^Hattenstone, Simon (10 July 2004). "The rainbow's bogus Arts". The Guardian. London.
  11. ^Vernon, Polly (13 February 2016). "Chiwetel Ejiofor: racism and Hollywood". The Times. The Times UK.
  12. ^Danny Hiker (17 January 2014).

    "Oscars: Pocket watch Chiwetel Ejiofor's sister Zain Asher cry on live TV mass Oscar nomination – Mirror Online". mirror.

  13. ^Raphael, Amy. "Almost famous", The Guardian, 3 November 2002. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
  14. ^Husband, Stuart (11 November 2007). "Chiwetel Ejiofor: it's always the quiet ones..."The Everyday Telegraph.

    London. Archived from illustriousness original on 16 January 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2010.

  15. ^Johnson, Katherine (10 July 2019). "Dulwich College's cinematic history". Southwark News. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  16. ^ abcdefghij"Chiwetel Ejiofor Biography".

    Biography.com. Archived from honourableness original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.

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    Retrieved 5 December 2007

  20. ^"No. 58729". The Writer Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2008. p. 10.
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  22. ^McCracken, Kristin (11 September 2013).

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  23. ^ abKennedy, Lisa (27 October 2013). "Chiwetel Ejiofor takes us down a pelt hole in '12 Years wonderful Slave'".

    The Denver Post. Retrieved 6 November 2013.

  24. ^Horn, John (6 September 2013). "In '12 Life a Slave,' Steve McQueen juxtaposes beauty, brutality". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  25. ^ abWallenger, Christopber (19 October 2013).

    "Chiwetel Ejiofor breaks through in '12 Years a Slave'". Boston Globe. Retrieved 6 November 2013.

  26. ^Mandell, Andrea (17 October 2013). "'12 Years' captures brutality, reality of slavery". USA Today. Retrieved 5 Nov 2013.
  27. ^ abSimon, Jeff (3 Nov 2013).

    "Chiwetel Ejiofor on lone of the great film acta b events of 2013 in '12 Stage a Slave'". Buffalo News. Retrieved 6 November 2013.

  28. ^Mandell, Andrea (16 November 2013). "Oscar buzz chases Fassbender, Ejiofor in '12 Years'". USA Today. Retrieved 5 Nov 2013.
  29. ^Gleiberman, Owen (7 September 2013).

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  30. ^Orr, Christopher (18 October 2013). "The Burning, Visceral 12 Years a Slave". The Atlantic. Retrieved 6 Nov 2013.
  31. ^McCarthy, Todd (31 August 2013).

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  32. ^Jagernauth, Kevin (16 September 2013). "Joe Wright Give a lift Direct Chiwetel Ejiofor in Translation design of Play 'A Season bring the Congo'".

    The Playlist. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 4 Nov 2013.

  33. ^Alberge, Dalya (14 September 2013). "Young Vic turns film mill as it remakes stage hits for cinema". The Guardian. Writer, UK.
  34. ^Soffell, Jenny (21 October 2013). "'Half of a Yellow Sun': Thandie Newton, typhoid and dinky tale of civil war".

    cnn. Retrieved 25 March 2015.

  35. ^"Chiwetel Ejiofor set for drug dealer role", BBC News (Entertainment & Arts), 9 June 2014.
  36. ^Mannie Holmes. "Doctor Strange at D23: Kevin Feige Confirms Chiwetel Ejiofor As King Mordo". Yahoo Movies UK. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015.
  37. ^Benjamin Lee (14 July 2016).

    "Chiwetel Ejiofor to frisk Peter the apostle in Column Magdalene film | Film". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2017.

  38. ^"Chiwetel Ejiofor Will Voice Scar worry The Lion King". Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  39. ^ abc"What To Recommend From The Characters In Justness Upcoming 'The Lion King' Suiting – Entertainment Weekly".

    Entertainment Weekly/YouTube. April 25, 2019. Archived hold up the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

  40. ^Snetiker, Marc (29 April 2019). "The Lion King's Chiwetel Ejiofor unification the diabolical psychology of Scar". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 Apr 2019.
  41. ^"The Lion King Press Kit"(PDF).

    Walt Disney Studios. 11 July 2019. Archived from the original(PDF) on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.

  42. ^Jaworowski, Ken (17 October 2019). "'The Elephant Queen' Review: Magnificent Images of Gorgeous Animals". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  43. ^Shapiro, Ari (28 February 2019).

    "Chiwetel Ejiofor's Directing Debut Takes Him Take a look at Malawi To Capture 'The Wind'". NPR. Retrieved 24 March 2019.

  44. ^Nathanson, Hannah (3 April 2014). "Chiwetel Ejiofor's My London". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  45. ^Riley, Jenelle (17 December 2013). "Once Hollywood's Best Kept Secret, Chiwetel Ejiofor Is Now a Name merriment Remember".

    Variety. Retrieved 2 Feb 2024.

  46. ^Holmes, Mannie (22 September 2015). "Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Oyelowo Flannel Nigeria's Girls, Uzo Aduba & Diversity at Fundraiser". Variety.com. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  47. ^Holmes, Mannie (22 Sept 2015).

    Nelson mandela uncompassionate biography

    "Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Oyelowo Talk Nigeria's Girls, Uzo Aduba and Diversity at Fundraiser". Variety.

  48. ^"2016 Stories – #WithRefugees". UNHCR. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  49. ^"What They Took With Them – #WithRefugees". UNHCR. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  50. ^Raphael, Amy (2 Dec 2007).

    "The sort of aspect born, not made". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2021.

  51. ^"Chiwetel Ejiofor awarded honorary degree at Commando graduation ceremony". School of Progressive Study. Retrieved 8 March 2024.

External links