Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Chiwetel Ejiofor Biography

Birth Name:Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor

Birth Place:Forest Gate, London, England

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Director, Writer, Producer

Fast Facts

In 2015, he was awarded the Global Promise Award from The GEANCO Foundation for his work helping better the lives of Nigerians
Received the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in the play "Blue/Orange․"
Was awarded the 2015 Moet British Independent Film's Richard Harris Award
Was awarded the title of Commander of the Brith Empire in 2015, after being given the title of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2008
Was trained in acting at Dulwich College and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts
Was offered a lead role in "Amistad" three months after starting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Was inspired to pursue a career in acting after seeing Cary Grant's performance in "Once Upon a Honeymoon․"
Quote: "I like to disappear into a role․ I equate the success of it with a feeling of being chemically changed․"
Once sung backup vocals in the 1990s for the band Blind
Was the original actor to portray the character Lola from the musical "Kinky Boots․"

Awards

2003British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2003British Independent Film Award-Most Promising Newcomer: nominated
2003European Film Award-European Actor: nominated
2003Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2003ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: nominated
2003SDFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2003VVFP Award-Best Performance: nominated
2003WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Best Performance by an Actor-: winner
2004Black Reel-Film: Best Actor: winner
2004COFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004CFCA Award-Most Promising Performer: nominated
2004INOCA-Best Breakthrough: nominated
2004OFTA Film Award-Best Breakthrough Performance: Male: nominated
2004OFCS Award-Best Breakthrough Performance: nominated
2004PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
2005British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2006Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2006Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2006ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: nominated
2007AAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2007Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2007Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2007Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: winner
2007Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2007Golden Nymph-Mini-Series - Best Performance by an Actor: winner
2007OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2008Black Reel-Best Actor: nominated
2008Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: winner
2008Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2010Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010INOCA TV-Best Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2013EDA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013AFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2013BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2013BFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013BOFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2013Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013HFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2013IGN Award-Best Movie Actor: winner
2013IFJA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013ICP Award-Best Lead Performance: winner
2013KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013NYFCO Award-Best Actor: winner
2013OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2013PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2013PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2013SDFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013SFFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013SLFCA Award-Special Merit (for best scene, cinematic technique or other memorable aspect or moment): winner
2013SLFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013TFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013UFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013VVFP Award-Best Actor: winner
2013WAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013WFCC Award-Best Male Images in a Movie: winner
2013WFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2014AACTA International Award-Best Lead Actor: winner
2014Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Actor: winner
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: winner
2014BET Award-Best Actor: winner
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series: winner
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture: winner
2014Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actor: winner
2014COFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2014Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2014DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Dorian Award-Film Performance of the Year - Actor: nominated
2014DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2014Empire Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
2014GAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2014Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2014Guardian Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2014ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2014IFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2014IFTA Award-Best International Actor: winner
2014Ischia Actor Award-: winner
2014ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2014ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: nominated
2014MTV Movie Award-Best Male Performance: nominated
2014NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014NCFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2014NTFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2014OFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2014OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2014RAFA-Best Actor: winner
2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2014Screen Nation Film and Television Award-Male Performance in Film: winner
2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014VFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015CinEuphoria-Best Actor - International Competition: nominated
2015CinEuphoria-Best Duo - International Competition: winner
2015National Film Award-Best Breakthrough Performance in a Film: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2017Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2019Douglas Hickox Award-: nominated
2019British Independent Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2019Critics' Choice Documentary Award-Best Narration: nominated
2019Truly Moving Picture Award-: winner
2019Fiction Grand Award-: winner
2019Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize-: winner
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: winner
2020Black Reel-Outstanding First Screenplay: nominated
2020Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble of the Decade: nominated
2020Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film): winner
2020National Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2020Festival Honors Award-Artist of Distinction: winner
2020OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance in a Animated Program: nominated
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
2021CCA Super Award-Best Actor in a Superhero Movie: nominated
2021Family Film Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Film: winner
2022Saturn Award-Best Actor in a Network/Cable Television Series: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Drama Series: nominated
2023CCA Super Award-Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie: nominated
2025National Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated