Explore the filmography of the Academy Award nominee with our Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight
Before he makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Doctor Strange as Karl Mordo, catch up on the Academy Award nominee’s filmography with our Chiwetel Ejiofor movies spotlight.
Chiwetel Ejiofor has made his mark in film as the Brit export is one of cinema’s most sought after dramatic actors. In 1996, he caught Steven Spielberg’s attention and was cast in Amistad. Since then he’s appeared in numerous stand out roles, including Stephen Freers Dirty Pretty Things, starred as Lola in Kinky Boots, got the girl in Love Actually and starred opposite Denzel Washington in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster.
And if you didn’t know that Doctor Strange was the third time Ejiofor has worked with Benedict Wong, find out what two other films the pair have appeared in together by diving into our list of great Chiwetel Ejiofor movies.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Amistad (1997)
Ejiofor made his first big motion picture appearance in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad. In the film he played James Covey as interpreter for the film’s lead character Cinque (Djimon Hounsou). The film also starred Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman. All actors who have already participated in comic book adaptation movies.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
Stephen Frears’ 2002 drama garnered Ejiofor a win at the British Independent Film Awards for his performance as an immigrant medical surgeon who has to trade his skills in order to insure a better life for himself and loved ones. He played the film’s lead opposite Audrey Tautou and the film marked the first time he and Benedict Wong worked on a film together. He played the mortician who helped him out.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Love Actually (2003)
Ejiofor played the best friend to The Walking Dead star Andrew Lincoln‘s lovesick character in the cult Christmas favorite. Ejofor’s character married the woman of their dreams (played by Keira Knightly) while his buddy lived vicariously through their wedding. Oblivious to the borderline inappropriate Christmas romance where Lincoln’s character confesses his feelings for his wife from the friend zone, Ejiofor still won out.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Kinky Boots (2005)
Add this to your TIL (Today I learned) as it turns out that Chiwetel Ejiofor originated the role of Lola in the now Broadway hit musical adaptation of the film Kinky Boots. He starred as iconic drag queen who rescued a hapless shoe factory owner (Joel Edgerton) from ruin by helping him revitalize his father’s company. Whaaaaat! If you didn’t know, now you know.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Serenity (2005)
Sci-fi fans will often recognize Ejiofor from his villainous turn as the Operative in Joss Whedon‘s Serenity. He’s tasked to hunt down good guys River Tram (Summer Glau) and her brother and bring them back to the Alliance to be killed. Protected by Captain Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and their crew, the Operative stops at nothing to complete his mission.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Inside Man (2006)
In Spike Lee‘s criminal heist film starring Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, Ejiofor co-stars as a detective. He and the ensemble cast, that also includes Jodie Foster, find themselves in a high stakes negotiations and hostage situation.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Children of Men (2006)
Ejiofor reunites with Clive Owen in Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men. The post apocalyptic film centers around a world where women are now unable to have children and a former activist helps the only pregnant woman in their society evade danger. Chiwetel plays a revolutionary who aids them.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: American Gangster (2007)
In Ridley Scott‘s American Gangster, Ejiofor appears alongside star Denzel Washington as his brother. The film chronicles the true crime story of Frank Lucas as he rises to power with the help of his family as one of America’s most dangerous gangsters in the ’60s to early ’70s.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: 2012 (2009)
Roland Emmerich‘s end of the world disaster flick had quite the ensemble. We got to see what would happen had 2012 apocalypse happened with the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Woody Allen, John Cusack, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, and Oliver Platt.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Salt (2010)
Ejiofor co-starred in the Angelina Jolie action film, Salt. In it, he portrayed a CIA operative tasked to retrieve Salt, who is accused of being a Russian spy. He and the CIA go on a hunt to bring her in as her life unravels revealing her true alliances.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
In 2013, Ejiofor starred in the award-winning film 12 Years a Slave. His collaboration with director Steve McQueen as Solomon Northrop brought him critical acclaim. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance and his co-star Lupita Nyong’o won for best supporting role in the film.
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: The Martian (2015)
One of Ejiofor’s most recent appearances in film is in Ridley Scott’s The Martian. He played Vincent Kapoor, the Mars mission director who discovers that Matt Damon’s Mark Watney is stranded on the 4th planet from the sun. He and his team begin to figure out a way to get him home which involves working with fictional JPL director Bruce Ng (played by Benedict Wong).
Chiwetel Ejiofor Movies Spotlight: Triple 9 (2016)
Ejiofor was also seen earlier this year in the heist ensemble picture Triple 9. In the film, he plays a military vet who enlists his special ops crew to perform heists for an Iranian gangster boss (Kate Winslet). Wonder Woman‘s Gal Gadot plays Winselt’s younger sister and the mother of the child Ejiofor’s character had at stake.
