---
name: "Chiwetel Ejiofor"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/chiwetel-ejiofor"
fi1m_id: "chiwetel-ejiofor"
imdb_id: "nm0252230"
tmdb_id: 5294
wikidata_id: "Q317343"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 July 1977"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 15
updated: "2026-10-23T04:07:29.280954+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Chiwetel Ejiofor

## Identity

Chiwetel Ejiofor

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/chiwetel-ejiofor
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** chiwetel-ejiofor
- **IMDb ID:** nm0252230
- **TMDB ID:** 5294
- **Wikidata ID:** Q317343
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiwetel_Ejiofor, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q317343, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252230/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5294

Actor. Born 10 July 1977 in Forest Gate, London, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 July 1977, Forest Gate, London, England, UK
- **Active:** 1997–present
- **Also known as:** Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor
- **Frequently works with:** [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://film.one/person/benedict-cumberbatch.md), [Benedict Wong](https://film.one/person/benedict-wong.md), [Kevin Feige](https://film.one/person/kevin-feige.md), [Mark Huffam](https://film.one/person/mark-huffam.md), [Ridley Scott](https://film.one/person/ridley-scott.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 15 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 63 (1), 2000s 69 (4), 2010s 67 (5), 2020s 61 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 65 to 65 across 15 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 5 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 6 of 14 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 8, Drama 7, Action 6, Science Fiction 6, Fantasy 4, Comedy 2
- **Screen time:** 31 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $6,833m across 15 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiwetel_Ejiofor, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q317343, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252230/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5294

## Coming up

- *Children of Blood and Bone* (2027-01-13), as King Saran
- *The Exorcist: Martyrs* (2027-03-10)

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Doctor Strange*](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md) (66), [*The Life of Chuck*](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-chuck.md) (63), [*Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness*](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness.md) (60), [*2012*](https://film.one/film/2012.md) (57), [*The Lion King*](https://film.one/film/the-lion-king-2019.md) (52), [*Venom: The Last Dance*](https://film.one/film/venom-the-last-dance.md) (48), [*Maleficent: Mistress of Evil*](https://film.one/film/maleficent-mistress-of-evil.md) (46)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Martian*](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md) (82), [*Love Actually*](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md) (58)
- **Peacock:** [*Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy*](https://film.one/film/bridget-jones-mad-about-the-boy.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Chiwetel Ejiofor

> Chiwetel Ejiofor makes listening worth watching, and can give a quiet character enough weight to steady a busy film. We rate his restraint highly; scripts that use him merely to explain the plot waste a fine actor.

In *Backrooms* (2026), Chiwetel Ejiofor makes Clark’s shoulders do much of the acting. Heavy and still, he plays a man who has decided that the maze is a punishment and is trying to work out what he has done. Beside Renate Reinsve’s restless Mary, he scarcely needs to move for the difference between them to register. We rate Ejiofor highly for making that stillness interesting. Kane Parsons’ film eventually explains too much, but his performance gives us a reason to keep watching.

The early films already put him to different uses: the lead in *Dirty Pretty Things* (2002), ensemble work in *Love Actually* (2003) and *Children of Men* (2006). *12 Years a Slave* (2013), with Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, brought international recognition. Its concentration on a man suppressing his identity to survive suits an actor who can suggest effort without much outward display. Since then, studio work including *Doctor Strange* (2016) has sat alongside writing and directing *The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* (2019) and *Rob Peace* (2024).

That restraint proves just as useful in *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy* (2025), where Scott Walliker says less than the competing suitor. Ejiofor gives his scenes with Renée Zellweger a stillness missing from much of the film, without making Walliker seem blank. We felt relieved when these two were together, because they seemed to be listening to each other. The film is baggy and its romantic direction is apparent early, but those conversations are worth waiting for amid the fuss elsewhere.

His authoritative manner can also leave him stranded with the explanations. In Kelly Marcel’s *Venom: The Last Dance* (2024), he plays Strickland, a soldier who wants the creature caught, while Juno Temple’s scientist wants it studied. Both actors are competent, but the repeated business about the codex gives them little to play and almost nothing funny to say. Ejiofor’s frown cannot make a third explanation necessary, and a role built around issuing information wastes what he does well. For his lighter touch, try *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy*, with some patience for the film around him.

## Biography

Chiwetel Ejiofor is a British actor. Born in Forest Gate, London, in 1977, he trained at the National Youth Theatre and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He made his film debut in Steven Spielberg's *Amistad* (1997).

Ejiofor received a Laurence Olivier Award for *Othello* and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor, as well as an Academy Award nomination, for his performance as Solomon Northup in *12 Years a Slave* (2013). His other films include *Love Actually* (2003), *Children of Men* (2006), *2012* (2009), *The Martian* (2015), *Doctor Strange* (2016) and its sequel, and *The Lion King* (2019), in which he voiced Scar. He directed, wrote and starred in *The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* (2019). He was appointed CBE in 2015.

More recent credits include Strickland in *Venom: The Last Dance* (2024), Scott Walliker in *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy* (2025), and Clark in *Backrooms* (2026).

*Sources: comicbook.com, imdb.com, thetimes.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (15)

- *Backrooms* (2026), Fi1m 64, as Clark — [page](https://film.one/film/backrooms.md)
- *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy* (2025), Fi1m 70, as Scott Walliker — [page](https://film.one/film/bridget-jones-mad-about-the-boy.md)
- *The Life of Chuck* (2025), Fi1m 63, as Marty Anderson — [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-chuck.md)
- *Venom: The Last Dance* (2024), Fi1m 48, as Strickland — [page](https://film.one/film/venom-the-last-dance.md)
- *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* (2022), Fi1m 60, as Baron Mordo — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness.md)
- *Maleficent: Mistress of Evil* (2019), Fi1m 46, as Conall — [page](https://film.one/film/maleficent-mistress-of-evil.md)
- *The Lion King* (2019), Fi1m 52, as Scar (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lion-king-2019.md)
- *Doctor Strange* (2016), Fi1m 66, as Mordo — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md)
- *The Martian* (2015), Fi1m 82, as Vincent Kapoor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md)
- *12 Years a Slave* (2013), Fi1m 91, as Solomon Northup — [page](https://film.one/film/12-years-a-slave.md)
- *2012* (2009), Fi1m 57, as Adrian Helmsley — [page](https://film.one/film/2012.md)
- *Children of Men* (2006), Fi1m 85, as Luke — [page](https://film.one/film/children-of-men.md)
- *Serenity* (2005), Fi1m 77, as The Operative — [page](https://film.one/film/serenity.md)
- *Love Actually* (2003), Fi1m 58, as Peter — [page](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md)
- *Amistad* (1997), Fi1m 63, as Ensign Covey — [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Exorcist: Martyrs* (2027), Actor
- *Children of Blood and Bone* (2027), as King Saran
- *Backrooms* (2026), as Clark — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/backrooms.md)
- *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (2026), series, as Maker (voice) — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-starfleet-academy.md)
- *Eleanor the Great* (2025), as Roger
- *The Old Guard 2* (2025), as Copley
- *The Life of Chuck* (2025), as Marty Anderson — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-chuck.md)
- *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy* (2025), as Scott Walliker — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/bridget-jones-mad-about-the-boy.md)
- *Venom: The Last Dance* (2024), as Strickland — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/venom-the-last-dance.md)
- *Rob Peace* (2024), as Robert E. 'Skeet' Douglas · Director, Writer
- *The Brown Dog* (2024), Executive Producer
- *María Madalena* (2023), series, Actor
- *The Pod Generation* (2023), as Alvy
- *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* (2022), as Baron Mordo — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness.md)
- *The Man Who Fell to Earth* (2022), series, as Faraday
- *Infinite* (2021), as Bathurst 2020
- *Locked Down* (2021), as Paxton
- *Day Zero* (2020), as Narrator
- *The Old Guard* (2020), as Copley
- *Maleficent: Mistress of Evil* (2019), as Conall — Fi1m 46, [page](https://film.one/film/maleficent-mistress-of-evil.md)
- *The Lion King* (2019), as Scar (voice) — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lion-king-2019.md)
- *The Lion King: Can You Feel The Love Tonight with Robin Roberts* (2019), Actor
- *The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* (2019), as Trywell Kamkwamba · Director, Screenplay
- *Sherlock Gnomes* (2018), as Watson (Voice)
- *Mary Magdalene* (2018), as Peter
- *Come Sunday* (2018), as Carlton Pearson
- *Red Nose Day Actually* (2017), as Peter
- *Doctor Strange* (2016), as Mordo — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md)
- *Triple 9* (2016), as Michael Atwood
- *Secret in Their Eyes* (2015), as Ray
- *The Martian* (2015), as Vincent Kapoor — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md)
- *Z for Zachariah* (2015), as John Loomis
- *National Theatre Live: Everyman* (2015), as Everyman
- *ARES: live* (2015), series, as Vincent Kapoor
- *Columbite Tantalite* (2013), Writer, Director
- *Making a Scene | 11 Performances* (2013), Actor
- *12 Years a Slave* (2013), as Solomon Northup — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/12-years-a-slave.md)
- *Half of a Yellow Sun* (2013), as Odenigbo
- *Phil Spector* (2013), as Mock Prosecutor
- *Savannah* (2013), as Christmas Moultrie
- *Dancing on the Edge* (2013), series, as Louis Lester
- *The Shadow Line* (2011), series, as Jonah Gabriel
- *Salt* (2010), as Darryl Peabody
- *2012* (2009), as Adrian Helmsley — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/2012.md)
- *Endgame* (2009), as President Thabo Mbeki
- *The John Akii Bua Story: An African Tragedy* (2008), as Narrator
- *Slapper* (2008), Director, Writer
- *Redbelt* (2008), as Mike Terry
- *American Gangster* (2007), as Huey Lucas
- *Talk to Me* (2007), as Dewey Hughes
- *Partition: The Day India Burned* (2007), as Narrator
- *Tsunami: The Aftermath* (2006), series, as Ian Carter
- *Children of Men* (2006), as Luke — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/children-of-men.md)
- *Inside Man* (2006), as Bill Mitchell
- *Serenity* (2005), as The Operative — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/serenity.md)
- *Slow Burn* (2005), as Ty Trippin
- *Kinky Boots* (2005), as Lola/Simon
- *Four Brothers* (2005), as Victor Sweet
- *Melinda and Melinda* (2004), as Ellis Moonsong
- *She Hate Me* (2004), as Frank Wills
- *Red Dust* (2004), as Alex Mpondo
- *Three Blind Mice* (2003), as Mark Hayward
- *Canterbury Tales* (2003), series, as Paul
- *Love Actually* (2003), as Peter — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md)
- *Twelfth Night, or What You Will* (2003), as Orsino
- *Trust* (2003), series, as Ashley Carter
- *Dirty Pretty Things* (2002), as Okwe
- *Murder in Mind* (2001), series, as DS McCorkindale
- *Mind Games* (2001), as Tyler Arnold
- *It Was an Accident* (2000), as Nicky Burkett
- *G:MT Greenwich Mean Time* (1999), as Rix
- *Amistad* (1997), as Ensign Covey — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *Deadly Voyage* (1996), as Ebow
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Ebow
- *The Backrooms Part II*, as Clark
- *Fela*, as Fela Kuti
- *Tonight at Noon*, as Lee / Evans

## Gallery

- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-f84b4e7998e5.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor — Kevin Payravi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Chiwetel_Ejiofor_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Chiwetel_Ejiofor_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Collage of notable people of Igbo ethnicity. From top left: Olaudah Equiano Jaja of Opobo Eze Nri Òbalíke Chinua Achebe Philip Emeagwali Patrick Utomi Chris Aba (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-d2887bbe1244.jpg) Collage of notable people of Igbo ethnicity. From top left: Olaudah Equiano Jaja of Opobo Eze Nri Òbalíke Chinua Achebe Philip Emeagwali Patrick Utomi Chris Aba (2013) — From top left: Unknown artist; unknown photographer; Northcote Thomas; Rahulghose at http://en.wikipedia.org; Edirin247 at en:wikipedia.org; David Shankbone; International Monetary Fund (photographer uncredited); US Government (photographer uncredited);  David Shankbone; Emily Nkanga; Niyi Tabiti, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/12_Igbo_people.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Brie Larson, along with Marvel Studios panelists, speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Captain Marvel", at the San Diego Convention Cent](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-808cdbee48f5.jpg) Brie Larson, along with Marvel Studios panelists, speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Captain Marvel", at the San Diego Convention Cent — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Brie_Larson_with_Marvel_Studios_panelists_%2828047101324%29.jpg/1280px-Brie_Larson_with_Marvel_Studios_panelists_%2828047101324%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Brie Larson, along with Marvel Studios panelists, speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Captain Marvel", at the San Diego Convention Cent](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-c893c78cb673.jpg) Brie Larson, along with Marvel Studios panelists, speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Captain Marvel", at the San Diego Convention Cent — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Brie_Larson_with_Marvel_Studios_panelists_%2828664426685%29.jpg/1280px-Brie_Larson_with_Marvel_Studios_panelists_%2828664426685%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-5975a81f636a.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-ceb4afc5a422.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-345ee38aa1fa.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor at the premiere of Redbelt at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-9cbdb669b893.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor at the premiere of Redbelt at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Chiwetel_Ejiofor_at_the_2008_Tribeca_Film_Festival.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor, actor, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie The Life of Chuck.](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-4302cdb5d403.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor, actor, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the movie The Life of Chuck. — Kevin Payravi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Chiwetel_Ejiofor_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Chiwetel_Ejiofor_at_the_2024_Toronto_International_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-896a099827e6.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://film.one/media/person/6676/gallery-51a28bcd333c.jpg) Chiwetel Ejiofor — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2014: Best Actor (nominated), for *12 Years a Slave*

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Indiana Film Journalists Association Award for Best Actor 2013: Indiana Film Journalists Association Award for Best Actor (won)
- European Film Award for Best Actor 2003: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Dirty Pretty Things*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/chiwetel-ejiofor