ACTOR
Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Known for
- Infinite (2021), Secret in Their Eyes (2015), Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Z for Zachariah (2015)
19 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Chiwetel Ejiofor is an actor best known for Infinite, Secret in Their Eyes and Dirty Pretty Things.
All facts (19)
- #001
His name is pronounced Chew-eh-tell Edge-ee-oh-for.
- #002
When Chiwetel was eleven years old, his father died in a car accident. He survived the crash and was left with visible scars on his forehead.
- #003
He was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours and CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to drama. He is an actor based in London, England.
- #004
He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in London, England.
- #005
In the early 1990s he sang backing vocals for a group called Blind, whose peak achievement was playing The Rock Garden in Covent Garden, London.
- #006
He was nominated for the 2001 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award (2000 season) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in "Blue/Orange" on the Cottesloe stage of the Royal National Theatre.
- #007
He is a former member of the National Youth Theatre.
- #008
He appeared in back-to-back action thrillers with the English actor Clive Owen: Inside Man (2006) and Children of Men (2006).
- #009
For his performance in "Blue/Orange" at the Royal National Theatre: Lyttelton and the Duchess Theatre, he received the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the 2000 London Critics Circle Theatre Awards (Drama).
- #010
He studied at and graduated from Dulwich College in London, England.
- #011
In 2007 he was one of 115 people invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
- #012
He won the 2008 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award (2007 season) for Best Actor for his leading performance in William Shakespeare's "Othello" at the Donmar Warehouse.
- #013
He is friends with Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba and Andrew Lincoln.
- #014
His younger sister Zain Asher is a financial news correspondent for CNN International, based in New York City.
- #015
He has named his five favourite films (in no particular order) as Raging Bull (1980), The Godfather (1972), Fargo (1996), Miller's Crossing (1990) and Do the Right Thing (1989).
- #016
He was awarded the 2000 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Newcomer for his performance in "Blue/Orange".
- #017
He was awarded the Global Promise Award (2015) by the GEANCO Foundation, a non-profit charity in West Africa, for his philanthropic work in Nigeria.
- #018
He currently divides his time between London, England and Los Angeles, California.
- #019
He has played slaves in two drama films: Amistad (1997) and 12 Years a Slave (2013).
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