Born in London's Forest Gate to Nigerian parents of Igbo heritage, Ejiofor began acting in school plays at the age of 13 at Dulwich College. He joined the National Youth Theatre and played the title role in Othello at the Bloomsbury Theatre in September 1995, and again at the Arts Theatre in 1996 when he starred opposite Rachael Stirling as Desdemona. He made his film debut in Steven Spielberg's 1997 film Amistad.

Ejiofor went on to become a prominent stage actor in London. He was awarded the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the 2000 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. His performance in Blue/Orange at the Royal National Theatre (Cottesloe stage), and later at the Duchess Theatre. Ejiofor is also a Shakespearean stage actor, often taking the leading male roles in plays such as in Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. He performed on stage in The Seagull at the Royal Court Theatre from 18 January to 17 March 2007.

In film, Ejiofor had his first leading role in the 2002 film Dirty Pretty Things. He also appeared in the highly acclaimed Children of Men. Ejiofor has roles in three upcoming films: Toussaint, American Gangster and Tonight at Noon.

For his performance in Blue/Orange, he received the 2000 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer and a 2001 nomination for the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award Best Supporting Actor. His role as Romeo was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award in 2000

His performance in Kinky Boots received Golden Globe and British Independent Film Award nominations. He was also nominated for the 2006 BAFTA Orange Rising Star award, which recognises emerging British film talent. Ejiofor's performance in Tsunami: The Aftermath received a 2007 Golden Globe nomination for Best actor (mini-series or film made for TV). He also starred in Jonathan Meyerson's screen adaptation of Chaucer's Knights Tale.

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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiwetel_Ejiofor"

Categories: United Kingdom screen actor stubs | 1974 births | Igbo people | Living people | English of Nigerian descent | English actors | English film actors | English television actors | Old Alleynians

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