Chiwetel Ejiofor

"I like to disappear into a role. I equate the success of it with a feeling of being chemically changed." Chiwetel Ejiofor, born in London in 1977 to Nigerian parents, is a British actor, writer, and director acclaimed for his emotional restraint and complexity. After early roles in Amistad (1997) and Dirty Pretty Things (2002), he became a regular in cinema, TV, and theatre. His performance as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013) earned him a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award nomination. He has worked with filmmakers like Spike Lee, Ridley Scott, and Steve McQueen, and appeared in major titles such as Doctor Strange (2016, 2022), The Martian (2015), and The Lion King (2019). His directorial debut, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019), was widely praised. He received the OBE in 2007 and the CBE in 2015 for services to drama, and continues to engage in philanthropic work in Nigeria.