Chiwetel Ejiofor Quotes

I was already devouring literature and I was the ripe old age of 15 when I decided to be an actor. I just thought plays were the most fantastic way of expressing life. I thought I’d discovered Shakespeare – ‘hey, there’s a new guy in town, don’t know if anyone’s read him.’ I was just excited about the whole thing, from day one.

Steve MCQueen created an entire family to tell one man’s tale and I am delighted that so many of this family have also been recognised today. I am hugely grateful to the Academy for this great honour, and, of course, to Solomon Northup for sharing his story through his breathtaking book.

My father, Arinze Ejiofor , was a musician and a doctor. Nobody’s ever asked me about that combination and what growing up in that environment was like.

I was the classic middle child in some ways, the one who could have been a priest in an alternate universe.

I think fear is a very healthy motivator.

I think the crucial thing about being an actor is to be doing it.

When I first had my eyebrows waxed, I was pretty disturbed.

All roads lead home in the end. You’ve got to keep that in mind always – in your work and in your life.

I remember being very affected by what was going on there towards the end of Apartheid. And the subject is still very pertinent, politically, to what’s happening around the world today, in terms of negotiating peace talks. I had always been interested in this period of change in South Africa, generally, for a variety of reasons.

I enjoy doing everything, comedy and drama. I just look for the characters really and what they offer.

In England, theres no acknowledgement the invention of slavery came from Britain.

Ridley creates a very immersive world, so when you walk up to a Ridley Scott film set you’re in Ridley Scott’s imagination, and it’s a really comfortable, cool place to be.