I didn't know anything about '12 Years a Slave.' Not the book, not Solomon Northup, which I was quite shocked by, once I'd read it, that it wasn't a seminal text. I think it deserves to be. Chiwetel Ejiofor bookdeservenorthup Change image and share on social
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. Chiwetel Ejiofor actorageday share on social
Dividing everybody into genders and sexuality and races and religions, and I think it's important to have films out there, to have discussions out there which really try to get to grips with where that kind of thing can lead. Chiwetel Ejiofor discussiondividefilm share on social
Sometimes television can just jump from one bit of plot to the next, and the words fill in the in-between. Chiwetel Ejiofor bitefilljump Change image and share on social
I was the classic middle child in some ways, the one who could have been a priest in an alternate universe. Chiwetel Ejiofor alternatechildclassic Change image and share on social
I was attracted to 'Half of a Yellow Sun' because of the story. Chiwetel Ejiofor attracthalfstory Change image and share on social
London and L.A. are both places I feel I can call home. It's a nice balance of Californian calm and that slightly more engaged, electric London vibe that I've always loved. Chiwetel Ejiofor balancecaliforniancall Change image and share on social
It's hard to tell the story if you're not involved yourself, emotionally. Chiwetel Ejiofor emotionallyhardinvolve Change image and share on social
The inherited tradition is that we don't tell stories about slavery from the perspective of the slave. It's told through the president or the lawyer. Chiwetel Ejiofor inheritlawyerperspective Change image and share on social
As a child, I was just never that interested in the lives of my favourite actors, like Cary Grant. I do wonder whether knowing too much about someone's personal life interrupts an audience's ability to suspend disbelief, to really invest in the characters. My preference would always be that people engage with the work. Chiwetel Ejiofor abilityactoraudience share on social