Top Five: The Best Chiwetel Ejiofor Acting Performances

Chiwetel Ejiofor might be one of the hardest workers in Hollywood today, but it wasn’t always like this. Before his ascension to becoming a household name in the movie industry, this Nigerian-British actor had had his fair share of supporting roles and glorified cameos. Ahead of his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness this Friday, now seems like a good time to take a look at some of the best acting performances in the movie industry this 44-year-old actor has given the last 26 years of his life.

In no particular order, here are our top 5 Chiwetel Ejiofor acting performances.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

About the role of Solomon Northup which made him a worldwide star, Chiwetel Ejiofor had this to say: “To tell someone the story is one of the most deeply enriching experiences that I have ever had as a performer or an actor.”

Z for Zachariah (2015)

Chiwetel Ejiofor stars alongside Margot Robbie in this post-apocalyptic thriller. A man and woman are the only survivors after a disaster destroys the world. They contemplate starting a life together, but things change after another man comes into their lives.

Doctor Strange (2016)

Ejiofor plays Baron Mordo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared in the first Doctor Strange movie in 2016 and is set to reprise his role in the sequel coming later this week. First, a friend of the titular hero, Ejiofor’s Mordo looks set to begin his true comic arc as a nemesis of Doctor Strange.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (2019)

In this movie, Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a teacher (Trywell Kamkwamba) to a 13-year-old boy thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. It’s a heartwarming performance, easily one of my favourite from the film star.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (2021 – )

This TV show is a sequel to a 1976 film of the same name. In it, Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as an alien who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution and must learn what it means to become human, even as he fights for the survival of his species. It’s just a few episodes in, but Ejiofor is doing a career-defining job as Faraday the alien.

What’s your favourite movie/ TV show starring Chiwetel Ejiofor? Tell in the comments.