Carmen Ejogo
| Carmen Ejogo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo[1] London, England |
| Other names | Carmen |
| Occupation | Actress/Singer |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | Jeffrey Wright (August 2000 – present) |
Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo is a British actress, currently based in the United States.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Born and raised in London, Ejogo is the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Ejogo née Douglas.[2] Her father is a Nigerian entrepreneur and her mother a Scottish tour guide.[3] During her childhood, Ejogo remembers her mother as being "a hippie".[4] Her younger brother, also called Charles, was the first successful candidate on the British version of the "business reality" television programme Dragons' Den. In the first episode, broadcast on 5 January 2005, his pitch for investment in an umbrella vending-machine business resulted in Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones making a joint offer of £150,000, which he accepted.[5][6] She attended the Oratory Primary Roman Catholic primary school in Chelsea until 1984.
[edit] Career
Ejogo's television career began in the UK in the early 1990s, where she presented the children's series Saturday Disney. Subsequently, she has had an acting career in the US. She has appeared in Metro with Eddie Murphy, What's the Worst That Could Happen? with Martin Lawrence, and Love's Labour's Lost with Kenneth Branagh, among other films, and also presented The Carmen Ejogo Video Show — her own video show on BSB's Power Station channel. She starred as Thomas Jefferson's slave mistress in the television drama Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal.
[edit] Music
Ejogo is also a vocalist, having collaborated with several artists in the 1990s. She wrote and sang lead vocals on the song "Candles" by English drum 'n' bass DJ Alex Reece — she appeared in the music video and is listed in the production credits as 'Carmen' — and her voice is featured on "Slowly" by English trip hop musician Tricky,
[edit] Personal life
Having met whilst they were making the HBO film Boycott, Ejogo has been married to United States actor and film producer Jeffrey Wright since August 2000. They live in Brooklyn, New York,[4] and have two children.[7]
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Film
- Sparkle (2012)... Sister Williams (director: Salim Akil)
- I, Alex Cross (2011)... Maria Cross (director: Rob Cohen)
- Away We Go (2009) … Grace De Tessant (director: Sam Mendes)[8][9]
- Pride and Glory (2008) … Tasha (director: Gavin O'Connor)
- The Brave One (2007) … Jackie (director: Neil Jordan)
- Noel (2004) … Dr. Matthew Batiste (director: Chazz Palminteri)
- Perfume (2001) … Chloe (directors: Michael Rymer & Hunter Carson)
- What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) … Amber Belhaven (director: Sam Weisman)
- Love's Labour's Lost (2000) … Maria (director: Kenneth Branagh)
- The Avengers (1998) … Brenda (director: Jeremiah S. Chechik)
- Tube Tales (1998) … Girl in "Steal Away" (director: Charles McDougall)
- I Want You (1998) … Amber (director: Michael Winterbottom)
- Metro (1997) … Ronnie Tate (director: Thomas Carter)
- Absolute Beginners (1986) … Carmen (director: Julien Temple)
[edit] Television
- CHAOS (2011) … Fay Carson (director: Brett Ratner)
- Law & Order (2008) … April Lannen
- M.O.N.Y. (2008) … Francine Tyson (director: Spike Lee)
- Kidnapped (2006–07) … Turner
- Lackawanna Blues (2005) … Alean (director: George C. Wolfe)
- Boycott (2001) … Coretta Scott King (director: Clark Johnson)
- Sally Hemings: American Scandal (2000) … Sally Hemings
- Tube Tales (1998) … Girl in "Steal Away" (director: Charles McDougall)
- Catherine Cookson's Colour Blind (1998) … Rose Angela (director: Alan Grint)
- Cold Lazarus (1996) … Blinda
[edit] References
- ^ "Birth Registration Details" Ancestry.co.uk (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ "A Gran Day Out" CumnockChronicle.com, 24 June 2009 (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ "Carmen Ejogo Biography" FilmReference.com (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ a b Rich, Katey; "Interview: Away We Go's Carmen Ejogo" CinemaBlend.com, 2 June 2009 (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ Umbrolly website Umbrollys.com (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ Acey, Madeleine; "Dragons Den 'winner' takes to the streets" TimesOnline.co.uk, 7 August 2006 (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ Williams, Kam; "Wright on Time" KamWilliams.com, 14 April 2008 (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ Solomons, Jason; "Edinburgh international film festival: Footloose and fancy free" Guardian.co.uk, Sunday 21 June 2009 (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
- ^ Mottram, James; "Away we go, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh" Independent.co.uk, 18 June 2009 (Retrieved: 19 July 2009)
