Carmen Ejogo

Carmen Ejogo
Born Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo
(1973-10-22) October 22, 1973
Kensington, London, England
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Tricky (1998; divorced)
Jeffrey Wright (2000–2014)
Children 2 (with Wright)

Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo (born 1973)[1][2] is a British actress and singer. She began her career as a teenager in London, hosting the Saturday Disney morning show from 1993 to 1995. Her film credits include What's the Worst That Could Happen?, Away We Go, Sparkle, Alex Cross, and The Purge: Anarchy.

Ejogo has appeared as civil rights activist Coretta Scott King in two films: Boycott (2001) and Selma (2014). While preparing for the role in Boycott, she met with King[3] and was given King's blessing for her portrayal.[4]

Personal life

Born on January 1, 1973 and raised in London, Ejogo is the daughter of Elizabeth (née Douglas) and Charles Ejogo.[5] Her father is Nigerian and her mother is Scottish.[6] During her childhood, Ejogo remembers her mother as being "a bit of a hippie".[7] Her younger brother is also named Charles Ejogo.[8][9] She attended the Oratory Primary Roman Catholic primary school in Chelsea until 1984. Then educated at Godolphin and Latymer School.

Ejogo was briefly married to hip-hop artist Tricky.[10] In 2000, she married American actor Jeffrey Wright, whom she met while making the HBO film Boycott. They have a son (Elijah) and a daughter (Juno).[11][12] Ejogo and Wright have since divorced.[13] She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Music

Ejogo has been involved in the music industry, having collaborated with several artists since the 1990s. She presented The Carmen Ejogo Video Show, her own video show on BSB's Power Station channel.

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". Ejogo also sang vocals and duets with ex-husband Tricky on a song called "Slowly". She sang vocals for the film Love's Labour's Lost (2000).

Aside from "Candles", Ejogo appears on four songs of the Sparkle original soundtrack album from the movie of the same name, singing lead on "Yes I Do" (as a solo), and lead vocals with Jordin Sparks and Tika Sumpter singing backup on "Jump", "Hooked On Your Love" and "Something He Can Feel".

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Absolute Beginners Carmen
1997 Metro Ronnie Tate
1998 I Want You Amber
1998 The Avengers Brenda
2000 Love's Labour's Lost Maria
2001 Perfume Chloe
2001 What's the Worst That Could Happen? Amber Belhaven
2004 Noel Dr. Matthew Batiste
2007 The Brave One Jackie
2008 Pride and Glory Tasha
2009 Away We Go Grace De Tessant
2012 Sparkle Tammy "Sister" Anderson
2012 Alex Cross Maria Cross
2014 The Purge: Anarchy Eva
2014 Selma Coretta Scott King NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Nominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress
2015 Born to Be Blue Jane / Elaine
2016 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Seriphina[14] Filming
2017 Alien: Covenant Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Cold Lazarus Blinda
1998 Catherine Cookson's Colour Blind Rose Angela
1998 Tube Tales Girl Episode: "Steal Away"
2000 Sally Hemings: An American Scandal Sally Hemings
2001 Boycott Coretta Scott King
2005 Lackawanna Blues Alean
2006–2007 Kidnapped Turner
2007 M.O.N.Y. Francine Tyson
2008 Law & Order April Lannen Episode: "Burn Card"
2011 CHAOS Fay Carson
2013 Zero Hour Rebecca "Beck" Riley

References

  1. ↑ Family Search, accessed 11/22/14.
  2. ↑ "Birth Registration Details", Ancestry.co.uk (retrieved 19 July 2009).
  3. ↑ Juliet Izon, accessed 12/5/14 "Carmen Ejogo Talks Playing Coretta Scott King in 'Selma'", Los Angeles Confidential.
  4. ↑ Levy, Emanuel; "Selma: The Women’s Civil Rights Story", EmanuelLevy.com, 24 December 2014 (retrieved 29 December 2014).
  5. ↑ "A Gran Day Out" CumnockChronicle.com, 24 June 2009 (retrieved 19 July 2009).
  6. ↑ "Carmen Ejogo", Global News, 16 March
  7. ↑ Rich, Katey; "Interview: Away We Go's Carmen Ejogo" CinemaBlend.com, 2 June 2009 (retrieved 19 July 2009).
  8. ↑ Umbrolly website Umbrollys.com (retrieved 19 July 2009).
  9. ↑ Acey, Madeleine; "Dragons Den 'winner' takes to the streets", TimesOnline.co.uk, 7 August 2006 (retrieved 19 July 2009).
  10. ↑ Tricky biography.
  11. ↑ "Carmen Ejogo: 'There's some kind of trauma at play'", The Independent, 4 September 2009 (retrieved 2 July 2015).
  12. ↑ "Carmen, Elijah & Juno Wright" alittlemuse.com, 7 September 2011 (retrieved 2 July 2015).
  13. ↑ Zahed, Ramin; "'Selma' allows Carmen Ejogo to play Coretta Scott King a second time", LATimes.com, 18 December 2014 (retrieved 26 December 2014).
  14. ↑ http://theblackmedia.org/2015/12/15/fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-official-trailer/

External links

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