BRITISH ACTOR ADDS SEASONING TO JOLIE’S “SALT”

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By Sojourna

Angelina Jolie plays a stealth CIA officer, Evelyn Salt, yet the tables are turned when she’s accused of being a Russian spy – in the new action packed film Salt.On the lam, Jolie’s character must use all her skills & years of experience to prove her innocence. Hot on her trail…wanting to bring Salt to justice (adding seasoning to the salt) is British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. He plays Peabody, a young gun-ho CIA agent, working for Evelyn Salt’s mentor. With Peabody in hot pursuit, Salt must clear her name and figure out the identity of the real spy.

Ejiofor, born to Nigerian parents in Forest Gate, East London; his father was a doctor and his mother a pharmacist, reached acclaim in the sci-fi film Children Of Men – starring Clive Owens. In that role – Ejiofor played a seemingly good guy – champion for a positive cause yet he’s revealed to be a turn-coat. His role in the upcoming blockbuster film, Salt, is along the same path.

Stung by the acting bug at the age of 13 when he joined the National Youth Theatre of Great Britian, Ejiofor, landed notable acting gigs throughout Britian. It wasn’t until Steven Spielberg casted Ejiofor in the historical film – Amistad – along side Djimon Hounsou, that his star quality was noticed. In 2001 he starred in Dirty Pretty Things playing a Nigerian immigrant living in London – facing information which puts his life in danger. After a stint on the small screen in London – Ejiofor hit the big screen again in 2003 in Love Actually starring Hugh Grant and Slow Burn with Ray Liotta. At this point, Ejiofor was a force to be reckoned with. Showing his versatility – Ejiofor donned a sexy dress and heels as a cross-dresser in the comedy Kinky Boot. Switching gears, Ejiofor partnered with Don Cheadle in Talk to Me, a biopic about Washington, D.C. flamboyant radio personality Ralph “Petey” Greene. Playing straight man to a surprisingly comedic Don Cheadle – Ejiofor lit up the screen as the film’s conflicted moral compass. By 2006 – he partnered with Oscar-winner Denzel Washington as a hostage negotiator in Inside Man and again as Huey Lucas in American Gangster. In 2009 – Ejiofor rounded out the year with blockbuster hit – 2012.

Salt opens on July 23. Be on the look out for Ejiofor’s next film – Tonight at Noon a dramatic tale based on Jonathan Lethem (Motherless Brooklyn, The Fortress of Solitude) short story of alternate realities.

written by Susan-Sojourna Collier
July 10, 2010

 

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