ComingSoon.net is counting down our five favorite movies and TV shows starring Carmen Ejogo, who has just begun to receive recognition as an actress but has actually been around for a while now. Check out our choices in the gallery below!
Born in London but known for playing mostly American characters, Carmen Ejogo has found success on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. From prestige TV to big-budget franchises to gripping dramas and indie horror films, Ejogo has diversified herself across all kinds of different roles in such a short amount of time. She’s still relatively new to such large success in the entertainment industry, but shows no signs of stopping her ascent.
In fact, 2017 saw the actress pick up five different roles—all notable in one way or another. For someone who has been acting since 1986 but has only found great roles in the past decade or so, it’s impressive just how hard Ejogo has worked herself in recent years. As she continues to grow more and more successful, let’s look at her best acting credits so far.
Carmen Ejogo roles
-
True Detective Season Three (2019)
After staying off the air and remaining in limbo for many years, True Detective returned in the early months of 2019 to rave reviews all around. Whether critics were praising lead actor Mahershala Ali’s mind-bending, decades-spanning performance or writer Nic Pizzolatto’s return to form after a rocky second season, the show seemed to have fans and detractors alike on the edge of their seats. Ejogo plays the wife of Ali’s character, but she’s really so much more than that. It’s the best thing she’s done yet.
-
Born to Be Blue (2015)
Another biopic, this one about Chet Baker, Born to Be Blue stars Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo. The movie was praised for its upheaval of the traditional biopic structure, reimagining the life and legacy of Baker and his 60s comeback to great effect. Ejogo plays Jane and Elaine, doubling as Baker’s first wife and the actress who plays her in a movie about his life. It sounds a bit convoluted, but the movie is far from it.
-
Selma (2014)
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay is quickly becoming one of the most notable names in 21st century American filmmaking. Her filmography, while short, is prolific and recognizable. Her breakout film, Selma, tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr.’s marches in favor of voting rights for all Americans, not just white ones. Ejogo plays Coretta Scott King, a key figure in the marches and the wife of David Oyelowo’s MLK.
-
Away We Go (2009)
A light and breezy dramatic comedy from Sam Mendes (just a few years before his turn as a James Bond director), Away We Go stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph as a married couple expecting their first child who set out to find the perfect place to build their family. With a script from novelist Dave Eggers, the movie is unpredictably funny and convincingly deep. Ejogo plays Grace, a key character in the journey of Krasinski and Rudolph’s life.
-
It Comes at Night (2017)
The second feature from indie director Trey Edward Schults, whose debut film Krisha is a family drama for the ages, It Comes at Night is a quietly creepy and sneakily horrific exploration of a future where nighttime holds unimaginable terrors. A group of survivors fend for themselves against the forces of nature, growing increasingly more paranoid by their peers as time goes on. Ejogo knocks it out of the park as Sarah, giving the role her everything alongside Joel Edgerton, Christopher About, and Riley Keough.
