Home > Actresses > E > Ejogo, Carmen > Biography

Beautiful biracial actress Carmen Ejogo was born on January 1, 1974, in London, England, to a Nigerian entrepreneur (father) and a Scottish tour guide (mother). Carmen started her acting career by appearing in a music video when she was eight years old, and she made her television debut as Thomas Jefferson's slave mistress in the mini-series "Sally Hemings: An American scandal." Her film credits include roles in the movies "The Avengers," "Perfume," and "What's The Worst That Could Happen?," and in 2001 she portrayed Coretta Scott King in the HBO original movie "Boycott." However, Carmen is best known for her role as Turner on the crime drama "Kidnapped." Carmen lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband actor Jeffery Wright, and they have a son named Elijah.

The daughter of a Nigerian businessman and a Scotch tour guide, exotically beautiful British actress Carmen Ejogo grew up in London and won her first part at age 11, but only broke through to international acclaim in 1997, as Eddie Murphy's onscreen paramour in the comic actioner Metro. Later, Ejogo disclosed the full extent of her dramatic range with a skilled portrayal of Sally Hemings -- Thomas Jefferson's mistress -- (a part she inherited from Thandie Newton and others) in the acclaimed television miniseries Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (2000). The crime comedy What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001), with Danny DeVito and Martin Lawrence, represented a low point, but Ejogo saved face via exemplary supporting work in such pictures as Lackawanna Blues (2005) and The Brave One (2007). Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide