Carmen Ejogo

b. 1973 · British actress and singer

Biography

Carmen Ejogo (born 22 October 1973 in Kensington, London) is a British actress and singer whose career has spanned film, television and music for more than three decades. She is known for a steady run of supporting and lead roles in mainstream and independent productions, particularly from the late 1990s onward.

She first gained public attention as the host of the Saturday Disney morning programme from 1993 to 1995. She then moved into acting, with credits including Love's Labour's Lost (2000), What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) and Away We Go (2009), and more dramatic parts in Sparkle (2012) and Alex Cross (2012). On television she has worked on series such as Kidnapped and True Detective, the latter in its 2019 season, and more recently on Your Honor, opposite Bryan Cranston.

One of the most notable parts of her career is her portrayal of civil rights activist Coretta Scott King, which she played in Boycott (2001) and Selma (2014). While preparing for the earlier role she met King, who gave her blessing to the performance. In the Fantastic Beasts series she played Seraphina Picquery, a role that brought her to a wider international audience.

Ejogo has also worked in music for many years. She has sung on records, collaborated with artists in the British drum and bass scene, and contributed to the soundtrack of Sparkle. Her personal life has attracted press attention, including her marriages to the musician Tricky and to the actor Jeffrey Wright. She remains active in film and television, and her work reflects the growing presence of British actresses in Hollywood over recent decades.

Key films

Selma (2014): plays Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr., in the story of the Selma marches.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016): plays Seraphina Picquery, leader of the American Magical Congress.
Alien: Covenant (2017): part of the cast of Ridley Scott's science fiction sequel.
Sparkle (2012): stars in the remake of the musical about a girl group, where she also contributes vocals.