Steve McQueen and Chiwetel Ejiofor make waves in new slavery blockbuster movie

Steve McQueen

I must say that I have never ever heard of Steve McQueen but surely Chiwetel Ejiofor is a popular actor. Well, let me introduce these two talented men who are causing the big wigs in Los Angeles to look up.

Steve McQueen has just premiered his latest film, 12 Years A Slave in the US. The film is an unflinching look at the human brutality and suffering which took place during the period of slavery in America. Top celebrities from all over the world from Madonna to Brad Pitt who is also an actor in the film graced the event.  

12 Years a Slave: watch the trailer for Steve McQueen's critically acclaimed drama
 

So who is Steve McQueen?

McQueen was born in 1969 to Granadian parents. He grew up in Ealing in London, UK. According to a recent interview in the Guardian, he was discriminated against for his colour and for a medical disability called dyslexia while in primary school. He attended Chelsea School of Art and the Goldsmiths University where he received a BA(Hons) Fine Art degree.

Despite these challenges, he went on to achieve amazing results.

In 1999, he won the Turner prize with a video installation. McQueen won a Bafta in 2008 for his first feature film, Hunger. In 2011, he was awarded an OBE and a CBE. Shame, his second movie took more than £10m at the box office. McQueen shot his latest movie in just 35 days, with one camera and a budget of about £8m.

Even before the film has opened in Britain, 12 Years A Slave has already earned $40m (£25m) in US ticket sales, multiple Golden Globe nominations and a likely Academy Award and the possibility that McQueen would become the first black feature film director to win an Oscar.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor was born in East London, UK, went to school at Dulwich College and joined the National Youth Theater. His first film debut was in the television film Deadly Voyage in 1996. He was only 19 when he played the role of Interpreter James Covey in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad

His parent’s met as teenagers in Enugu city, Nigeria and fled to London during the Biafran war in the late 60’s.

McQueen's film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as the historical figure Solomon Northup, a New Yorker sold into slavery on the plantations of Louisiana in 1841 after being kidnapped in Washington DC.

These are two men of African origin who have successful made it through despite the challenges of segregation, racism, stereotyping and disability. If they can do it, so can you. No one has an excuse!