2013 would bring Ejiofor perhaps his biggest career moment so far, as he took the lead in Steve McQueen’s historical drama 12 Years A Slave. Critics lined up to praise Ejiofor for his powerful performance as Solomon Northup and unsurprisingly a slew of award nominations followed. He would take home the BAFTA for best actor as well as picking up his fourth Golden Globe nomination and his first Academy Award recognition. Ejiofor would lose out on the Oscar to Matthew McConaughey, but 12 Years A Slave was named best picture.

Chiwetel Ejiofor after winning the BAFTAChiwetel Ejiofor with his BAFTA for 12 Years A Slave

At the end of last year Ejiofor’s 12 Years A Slave follow up Half A Yellow Sun premiered at the Toronto Film festival and has just been released in theatres. He is currently filming the sci-fi movie Z for Zachariah, alongside Margot Robbie and Chris Pine, it's expected to hit cinemas next year. Of course now his next big project looks to be the 24th Bond film, where he is reported to have been cast as the villain. Production on this is said to start in October, ahead of a Nov. 6, 2015 release. With the intensity and charisma that Ejifor has shown in his acting career so far, we can only imagine that his turn as a Bond villain will be something spectacular. Get ready Mr Bond, you could be about to face your greatest challenge yet. 

Watch Chiwetel Ejiofor with a ladyfriend in West Hollywood: