Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor has described reports that he has been selected to play the villain in the next James Bond movie as mere ‘speculation’.
Reports had surfaced last week in British newspapers and blogs that the star of ’12 Years a Slave’ had been pencilled for the role in the upcoming 24th official James Bond movie to be directed by Sam Mendes.
But speaking on Friday at an interaction with newsmen at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, after a press screening of ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ in which he plays, the actor said he had not been contacted.
Ejiofor, who plays Odenigbo in the movie also starring Thandie Newton and John Boyega amongst others, also seized the opportunity to clear the air about his roots.
He explained that he had never denied his connections to Nigeria and that the uproar about where he’s from emanated from a misunderstanding.
He said that when asked where he is from in an interview, he honestly answered England given that he was actually born in England by Nigerian parents.
His answer, he said, was taken out of context by some that he does not wish to acknowledge his Nigerian roots.
He affirmed his pride in Nigeria and in appearing in ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ which premieres in Nigerian cinemas on April 25. “I’m extraordinarily happy to be in the movie,” he stated.
Ejiofor also touched on the Biafran War, stating that his parents wouldn’t have had to relocate and that he wouldn’t have been born in London if the war hadn’t happened.
“The Biafran War is part of my upbringing and history. It is part of the reason I was born in London. We always talked about it in my house,” he said adding that his maternal grandfather told him stories of the war during his visit to Nigeria six years ago.
He said ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ directed by the UK-based Biyi Bandele is a story with relevance across the world and that it will help change the way Africa is represented in the West.
