Chiwetel Ejiofor rocks a shadowy beard at UK premiere: would you hit it?

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When I saw these photos of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sade’s “Smooth Operator” began playing in a loop in my head. Smooth… operator…

Anyway, these are some new photos of Chiwetel and Thandie Newton at last night’s London premiere of their film Half of a Yellow Sun. Thandie just had a baby a month ago – remember how her birth was sponsored by an organic beauty supply company? So, that’s how Thandie looks just one month after giving birth… crazy.

As for Chiwetel, I have formed a theory about his hotness. For one, he’s always hot, but I find him much more attractive when he has some facial hair. I feel the same way about Chris Pine and Tom Hiddleston too – sometimes some scruffy facial hair just makes a man look more rugged and bangable. Chiwetel’s shadowy beard is working for me. A lot.

As we discussed this weekend, there are widespread reports that Chiwetel is the “top choice” to play the villain in the next James Bond film, which will begin filming at some point this year (I think it starts this summer). A lot of you thought Chiwetel would be a great 007, and while I agree (completely), I do think that it’s probably a lot of fun for an actor of Chiwetel’s caliber to drop into some huge franchise for one film, steal every scene and then walk away. Plus, it will be great money for him and an even bigger boost to his career. Skyfall’s villain, Javier Bardem, stole most of his scenes, got a fat paycheck and he even got nominated for some awards for his performance. And before people start in on the “why does the black actor have to play the villain?!” stuff, just know that a real actor like Chiwetel relishes a good villain role:

Although it marks something of a departure from his work in 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor is now being touted to play the baddie in the 24th James Bond film.

“At the age of 15, the first part Chewy played for me was a witch boy in Howard Richardson’s play Dark of the Moon,” I am informed by Jacqueline Nichols, his first drama teacher at the Dulwich Youth Theatre (now the First Rung Theatre Company). “It was a rather odd play, but I think he understood, even then, that you can make a lot more of an impression as a baddie, or an outsider, than in a heroic role, and he threw himself into it with great relish. So I’m sure he knows precisely what he is doing.”

[From The Telegraph]

See? I’m not worried. Because I honestly believe Chiwetel will be fine, regardless of whether he takes a villain role or not. This actually reminds me of Sidney Poitier’s decision to never play a villain – Poitier believed (correctly) that his place as the first black leading man in Hollywood and as a civil rights leader meant that he could never take a villain role. Chiwetel doesn’t have that – he’s just a straight up actor for hire, looking for the most interesting project and the most challenging role.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

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25 Responses to “Chiwetel Ejiofor rocks a shadowy beard at UK premiere: would you hit it?”

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  1. T.fanty says:

    Yes. Next question.

  2. pru says:

    He’s so handsome.

  3. Kali says:

    So hard. And repeatedly. Good god, I hope the Bond thing is right. Can you imagine Chiwetel having an introduction like that rat story Javier Bardem had?!?

  4. blue marie says:

    Uh yeah, can’t believe you even asked.

    • kri says:

      Is this a trick question?! Oh, god he is shriekingly hot.

    • Emily C. says:

      His smile is amazing. I’m hoping we never hear anything bad about him, because so help me he is SO HOT and I don’t want to give him up. That picture of him shaking someone’s hand is doing things to me no actor has done since I was a teenager with the hots for Christian Slater.

  5. sunsetsnow says:

    Damn, they look gorgeous! She needs to be a Bond girl. It would make up for MI. As for Bond, he would make a great villain. I might be wrong, but the main villain has never been AA. There were some bad guys in…Live and Let Die?

  6. Secret Squirrel says:

    Playing a villain is probably a lot more fun than playing the hero! We all remember the baddies in James Bond films, even those like me who don’t particularly like James Bond (as a character, not the actors involved btw). Chiwetel would have a blast I’m sure.

    And yes, this man can come and park his shoes under my bed anytime!

    I hate Thandie for looking that good so soon after birth!

  7. Nana says:

    The best I’ve seen him look. Can’t wait to see this movie. Loved the book.

  8. Luca26 says:

    I have no problem with him playing a villain vs a leading man BUT it’s still fustrating to see someone of his experience,talent, and charisma get offered second tier roles over and over while less talented white actors get more lucrative offers over and over. In fact Sidney Poitier seems to have had more leading roles thrown his way 50 years ago then Chiwitel. I’m just disappointed with Hollywood it isn’t right.

    • LadySlippers says:

      Agreed.

    • Leah says:

      I agree, he should have more leading man opportunities. He is gorgeous and super talented. Speaking of Poitier, i recently saw a movie of his ( guess who is coming to dinner) the man was incredibly handsome, charismatic and dignified. He just had something really special. Star quality i guess.

    • NeoCleo says:

      The first role I ever saw him in was the TV series “Firefly” and then subsequently the movie “Serenity”. He played a “baddie” that made my flesh crawl, he was so convincing and chilling that I figured he must be drawing on something, and he is: huge talent. He absolutely inhabits his roles. Seeing him in “Kinky Boots” was a revelation for me and underscored the depth and breadth of his abilities.

      If he plays a James Bond villin, he will make it memorable.

  9. BooBooLaRue says:

    LOL was just listening to Sade this morning! ABSOLUTELY!

  10. MaryJane says:

    Wait whaaaaat Thandie already gave birth? Damn!

  11. brionne says:

    Again and again and again

  12. Emily C. says:

    Villain roles in James Bond movies are not challenging. But they definitely pay well. If he wants to do it, that’s fine and understandable, a fun break that nets him lots of cash and gets him more exposure. I still wish he’d play Bond though. Besides all the serious arguments for it, he’s so much hotter than Daniel Craig it’s not even funny.

  13. Lis says:

    No thanks.

  14. GreenTurtle says:

    Yup.