Nigerian hollywood actress Carmen Ejogo’s first role in a major Hollywood film was in Metro in which she starred as Eddie Murphy’s love interest. She also stood out in two TV movies involving two historic black female figures - Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal (as Sally Hemmings) and Boycott (as Coretta Scott King). She has received praise for her strong role in Sparkle, released in 2011, where she played the titular character’s cynical and opinionated sister. She recently starred as Maria Cross, Detective Alex Cross's wife in the 2012 film

Born and raised in London, Ejogo is the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Ejogo née Douglas. Her father is Nigerian and her mother is Scottish. During her childhood, Ejogo remembers her mother as being "a bit of a hippie". Her younger brother is also named Charles Ejogo. She attended the Oratory Primary Roman Catholic primary school in Chelsea until 1984.


Ejogo's television career began in the UK in the early 1990s, where she presented the children's series Saturday Disney. Subsequently, she has had an acting career in the US. She has appeared in Metro, What's the Worst That Could Happen?, and Love's Labour's Lost, among other films. She also presented The Carmen Ejogo Video Show, her own video show on BSB's Power Station channel.

She starred as Sally Hemmings in the television drama Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal and as Sister Anderson in the 2012 remake of the cult 1976 film Sparkle. Although the film received mixed reviews, Ejogo received significant acclaim for her performance, being cited by many critics as the breakout star of the film. Liz Smith of the Huffington Post wrote: "As for Carmen Ejogo, as the cynical Sister, she is mind-blowing. What a performance! Carmen has been around for a while, and has a fanatical fan base. Now I know why. If this turn doesn't cop her an Oscar nomination, there is no justice."

Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle commented: "Very few people will walk out of Sparkle talking about either Sparks or Houston, at least not at first. Instead they will be saying, 'Who was that?' And they'll be referring to Carmen Ejogo... if there is any justice, Ejogo will become very famous very soon. As in, maybe today... it's rare to see someone become a movie star right before your eyes, but that's what happens with Ejogo in Sparkle... for an actress, this was the opportunity of a lifetime, and Ejogo plays it that way. She leaves nothing out, holds nothing back." She also starred as Maria Cross, Detective Alex Cross's wife in the 2012 film

Ejogo is also a vocalist, having collaborated with several artists in the 1990s. She wrote and sang lead vocals on the song "Candles" by English drum 'n' bass DJ Alex Reece — she appeared in the music video and is listed in the production credits as 'Carmen'.

She also sang vocals and duets with British artist Tricky on a song called "Slowly".

Aside from "Candles", Ejogo appears on four songs of the Sparkle original soundtrack album from the movie of the same name, singing lead on "Yes I Do" (as a solo), and co-lead vocals with Jordin Sparks and Tika Sumpter on "Jump", "Hooked On Your Love" and "Something He Can Feel".

Ejogo was briefly married to trip-hop artist Tricky in 1998. She has been married to American actor Jeffrey Wright, whom she met while they were making the HBO film Boycott, since 2000. They live in Brooklyn, New York, and have two children.