Chiwetel Ejiofor’s outstanding performance in 12 Years a Slave has not gone without recognition, but there is no one more proud of him than his sister Zain Asher.
Steve McQueen’s slavery-era drama 12 Years a Slave is being praised by critics and fans alike, and the hype this film and its cast are generating is truly well deserved.
Chiwetel Ejiofor’s outstanding and powerful performance as Solomon Northup has not gone without recognition as already he has received several award nominations.
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Fans across the globe are now rooting for the 36-year-old actor and hope he is left victorious at the 2014 Oscars. He is in the running for the Best Actor in a Leading Role award.
There is no one more proud of Ejiofor’s achievements than his sister Zain Asher, who was overcome with emotion while speaking on live television on Thursday night about her brother’s dedication and passion to the art.
Asher, who works as a CNN correspondent, sang her brother’s praises while reporting the news of his Oscar nomination on CNN on Thursday. She tearfully said, “Honestly, I could not sleep last night. I really couldn’t. This was so emotional for me because — I’m going to try not to cry —this was a day that my family has really been hoping for and waiting for, for such a long time.”
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“He works so hard at this and it’s taken 20 years to get this kind of recognition. It really is well deserved. He doesn’t do it for the money, he doesn’t do it for the nominations or the awards, it really is in his blood and is a true passion of his.”
While the movie 12 Years a Slave is a real tear-jerker, there are aspects of the British actor’s life that will also leave you feeling deeply emotional. After years in showbiz, Ejiofor finally has made it into the big leagues, but his joy is not without sadness.
His sister Asher recalled the death of their father, who would have loved to have seen his son achieve his dream.
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She said, “Everyone is so excited, so emotional, so overwhelmed at this because we have been waiting for this a long time.”
“It is kind of a sad day as well because my father isn’t alive anymore so he can’t see this. When Chiwetel was 12 years old, he was in a car accident with my father and everybody in the car died except for Chiwetel. And so you know that chance at life he was given, he has gone on to make the most of it.”
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