Chiwetel Ejiofor, CBE, (/ˈtʃuːwᵻtɛl ˈɛdʒi.oʊfɔːr/ CHEW-i-tel EJ-i-oh-for; born 10 July 1977) is a British actor. After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in 1995, and gaining a scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, at age 19 and three months into his course, Ejiofor was cast by Steven Spielberg to play a supporting part in the film Amistad as James Covey.