Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave
When Chiwetel Ejiofor was first offered the part of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave — his biggest role to date by far — he wasn't sure he could handle the responsibility of the weighty role. As he told BBC in January 2014, "When I read the script, I thought it was an extraordinary story but I did feel the weight and the responsibility of it. I didn't want to be the guy that messed it up . . . so to be handed that kind of opportunity and the responsibility of telling [Northup's] story — I just questioned myself and was stuck for a moment with the questions of whether I could do that." Of course, the Academy Award nomination he later scored made it clear that the role was meant to be.