Ejiofor received numerous accolades for playing American abolitionist Solomon Northup in the 2013 biographical period drama film "12 Years a Slave". He received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Additionally, he won Best Actor awards at the 3rd AACTA International Awards and the 14th BET Awards, and was nominated at the 71st Golden Globe Awards, the 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards, the 19th Critics' Choice Awards, and the 18th Satellite Awards. In 2013, he also starred in the BBC television drama "Dancing on the Edge", for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Satellite Award. Ejiofor was awarded a CBE in 2015.