MET Gala 2014: Chiwetel Ejiofor Says He Takes Longer Than Most Women When Prepping for Red Carpet

May 6, 2014 — -- Chiwetel Ejiofor was an Oscar nominee this past season for "12 Years a Slave," so he recently gained a lot of experience walking red carpets.

But he admitted at Monday night's MET Gala that "I like to take my time" getting ready for all the glitz and glam.

"I think I take longer [than a woman]," he told ABC News and other outlets at the MET in New York Monday night.

See: The Most Dramatic Looks from the 2014 MET Gala

"It took me hours," he said of how long he prepped for the big fashion event.

The actor said he started getting ready around 2 p.m. Red carpet arrivals began around 6 p.m.

So what did he do with his time?

Related: See Kim Kardashian's Met Ball 2014 Photo Diary

"A long soak, I was watching TV, getting in the spirit of thing very slowly, took me about four hours but here I am," he said.

Ejiofor -- who said he was "drenched" in Dolce & Gabbana, sporting multiple garments by the fashion label -- said he likes dressing up for such events and that the MET Gala is just a great way to celebrate fashion.