Idris Elba

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17 Feb 2024

Idris Elba

Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE, born on September 6, 1972, is an English actor, rapper, singer, and DJ. He gained recognition for his roles as Stringer Bell in the HBO series "The Wire" (2002–2004), DCI John Luther in the BBC One series "Luther" (2010–2019), and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" (2013). For his portrayal of Luther, Elba received numerous nominations for both Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Awards, winning one Golden Globe.
Elba has appeared in a variety of films, including "American Gangster" (2007), "Obsessed" (2009), and "Prometheus" (2012). He portrayed Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with "Thor" (2011), and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad" (2021) in the DC Extended Universe. His other notable roles include performances in "Pacific Rim" (2013), "Beasts of No Nation" (2015), for which he earned Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for Best Supporting Actor, and "Molly's Game" (2017). He also made his directorial debut with "Yardie" (2018).
In 2016, Elba was named in the Time 100 list of the Most Influential People in the World. His films have grossed over $9.8 billion globally, with over $3.6 billion in North America alone, placing him among the top 20 highest-grossing actors in that region. Additionally, Elba performs as a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis or Idris and as an R&B singer.

Idrissa Akuna Elba was born on September 6, 1972, in the London Borough of Hackney, to Winston Elba, a Sierra Leonean Creole man who worked at the Ford Dagenham plant, and Eve, a Ghanaian woman. His parents were married in Sierra Leone and later moved to London. Elba was raised in Hackney and East Ham. He shortened his first name to "Idris" at school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting. He credits The Stage with giving him his first big break. After seeing an advertisement for a play in it, he auditioned and subsequently met his first agent while performing in the role.
In 1986, he began assisting an uncle with his wedding DJ business; within a year, he had started his own DJ company with some of his friends. Elba briefly attended Barking and Dagenham College, leaving school in 1988 and winning a place in the National Youth Music Theatre after a £1,500 grant from the Prince's Trust. In order to support himself between roles in his early career, he worked in odd jobs including tyre-fitting, cold-calling, and night shifts at Ford Dagenham. He also worked in nightclubs under the DJ nickname "Big Driis" during his adolescence, but began auditioning for television roles in his early twenties.

Idris Elba's acting career began with roles in Crimewatch murder reconstructions, and in 1994, he appeared in a BBC children's drama called The Boot Street Band. His first significant role came in 1995 on a series called Bramwell, where he played a central character named Charlie Carter, an African petty thief who had lost his wife and had to support his newborn daughter. He also appeared as a gigolo in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous. Many supporting roles on British television followed, including appearances in The Bill, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, and Family Affairs. He decided to move to New York City soon afterward but continued to return to England occasionally for television roles.

In 1997, Elba starred in the first two episodes of the second series "Blood, Sweat and Tears" in Silent Witness. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Russell "Stringer" Bell in the HBO drama series The Wire from 2002 to 2004. He also portrayed Captain Augustin Muganza in Sometimes in April, an HBO film about the Rwandan genocide. Elba appeared in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as Charlie Gotso and later starred in Luther, a BBC crime thriller series where he played the lead role.
Elba appeared on NBC's The Office in a six-episode story arc in 2009 as Charles Miner. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television for his role in Luther. In April 2018, Elba was cast as Charlie in the Netflix comedy series Turn Up Charlie. Additionally, he created and starred in the semi-autobiographical comedy In the Long Run.

In 2007, Idris Elba signed on to play the lead role in the film Daddy's Little Girls, portraying Monty, a blue-collar mechanic who falls in love with an attorney helping him gain custody of his children. However, their relationship and his custody hopes are jeopardized by the return of his former wife. He also appeared in 28 Weeks Later and This Christmas, which performed well at the box office.
In 2008, Elba starred in the horror film Prom Night and Guy Ritchie's London gangster film RocknRolla. The following year, he appeared in the horror film The Unborn and the thriller Obsessed, where he acted alongside Beyoncé. Obsessed was a commercial success, grossing $29 million in its opening weekend.
In 2010, Elba starred in Legacy, portraying a black ops soldier seeking retribution after a failed mission in Eastern Europe. He also appeared in The Losers, playing Roque, the second-in-command of a black-ops team seeking revenge against the government. Additionally, he starred in the thriller Takers.
Elba's notable role in 2011 was as Heimdall in Kenneth Branagh's film Thor, based on the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name.