Idris Elba

Not to be confused with Idris elba, a species of parasitic wasp named after the actor.

Idris Elba
OBE
Idris Elba in 2018
Elba at Berlinale in 2018
Born
Idrissa Akuna Elba

(1972-09-06) 6 September 1972 (age 52)
Hackney, London, England
Other names
  • DJ Big Driis
  • Idris[1]
Citizenship
Occupations
  • Actor
  • disc jockey
  • rapper
  • singer
Years active1994–present
Works
Spouses
  • Hanne Nørgaard
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1999; div. 2003)​
  • Sonya Nicole Hamlin
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2006; ann. 2006)​
  • ​
    (m. 2019)​
Children2
AwardsFull list
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Labels

Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE (/ˈɪdrɪs/ IH-driss; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor, rapper, singer, and DJ. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three BAFTA Awards and six Emmy Awards. He was named in the Time 100 list of the Most Influential People in the World in 2016.[3] His films have grossed over $9.8 billion at the global box office, making him one of the top 20 highest-grossing actors.

Elba studied acting at the National Youth Music Theatre in London. He rose to prominence playing Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire (2002–2004), and DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther (2010–2019), the later of which earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film as well as a four nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He was also Emmy-nominated for his guest role in Showtime comedy-drama series The Big C (2011) and for his leading role in Apple TV+ thriller series Hijack (2024).[4][5][6] He is also known for his recurring guest role as Charles Miner in the NBC sitcom The Office (2009).

On film, he portrayed a ruthless and charismatic warlord in the Netflix drama Beasts of No Nation (2015) for which he received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role as well as nominations for a British Academy Film Award and Golden Globe Award. He portrayed Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. He has also acted in films such as American Gangster (2007), Obsessed (2009), Prometheus (2012), Pacific Rim (2013), Star Trek Beyond (2016), Molly's Game (2017), The Dark Tower (2017), Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), and The Harder They Fall (2021).

He joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) portraying Heimdall in six films beginning with Thor (2011), as well as the DC Extended Universe playing Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad (2021). He has voiced roles in Zootopia, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory (all 2016). He made his directorial debut with Yardie (2018).[7] Apart from acting, Elba performs as a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis or Idris and as an R&B singer.[8][9]

  1. ^ Yuan, Jada (8 June 2012). "Idris Elba on Prometheus, Learning to Box, and His Party House". vulture.com. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Idris Elba given Sierra Leone citizenship". BBC News. 20 December 2019.
  3. ^ Simon, David. "Idris Elba: TIME 100". Time. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  4. ^ Lowry, Brian (10 July 2014). "Emmy Nominations 2014 — Full List: 66th Primetime Emmys Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Wire actor Elba joins BBC drama". BBC News. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Idris Elba". Prince's Trust. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  7. ^ Cabin, Chris (5 July 2016). "Idris Elba Set to Make Directorial Debut With Yardie". Collider. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Idris Elba Interview: The Hustler" Archived 7 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Esquire. Retrieved 18 April 2016
  9. ^ Canada, Danielle (13 September 2011). "Idris Elba (Driis) Releases New Music Video 'Secret Garden'". hiphopwired.com.