Idris Elba

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

September 6, 1972 · Hackney, London, England, UK

Birth name

Idrissa Akuna Elba

“I'm an ambitious person. I've never considered myself in competition with anyone, and I don't say that from an arrogant point of view, It's just that my journey started so long ago, and I'm still on it and I'm not going to stand still.” Idris Elba is a British actor and producer who has played a wide range of roles in both film and television. He began auditioning for small roles, managing to appear in films such as Buffalo Soldiers (2001). However, he rose to fame thanks to his portrayal of Stringer Bell in the acclaimed police series The Wire. Thanks to that, he began to get supporting roles in films such as: 28 Weeks Later (2007), American Gangster (2007) and Rocknrolla (2008). Elba gained worldwide recognition years later for his role as John Luther in the series Luther (2010-2019). He has also played prominent roles in films such as Thor (2011) where he plays Heimdall, Pacific Rim (2013), Beasts of No Nation (2015), Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013), where he played Nelson Mandela, and The Suicide Squad (2021). He also lent his voice to animated films such as Zootopia (2016), Finding Dory (2016), and Sonic 2 (2022). In addition to his acting career, Elba is a DJ under the name DJ Big Driis. His charisma has made him a popular figure in the entertainment industry.