Idris Elba is an English musician and actor who goes by the monikers DJ Big Driis, 7 Dub, Big Driis, and Big Driis the Londoner. On September 6, 1972, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born in Hackney, London, England, to Eve and Winston, who married in Sierra Leone and moved to London. Idris grew up in Hackney and East Ham and began acting while attending Canning Town High School. In 1988, he received a Prince’s Trust grant and was accepted into the National Youth Music Theatre. While starting his acting career, he worked as a DJ and did other odd jobs. His breakthrough role was in the television series Bramwell.
Idris Elba is the only child in his family. His father was Sierra Leonean, and his mother was Ghanaian.
Idrissa changed his name to Idris when he first started acting.
Idris met his first agent while performing in the play The Stage.
Idris worked as a cold-calling salesman, a tyre fitter, and in Crimewatch murder reconstructions while pursuing his acting career.
Idris Elba rose to prominence as Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell, a drug lord and businessman, in the HBO series The Wire.
In the BBC series Luther, Idris Elba played Detective John Luther, and in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, he played Nelson Mandela.
Idris Elba received three Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film.
Idris Elba has received four Primetime Emmy nominations.
Idris Elba received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the television series Luther.
Idris Elba appeared in the 2007 film Daddy’s Little Girls.
Idris Elba starred as a general in the zombie film 28 Weeks Later in 2007.
Idris Elba co-starred in Obsession with Beyonce Knowles in 2009.
Idris Elba portrayed the Norse god Heimdall in Thor in 2011.
In 2012, Idris Elba portrayed Janek, the ship captain, in Prometheus.
Idris Elba has appeared in numerous television shows, including Absolutely Fabulous, Bramwell, The Governor, Family Affairs, Ultraviolet, Dangerfield, Law and Order, The Wire, CSI: Miami, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, The Office, The Big C, Luther, Guerilla, and many more.
Idris Elba hosted a number of television shows, including FIFA: The Best Awards 2017.
Idris Elba has appeared in music videos for a variety of artists, including Mumford and Sons, Giggs, and Macklemore.
Idris Elba has received numerous accolades, including the BET Award for Best Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, the NAACP Image Award, the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, the Screen Actors Guild Award, the Black Reel Award, and the Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance, among others.
Idris Elba was named one of People’s annual 100 Most Beautiful People in 2007.
Idris Elba was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2013.
In the Avengers films, Idris Elba plays Heimdall.
Idris Elba and his girlfriend Naiyana Garth welcomed their first child, Winston, in 2014. He and his ex-wife Kim have a daughter named Isan, who was born in 2002.
