Idrissa Akuna Elba, popularly known as Idris Elba is an English actor, producer, director, musician, DJ, and rapper. Elba is best known for his roles as drug trafficker Stringer Bell on the HBO series The Wire, DCI John Luther on the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandel in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. His other major films are American Gangster, Prometheus, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Pacific Rim, Star Trek Beyond. He made his directorial debut in 2018 with an adaptation of the 1992 novel Yardie by Victor Headley.

He also performs as a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis (or Big Driis the Londoner) and as an R&B musician. He has over 3.9 million followers on his Instagram. 

Source: Instagram@sabrinadhowre

What is Idris Elba Famous For?

- His role as Stringer Bell on the HBO series, The Wire.

- His role as DCI John Luther on BBC One series, Luther.

- His role as Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. 

where was Idris Elba born?

Idris Elba was born on 6 September 1972. His birth name is Idrissa Akuna Elba. He was born to a Sierra Leonean father, Winston, and a Ghanaian mother, Eve. His birth place is in Hackney, London in England. He holds English nationality. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He was raised in Hackney and East Ham. 

He attended Kingsland High School and Barking and Dagenham College. 

He credits The Stage with giving him his first big break. He saw an advertisement for a play in it and auditioned for the role. 

He started helping an uncle with his wedding DJ business in 1986. He started his own DJ company within the year. He was working in nightclubs under the DJ nickname "Big Driis" during his teens. 

He left school in 1988. He won a place in the National Youth Music Theater with 1,500 Prince's Trust grant. He worked several jobs such as tyre-fitting, cold-calling, and night shifts at Ford Dagenham to support himself during his early career. 

Source: Instagram@idriselba

Television Career

Elba's first acting career role was in Crimewatch murder reconstructions. 

He then guests appeared in 2point4 Children, Space Precinct, The Bill, Absolutely Fabulous, and Bramwell. 

He landed one of the main roles as Officer Chiswick in the ITV television drama series, The Governor. 

He is best known for his role as Russell "Stringer" Bell in an American crime drama television series, The Wire. He appeared in the series between 2002 and 2004. 

He is also known for his role as DCI John Luther in a British crime drama television series, Luther. He has been appearing in the series since 2010. He is also the associate producer of the series. 

His other major television works are The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Insiders, Family Affairs, Ultraviolet, Dangerfield, The Office, The Big C, Guerrilla, among others. 

Other television series, he has made guest appearances are Crocodile Shoes II, Crucial Tales, Silent Witness, Verdict, In Defence, London's Burning, Law & Order, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Hack, CSI: Miami, Queens Supreme, Soul Food, Girlfriends, Jonny Zero, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, among others. 

He has hosted Idris Elba's How Clubbing Change the World in 2012, Idris Elba: King of Speed in 2013, Idris Elba: No Limits in 2015, and Idris Elba: Fighter in 2017.

Source:  Instagram@idriselba

Film Career

He made his film debut in the 1999 comedic French film Belle Maman. 

He has appeared in numerous British and American films since then. 

He is best known for portraying Nelson Mandel in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. 

His other major films are American Gangster, Prometheus, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Pacific Rim, Star Trek Beyond. 

His other films are sorted, Buffalo Soldiers, One Love, The Gospel, Daddy's Little Girls, The Reaping, 28 Weeks Later, This Christmas, Prom Night, RocknRolla, The Human Contract, The Unborn, Obsessed, Legacy, The Losers, Takers, No Good Deed, Second Coming, The Gunman, Beasts of No Nation, Bastille Day, 100 Streets, The Dark Tower, Molly's Game, The Mountain Between Us, among others. 

He has voice roles in films, Zootopia, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory.

He made his directorial debut in 2018 with an adaptation of the 1992 novel Yardie by Victor Headley.

His upcoming films are Hobbs & Shaw and Cats.

Music

He has also appeared in music videos, "Dance Off" by Macklemore and "Boasty" by Wiley, Sean Paul, and Stefflon Don.

He released his four-song EP, Big Man in 2006. 

He co-produced and performed on the intro to Jay-Z's album American Gangster in 2007.  

He DJed at the 2007 NBA All-Star parties at The Venetian and Ice House Lounge in Las Vegas.

He was the DJ for BET's current series Rising Icons in 2009.

He released his second EP, Kings Among Kings in 2009 and third EP, High Class Problems Vol. 1 in 2010.

He released his first mixtape, Merry DriisMas Holiday Mixtape in 2011.

He performed on the intro to Pharoahe Monch's album W.A.R. in 2011. 

He produced, co-directed and starred in the 2012 music video of "Lover of the Light" by Mumford and Sons. 

He produced and starred on "Hustle On" by Giggs in 2012.

He released his 4th EP, Idris Elba Presents Mi Mandella in 2014. 

He released his first album, Murdah Loves John in 2015.

He opened for Madonna during her Rebel Heart Tour in Berlin, Germany in November 2015. 

He launched his record label, 7 Wallace Music in July 2018.

He performed at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2019. 

Kickboxing Career

Discovery Channel produced a documentary, Idris Elba: Fighter. The documentary chronicles Elba's 12-month kickboxing and mixed martial arts training, his first professional kickboxing fight, and his win against Dutch Lionel Graves.

Source: @Kontrolmagazine.com

Awards

2010 BET Award for Best Actor for The Losers.

2011 BET Award for Best Actor for Takers and Luther.

2011 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for Luther.

2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for Luther.

2012 Black Reel Award for Best Actor: T.V. Movie/Cable for Luther.

2014 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for Luther.

2015 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, 2015 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, 2015 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, and 2015 Kermode Award for Best Actor for Beasts of No Nation.

2015 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries and 2015 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie for Luther.

2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance and 2017 Black Reel Award for Outstanding Voice Performance for The Jungle Book. 

One of People's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World in May 2007.

Essence's annual Sexiest Man of the Year 2013.

MOBO Inspiration Award 2014. 

GQ magazines' 50 best-dressed British men 2015.

Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 New Year Honors for services to drama.

Male Title for the "Rear of the Year" award in Britain in 2017.

One of 50 people named for "making London awesome" and helping to shape London's cultural landscape who was featured in Time Out to mark the magazine's 50th anniversary in 2018.

People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2018.

Who is Idris Elba Married To?

Idris Elba has been married 3 times. He first married Hanne "Kim" Norgaard in 1999. They divorced in 2003. He has a daughter named Isan with Kim, born in 2002.

He then married Sonya Nicole Hamlin in 2006. However, their marriage lasted only for four months. 

He has a son named Winston from his ex-girlfriend Naiyana Garth.

He is now married to model Sabrina Dhowre. The couple started dating in early 2017. They got engaged on 10 February 2018 during a screening of his film Yardie at an East London cinema. The couple tied a knot to each other on 26 April 2019 in Marrakesh, Morocco. 

Who is Sabrina Dhowre?

Source: @mirror.co.uk

How Tall is Idris Elba?

Idris Elba stands at a height of 1.90 m i.e. 6 feet and 2 and a half inches tall. He has a body weight of 190 lbs. He has an athletic body build. He has dark brown eyes and his hair color is black. 

What is Idris Elba Net Worth?

Idris Elba earns from his acting career. He has appeared in numerous British and American films and television series. Besides acting, he is also a professional DJ and rapper. He has also appeared in numerous television advertisements. He has worked in television advertisements for Sky, Oude Meester, Jaguar, Optus, Purdey's, Superdry, Omaze, Nike, Grand Basel, and Squarespace among others. He has collaborated with British fashion label Superdry in 2015. His major income comes from working in the entertainment industry. As of 2019, his net worth is estimated at $25 million.