22-24, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LQ, United Kingdom
Idris Elba attends the Royal film performance of "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom" at Odeon Leicester Square on December 5, 2013, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ferdaus Shamim)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2014
8221 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046, United States
Idris Elba attends the W Magazine celebration of The "Best Performances" Portfolio and The Golden Globes with Cadillac and Dom Perignon at Chateau Marmont on January 9, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Sciulli)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2015
Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XT, United Kingdom
Idris Elba attends the World Premiere of "The Gunman" at BFI Southbank on February 16, 2015, in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2015
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Idris Elba attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2015
London, England, UK
Idris Elba attends a photocall to launch the Superdry AW15 Premium Menswear collection at Superdry International Showroom on November 26, 2015, in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2017
New York City, New York, USA
Idris Elba attends "The Dark Tower" New York premiere on July 31, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2017
Univision Studios, FL, USA
Idris Elba is seen on the set of 'Despierta America' to promote the film 'Dark Tower' at Univision Studios on August 2, 2017, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
Getty Images Portrait Studio, Park City, Utah, USA
Idris Elba from the film 'Yardie' poses for a portrait at the YouTube x Getty Images Portrait Studio at 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2018, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Robby Klein)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
Torstraße 1, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Idris Elba attends the Grey Goose after-party for Idris Elba's film 'Yardie', hosted at Soho House Berlin on February 22, 2018, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Zacharie Scheurer)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
525 Terry A Francois Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
Idris Elba arrives on the red carpet for the Santos de Cartier Watch Launch at Pier 48 on April 5, 2018, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kelly Sullivan)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
11 Rue Forest, 75018 Paris, France
Idris Elba DJs at the ABB Formula E Qatar Airways Paris E-Prix official after-party at Le Dernier Etage on April 28, 2018, in Paris, France. (Photo by David M. Benett)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
11 Rue Forest, 75018 Paris, France
Idris Elba DJs at the ABB Formula E Qatar Airways Paris E-Prix official after-party at Le Dernier Etage on April 28, 2018, in Paris, France. (Photo by David M. Benett)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
Windsor SL4 1NJ, United Kingdom
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Photo by Ian West - WPA Pool)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2018
32 Thames St, Windsor SL4 1PS, United Kingdom
Idris Elba attends the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 at the Theatre Royal on November 18, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2019
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Idris Elba attends the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2019
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
(L-R) Sabrina Dhowre, Idris Elba, and Isan Elba attend the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2019
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Presenters Taylor Swift and Idris Elba speak onstage during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 06, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2019
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Idris Elba attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2019
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2019
66 The Cut, Lambeth, London SE1 8LZ, United Kingdom
Idris Elba attends the press night after party for "Tree" at The Young Vic on August 1, 2019, in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett)
Gallery of Idris Elba
2019
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Idris Elba arrives at the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" at Dolby Theatre on July 13, 2019, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre)
Achievements
Membership
Awards
Golden Globe Award
2012
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Elba arrives at The Weinstein Company's 2012 Golden Globe Awards After Party held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 15, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Independent Spirit Award
2016
Santa Monica, California, USA
Idris Elba, winner of the Best Supporting Male award for 'Beasts of No Nation', poses in the press room during the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 27, 2016, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi)
Screen Actors Guild Award
2016
665 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007, United States
Idris Elba, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Beasts of No Nation,' and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for 'Luther,' poses in the press room at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan)
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Elba arrives at The Weinstein Company's 2012 Golden Globe Awards After Party held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 15, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
22-24, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LQ, United Kingdom
Idris Elba attends the Royal film performance of "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom" at Odeon Leicester Square on December 5, 2013, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ferdaus Shamim)
8221 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046, United States
Idris Elba attends the W Magazine celebration of The "Best Performances" Portfolio and The Golden Globes with Cadillac and Dom Perignon at Chateau Marmont on January 9, 2014, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Sciulli)
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Idris Elba attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Idris Elba attends a photocall to launch the Superdry AW15 Premium Menswear collection at Superdry International Showroom on November 26, 2015, in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson)
Idris Elba, winner of the Best Supporting Male award for 'Beasts of No Nation', poses in the press room during the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 27, 2016, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi)
665 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007, United States
Idris Elba, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Beasts of No Nation,' and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for 'Luther,' poses in the press room at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan)
Idris Elba is seen on the set of 'Despierta America' to promote the film 'Dark Tower' at Univision Studios on August 2, 2017, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero)
Getty Images Portrait Studio, Park City, Utah, USA
Idris Elba from the film 'Yardie' poses for a portrait at the YouTube x Getty Images Portrait Studio at 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2018, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Robby Klein)
Idris Elba attends the Grey Goose after-party for Idris Elba's film 'Yardie', hosted at Soho House Berlin on February 22, 2018, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Zacharie Scheurer)
525 Terry A Francois Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
Idris Elba arrives on the red carpet for the Santos de Cartier Watch Launch at Pier 48 on April 5, 2018, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kelly Sullivan)
Idris Elba DJs at the ABB Formula E Qatar Airways Paris E-Prix official after-party at Le Dernier Etage on April 28, 2018, in Paris, France. (Photo by David M. Benett)
Idris Elba DJs at the ABB Formula E Qatar Airways Paris E-Prix official after-party at Le Dernier Etage on April 28, 2018, in Paris, France. (Photo by David M. Benett)
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Photo by Ian West - WPA Pool)
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Idris Elba attends the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
(L-R) Sabrina Dhowre, Idris Elba, and Isan Elba attend the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Presenters Taylor Swift and Idris Elba speak onstage during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 06, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater)
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Idris Elba attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil)
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy)
66 The Cut, Lambeth, London SE1 8LZ, United Kingdom
Idris Elba attends the press night after party for "Tree" at The Young Vic on August 1, 2019, in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett)
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Idris Elba arrives at the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" at Dolby Theatre on July 13, 2019, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre)
Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, 1 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Jessica Chastain attends the "Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantomes d'Ismael)" screening and Opening Gala during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2017, in Cannes, France. (Photo by Ki Price)
(Joaquin Phoenix (Signs, Gladiator) leads an all-star cast...)
Joaquin Phoenix (Signs, Gladiator) leads an all-star cast in a wickedly funny comedy that entertains in the edgy tradition of Pulp Fiction! A U.S. soldier with nothing to fight but boredom as the Cold War winds down, Ray Elwood (Phoenix) enjoys the rush of trading anything he can get his hands on in West Germany's booming black market.
(A young singer turns his back on God and his father's chu...)
A young singer turns his back on God and his father's church when tragedy strikes. He returns years later to find the once powerful congregation in disarray.
(A reverse-Cinderella tale centers on a successful attorne...)
A reverse-Cinderella tale centers on a successful attorney (Union) who falls in love with a financially challenged mechanic (Elba) who is a single father of three children.
(Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe team with director Ri...)
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe team with director Ridley Scott in this powerful epic inspired by a true story. American Gangster is "a gritty masterpiece" (GQ).
(This year Christmas with the Whitfields promises to be on...)
This year Christmas with the Whitfields promises to be one they will never forget. All the siblings have come home for the first time in years and they've brought plenty of baggage with them.
(London is ground zero for the changing times with big-tim...)
London is ground zero for the changing times with big-time mobsters from the East, criminals from the streets, all vying to change the rules of commerce and crime.
(As a multi-million dollar deal hangs in the balance, busi...)
As a multi-million dollar deal hangs in the balance, businessman Julian Wright becomes entangled with a seductive stranger who encourages him to live his life with reckless passion.
(A successful business executive with a beautiful wife, wh...)
A successful business executive with a beautiful wife, who was once a temp in his office, finds his idyllic life threatened by a new temp who reveals herself as a stalker, forcing Sharon to fight to save her marriage and her life.
(An elite U.S. Special Forces unit sent into the Bolivian ...)
An elite U.S. Special Forces unit sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal and make plans to even the score.
(Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, is now hiding out in remot...)
Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, is now hiding out in remote Eastern Europe, struggling to repress his curse. Blaze is recruited by a sect to take on the devil, who wants to take over his mortal son's body on the kid's birthday.
(Legendary director Ridley Scott (Alien) returns to his sc...)
Legendary director Ridley Scott (Alien) returns to his sci-fi origins in this epic adventure bursting with spectacular action and mind-blowing visual effects.
(Humanity has long been under attack from the Kaiju. Pilot...)
Humanity has long been under attack from the Kaiju. Pilot-operated robots held the enemy off, but now mankind is near defeat and two unlikely candidates team up for one last stand.
(Idris Elba stars in this moving biography of Nelson Mande...)
Idris Elba stars in this moving biography of Nelson Mandela, the jailed activist who became President of South Africa and helped rebuild the once-segregated society.
(Busy parents Jackie and Mark are shocked when she inexpli...)
Busy parents Jackie and Mark are shocked when she inexplicably becomes pregnant. Jackie insists she has been faithful, but Mark reacts with rage, knowing the baby can't be his. Will this seeming miracle bring the family closer together or tear them apart?
(In this action-packed thriller from the director of "Take...)
In this action-packed thriller from the director of "Taken, " a black-ops specialist (Academy Award winner Sean Penn) comes out of retirement to take down the organization that betrayed him.
(Disney presents an action-comedy adventure set in the all...)
Disney presents an action-comedy adventure set in the all-animal city of Zootopia. Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps jumps at the chance to crack a case, even if it means partnering with fast-talking Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.
(In Disney's live-action epic adventure directed by Jon Fa...)
In Disney's live-action epic adventure directed by Jon Favreau, Mowgli, a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he's forced to abandon the only home he's ever known
(100 Streets is a powerful ensemble drama, follows three c...)
100 Streets is a powerful ensemble drama, follows three contrasting and interwoven stories as they play out in one square mile of modern-day London starring Idris Elba and Gemma Arterton. Anybody can make a wrong turn, but it's the journey that allows us to find the right path.
(On a rescue mission, the USS Enterprise is attacked by Kr...)
On a rescue mission, the USS Enterprise is attacked by Krall, a warlord sworn against the Federation. Crashed on an uncharted world, the crew must join forces with Jaylah, a rebellious alien warrior, to escape and stop Krall from triggering all-out war.
(Molly's Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a...)
Molly's Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.
(In Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok, Thor must race against...)
In Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok, Thor must race against time to stop Ragnarok - the destruction of his world and the end of Asgardian civilization at the hands of the ruthless Hela.
(With the powerful Thanos on the verge of raining destruct...)
With the powerful Thanos on the verge of raining destruction upon the universe, the Avengers and their Super Hero allies risk everything in the ultimate showdown of all time.
(Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Shaw (Jason Statham) join forc...)
Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Shaw (Jason Statham) join forces to take down a dangerous anarchist (Idris Elba) in this action-packed entry into the Fast & Furious franchise.
(John Luther is a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) working ...)
John Luther is a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) working for the Serious Crime Unit in series one, and the new "Serious and Serial" unit from series 2.
Idris Elba is a British actor, producer, singer, writer, rapper, and DJ. He is known for his lead role in the British crime drama series Luther, a role which won him the Golden Globe Award. He is also known for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and his supporting role in the popular superhero film Thor.
Background
Ethnicity:
Idris Elba's father, Winston, was from Sierra Leona, and his mother, Eve, was from Ghana.
Idris Elba was born on September 6, 1972, in London, England, the United Kingdon, to immigrant working-class parents. His father, Winston, is from Sierra Leone and worked at Ford Dagenham; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and had a clerical duty.
Education
Elba shortened his name to Idris while attending school at Canning Town. It was during this time that he got involved in acting became involved in acting before he dropped out. He was interested in the entertainment industry at an early age, helping his uncle with his wedding deejay business at age 14.
He was awarded a grant by the Prince’s Trust to join (1990) the National Youth Music Theatre. Beginning in his late teens, he worked as a disc jockey under the name DJ Big Driis (later Big Driis the Londoner) while auditioning for acting roles.
Elba also attended Barking & Dagenham College in Rush Green, Romford, Essex, England. Remembering his time there, Elba said: "This is a great place to learn. Barking & Dagenham College was the first place I got to fall on my face as an actor and get back up to be supported by great people and a great College."
Idris Elba was interested in the entertainment industry at an early age, helping his uncle with his wedding deejay business at age 14. Within a year he had started his own deejay company with friends and was working in nightclubs by age 19. To this day, he is still in the business, deejaying under the name "Big Driis the Londoner."
Idris began acting in high school with the support of his drama teacher, whom he had a crush on, and began auditioning for professional roles years later.
To support himself between acting roles, he worked in jobs such as tire-fitting, cold call advertising sales, and working night shifts at Ford Dagenham. He worked in nightclubs under the nickname DJ Big Driis at age 19 but began auditioning for television roles in his early twenties.
His first job was in the television show 2point4 Children in 1994, which was followed by countless television credits including Absolutely Fabulous, Law & Order, Soul Food, and CSI: Miami. From the mid-1990s he appeared often on British TV, his roles including recurring characters on Insiders (1997), Family Affairs (1997), and Dangerfield (1999). He made his film debut in 1999, with a supporting role in the French film Belle Maman which was directed by Gabriel Aghion.
He also appeared in films such as Spiders and Flies (1996), Sorted (2000) and One Love (2003), before landing his breakthrough role in 2004 as Russell "Stringer" Bell in the highly acclaimed HBO drama The Wire. It was appreciated by the critics as well as loved by the audience. It also won several awards. Over the years, the series has been regarded by many as one of the best TV series of all time. Other parts followed, though Elba later lamented that he was continuing to get lots of offers for gangster roles during this time.
The statuesque Elba transitioned to a big-screen career as well, landing film roles in a variety of genres. He starred as a mechanic in director Tyler Perry's feature Daddy's Little Girls (2007), a general in the zombie-laden 28 Weeks Later (2007) and a devoted husband opposite Beyoncé Knowles in Obsession (2009). Sci-fi/fantasy beckoned to the actor as well, as seen with his roles as Norse god Heimdall in Marvel Comics' Thor (2011), directed by Kenneth Branagh, and as ship captain Janek in Ridley Scott's Prometheus (2012). Other films on Elba's roster from this period include This Christmas (2007) and RocknRolla (2008).
Elba also continued his TV work over the years with series like The Office, The Big C, and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. The actor has received multiple Emmy Award nominations and won a 2012 Golden Globe Award for his lead role on the BBC America series Luther, portraying a driven yet tortured detective whose conduct brings up ethical issues.
In the summer of 2013, Elba was seen as Stacker Pentecost in Guillermo del Toro's robotics-and-monsters flick Pacific Rim. That fall, he earned raves for his portrayal of South American President Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, starring opposite Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela. The actor earned Oscar buzz and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as the famed South African activist. (He lost the Globe to Matthew McConaughey, who won for his lead role in 2013's Dallas Buyers Club.)
In 2014, Elba starred in the thriller No Good Deed, directed by Sam Miller and co-starring Empire's Taraji Henson. The following year he played a military commandant on the acclaimed Netflix drama Beasts of No Nation and continued his starring role on Luther, earning Golden Globe nominations for both.
During a busy 2016, Elba appeared in A Hundred Streets, Bastille Day and Star Trek Beyond. He also provided voice work for the features Zootopia, The Jungle Book and Finding Dory. The following year, Elba portrayed Roland Deschain/The Gunslinger in The Dark Tower, based on Stephen King's series, and co-starred with Kate Winslet in the survival tale The Mountain Between Us.
After reprising the role of Heimdall for Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Elba made his feature film directing debut with the crime drama Yardie (2018). In 2019, he played the role of the villain Brixton in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) alongside Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. In 2019, he launched the Netflix series Turn Up Charlie, in which he plays a DJ. His other credits from 2019 included the family musical Cats, a film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hugely successful stage production.
The actor has also enjoyed a successful music career as a DJ, rapper and producer, going by the name Big Driis. He was featured on the 2016 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis single "Dance Off," as well as the 2019 track "Boasty," by Wiley, Stefflon Don, and Sean Paul.
Among his high-profile DJ gigs, Elba handled the music at the May 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and spun a set at Coachella 2019. His record label, 7Wallace Music, is named after a London residence, with a nod to Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls.
(In the projects. On the docks. In City Hall. In the schoo...)
Religion
Elba states that he is spiritual but non-religious, saying: "I am not a religious person, but as I move forward that is something I want to work on, my spirituality. My father always told me that a fool at 40 is a fool for life."
Politics
Elba voiced support for a vote to remain in the European Union for the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum.
Views
The Prince's Trust, a United Kingdom youth charity founded by Prince Charles in 1976, which Elba credits with helping to start his career, appointed him as their anti-crime ambassador in April 2009. Idris Elba has also supported several other charities: Cancer Research UK, ONE Campaign, and Staying Alive Foundation.
Quotations:
"Fear nothing. Do what you want to do, but be educated and intelligent and confident about it."
'I’m not afraid to fail. I’m not afraid to fall over and make a mistake. That often cripples people on the onset of getting into anything."
"Waking up in truth is so much better than living in a lie."
"Look whoever you’re talking to in the eyes. Don’t look away. Two reasons: you can tell whether they are lying. Also, so that they can see whatever you’re saying you mean and you can connect to that person."
"I come from an era, in my world, where you just had to define yourself as who you are and what you do."
Personality
Whenever he isn’t acting, singing or DJing, Elba visits the football pitch. A staunch Arsenal fan, he has been very vocal with his support for the club. He joins the likes of actors Kevin Costner and Spike Lee who have shown love for the team. He recently even starred in an advertisement for the team, making a cameo in a promo for Arsenal’s collaboration with Adidas.
Elba has the knack for adventure and this propelled him into attempting and breaking a long-standing British land speed record in a Bentley. Riding in a super-power 626-hp Bentley Continental GT, he broke the record originally set by Sir Malcolm Campbell in 1927. He broke the “Flying Mile” record by reaching a speed of 180.361 mph while speeding along Wale’s Pendine Sands beach.
Idris Elba suffers from claustrophobia in real life.
Interests
racing
Politicians
Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela
Writers
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Artists
Martin Scorsese
Sport & Clubs
Kickboxing, football, Arsenal
Music & Bands
jazz, reggae, hip-hop, soul, Lady Gaga, Lucky Daye, Jay-Z, Kulcha, Wretch 32, Ed Sheeran, Bob Marley, David Bowie, Mumford & Sons
Connections
Idris Elba got married to Somali supermodel, Sabrina Dhowre, in a three-day ceremony on 26 April 2019, in Marrakesh. The two, who got engaged in 2018, have successfully thwarted critics who raised concerns about their age difference.
He was previously married to makeup artist Hanne "Kim" Nørgaard, with whom he had daughter Isan, and real estate lawyer Sonya Nicole Hamlin. Elba also fathered a son, Winston, with former girlfriend Naiyana Garth.