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      Idris Elba

      Idris Elba

      Highest Rated: 98% Zootopia (2016)

      Lowest Rated: 8% The Reaping (2007)

      Birthday: Sep 6, 1972

      Birthplace: Hackney, England, UK

      British actor, Idris Elba became known for playing the Baltimore drug dealer Stringer Bell on HBO's widely-acclaimed drama "The Wire" (HBO, 2002-08), in addition to countless other high profile television and film roles. Elba was born in Hackney, London in 1972. His parents were immigrants (his father was born in Sierra Leone, while his mother was from Ghana), and moved to London by way of Sierra Leone shortly before Elba was born. Elba grew up in East Ham and Hackney, and first got interested in acting after seeing an advertisement in a London-based entertainment publication. The advertisement was asking newbie actors to audition for a new play. Elba jumped at the opportunity, and showed up at the audition. On his first try, Elba landed the part, and would later meet his first agent while performing in the play. Performing in the play was an eye-opening experience for Elba, who decided quickly after that he wanted to be an actor. At the age of 16 he was able to land a huge break by landing a spot in the National Youth Music Theater, thanks to a grant from the Prince's Trust charitable organization. While a member of the National Youth Music Theater, Elba was able to hone his acting craft, while developing the necessary skills he needed to make it as a performer. It was also around this time that Elba began working for his uncle's wedding D.J. company and found that he absolutely loved scratching records. His love grew so strong that by his late teens Elba embarked on a career as a D.J. He would go on to play music in London nightclubs in the evening, while working a number of odd jobs by the day. In his early 20s Elba made a serious attempt at launching his acting career. In addition to working his D.J. jobs, in which he went by the name of Big Driis, he began auditioning for film and TV roles. By the mid-1990s, Elba was landing steady acting work in the U.K. He nabbed guest spots on the children's sitcom "2point4 Children" (BBC One, 1991-99) and the British comedy series "Absolutely Fabulous" (BBC Two/BBC One, 1992-2012), before landing a recurring role on the crime series "The Ruth Rendell Mysteries" (ITV, 1987-2000). By the late 90s and early 2000s Elba was nabbing recurring parts on a number of British television shows, including "Insiders" (BBC One, 1997), "Ultraviolet" (Channel 4, 1998), and "Dangerfield" (BBC One, 1995-99). Then in 2002 Elba landed his first big break across the pond when he was cast as Stringer Bell, a Baltimore-based drug kingpin, on David Simon's multi-layered crime drama series "The Wire." Elba played Stringer Bell for 37 episodes of the widely-acclaimed series, before his character was killed off in season 3. After playing Stringer Bell for three years, Idris Elba's acting career in both the U.K. and the United States flourished. In addition to nabbing parts in high-profile films like "28 Weeks Later" (2007) and "American Gangster" (2007), he starred as the title character in the BBC crime series "Luther" (BBC One, 2010 - ). He also landed a recurring role on the beloved American sitcom "The Office" (NBC, 2005-2013) in 2009. By the early 2010s Elba's acting profile continued to grow at a rapid pace. He appeared in blockbuster films like "Thor" (2011), "Prometheus" (2012), and "Pacific Rim" (2013), and was also cast as Nelson Mandela in the 2013 bio pic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" (2013). In 2016 Elba was nominated for a Golden Globe for his captivating performance in the drama "Beasts of No Nation" (2015), and appeared in the films "Molly's Game" (2017) and "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018). 2019 also proved to be a big year for Idris Elba. In addition to co-creating and starring in the Netflix series "Turn Up Charlie" (Netflix, 2019- ), a partially autobiographical show that was based on his experiences as a D.J., Elba appeared alongside The Rock and Jason Statham in the blockbuster action film "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw" (2019). When "Hobbs and Shaw" was released in the summer of 2019 the film made over $700 billion, making it one of the highest grossing films of the year-just another reason why Idris Elba had certified his status as one of Hollywood's most bankable actors of the 2010s.

      Highest rated movies

      Thor: Ragnarok Beasts of No Nation The Suicide Squad The Harder They Fall Star Trek Beyond
      Legacy
      Avengers: Infinity War Molly's Game

      Photos

      Idris Elba MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, Idris Elba (as Nelson Mandela), 2013, ph: Keith Bernstein/©Weinstein Company Beasts of No Nation, Idris Elba (L), Abraham Attah (R), 10/16/2015, ©NETFLIX Beasts of No Nation, Idris Elba (L), Abraham Attah (R), 10/16/2015, ©NETFLIX BEASTS OF NO NATION, front, from left: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, 2015. ph: Shawn Greene/©Bleecker Street Media MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, from left: Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela, Riaad Moosa, 2013. ph: Keith Bernstein/©Weinstein Company THE LOSERS, from left: Columbus Short, Chris Evans, Oscar Jaenada, Idris Elba, 2010. Ph: John Bramley/©Warner Bros PACIFIC RIM, Idris Elba, 2013. ph: Kerry Hayes/©Warner Bros. Pictures MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, standing from left: Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Thapelo Mokoena, 2013. ph: Keith Bernstein/©Weinstein Company The Big C, Idris Elba (L), Laura Linney (R), 'Blue-Eyed Iris', Season 1, Ep. #5, 09/20/2010, ©SHO The Big C, Idris Elba, 'The Ecstasy and The Agony', Season 1, Ep. #9, 10/18/2010, ©SHO The Big C, Idris Elba (L), Laura Linney (R), 'The Ecstasy and The Agony', Season 1, Ep. #9, 10/18/2010, ©SHO The Big C, Laura Linney (L), Idris Elba (R), 'The Ecstasy and The Agony', Season 1, Ep. #9, 10/18/2010, ©SHO The Big C, Idris Elba (L), Laura Linney (R), 'Blue-Eyed Iris', Season 1, Ep. #5, 09/20/2010, ©SHO PROMETHEUS, Idris Elba, 2012. ph: Kerry Brown/TM & copyright ©20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US, IDRIS ELBA, 2017. PH: KIMBERLY FRENCH. TM AND COPYRIGHT ©20TH CENTURY FOX FILM CORP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BEASTS OF NO NATION, from left: Idris Elba, director Cary Joji Fukunaga, on set, 2015. ©Bleecker Street Media THE DARK TOWER, from left: Idris Elba, Tom Taylor, 2017. ph: Jessica Miglio/© Columbia Pictures THE DARK TOWER, from left: Idris Elba, Tom Taylor, 2017. ph: Ilze Kitshoff/© Columbia Pictures Beasts of No Nation, Idris Elba, 10/16/2015, ©NETFLIX

      Filmography

      Movies

      Credit
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Knuckles (Voice) - 2024
      68% 85% Luther: The Fallen Sun John Luther (Character),
      Producer
      - 2023
      78% 74% The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Fox (Voice) - 2022
      71% 73% Three Thousand Years of Longing The Djinn (Character) $8.3M 2022
      69% 77% Beast Dr. Nate Daniels (Character) $31.8M 2022
      69% 96% Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Knuckles (Voice) $190.7M 2022
      No Score Yet No Score Yet A New Diva's Christmas Carol Executive Producer - 2022
      88% 93% The Harder They Fall Rufus Buck (Character) - 2021
      90% 82% The Suicide Squad Bloodsport (Character) $55.8M 2021
      80% 70% Concrete Cowboy Harp (Character),
      Producer
      - 2020
      19% 53% Cats Macavity (Character) $27.2M 2019
      67% 88% Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Brixton (Character) $173.8M 2019
      54% 52% Yardie Director $35.6K 2018
      85% 92% Avengers: Infinity War Heimdall (Character) $678.8M 2018
      81% 84% Molly's Game Charlie Jaffey (Character) $28.7M 2017
      93% 87% Thor: Ragnarok Heimdall (Character) $315.0M 2017
      39% 49% The Mountain Between Us Ben Bass (Character) $30.3M 2017
      15% 45% The Dark Tower Roland (Character) $50.7M 2017
      41% 36% A Hundred Streets Max (Character),
      Producer
      - 2016
      48% 42% The Take Sean Briar (Character) $39.0K 2016
      86% 80% Star Trek Beyond Krall (Character) $158.8M 2016
      94% 84% Finding Dory Fluke (Voice) $486.2M 2016
      94% 86% The Jungle Book Shere Khan (Voice) $364.0M 2016
      98% 92% Zootopia Chief Bogo (Voice) - 2016
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Mandela, My Dad and Me Unknown (Character),
      Executive Producer
      - 2015
      91% 92% Beasts of No Nation Commandant (Character),
      Producer
      $83.9K 2015
      76% 82% Avengers: Age of Ultron Heimdall (Character) $459.0M 2015
      15% 31% The Gunman DuPont (Character) $10.6M 2015
      79% 37% Second Coming Mark (Character) - 2014
      No Score Yet 70% Enchanted Kingdom Narrator - 2014
      12% 55% No Good Deed Colin (Character),
      Executive Producer
      $52.5M 2014
      62% 68% Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela (Character) $8.3M 2013
      67% 75% Thor: The Dark World Heimdall (Character) $206.4M 2013
      72% 77% Pacific Rim Stacker Pentecost (Character) $101.8M 2013
      73% 68% Prometheus Janek (Character) $126.5M 2012
      13% 60% Demons Never Die Executive Producer - 2011
      19% 31% Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Moreau (Character) $51.8M 2011
      77% 76% Thor Heimdall (Character) $268.0M 2011
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Gumball 3000 - LDN 2 NYC Self - 2011
      86% 42% Legacy Malcolm Gray (Character) - 2010
      28% 62% Takers Gordon Jennings (Character) $57.7M 2010
      48% 54% The Losers Roque (Character) $23.6M 2010
      19% 46% Obsessed Derek Charles (Character) $68.3M 2009
      10% 30% The Unborn Father Arthur Wyndham (Character) $42.6M 2009
      No Score Yet 26% The Human Contract Larry (Character) - 2008
      60% 71% RocknRolla Mumbles (Character) $5.7M 2008
      9% 38% Prom Night Det. Winn (Character) $43.8M 2008
      55% 81% This Christmas Quentin Whitfield (Character) $49.1M 2007
      72% 66% 28 Weeks Later Gen. Stone (Character) $28.6M 2007
      8% 49% The Reaping Ben (Character) $25.1M 2007
      26% 81% Daddy's Little Girls Monty (Character) $31.3M 2007
      81% 89% American Gangster Tango (Character) $130.1M 2007
      No Score Yet 95% Sometimes in April Augustin (Character) - 2005
      32% 75% The Gospel Reverend Charles Frank (Character) $15.8M 2005
      No Score Yet 86% One Love Aaron (Character) - 2003
      No Score Yet 59% Belle maman Grégoire (Character) - 1999
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Silent Witness: Blood, Sweat and Tears Charlie (Character) - 1997
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Ruth Rendell Mysteries: Heartstones Unknown (Character) - 1996

      TV

      Credit
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Knuckles Knuckles (Voice),
      Executive Producer
      2024
      88% 50% Hijack Sam Nelson (Character),
      Executive Producer
      2023
      No Score Yet 48% The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Guest 2019 2023
      No Score Yet 70% Zootopia+ Chief Bogo (Voice) 2022
      No Score Yet 73% Human Playground Narrator 2022
      No Score Yet 31% The Drew Barrymore Show Guest 2022
      No Score Yet 44% The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Guest 2016-2017 2021-2022
      No Score Yet 62% The Kelly Clarkson Show Guest 2022
      No Score Yet 36% Jimmy Kimmel Live! Guest 2011 2013-2014 2017 2022
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Desus & Mero Guest 2021
      No Score Yet No Score Yet A World of Calm Narrator 2020
      No Score Yet No Score Yet In The Long Run Walter (Character),
      Producer
      2018-2020
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Elba vs. Block Executive Producer,
      Host
      2020
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Oprah Talks COVID-19 Guest 2020
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Hot Ones Guest 2019
      No Score Yet 10% The View Guest 2017 2019
      52% 88% Turn Up Charlie Charlie (Character),
      Creator,
      Executive Producer
      2019
      No Score Yet 58% Saturday Night Live Host 2019
      No Score Yet No Score Yet The Ellen DeGeneres Show Guest 2017 2019
      88% 88% Luther DCI John Luther (Character),
      Associate Producer,
      Associate Editor,
      Producer
      2010-2011 2013 2015 2019
      No Score Yet No Score Yet The Graham Norton Show Guest 2014 2017-2018
      No Score Yet 29% The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Guest 2015 2017
      No Score Yet 61% Late Night With Seth Meyers Guest 2015 2017
      75% 50% Guerrilla Kent (Character),
      Executive Producer
      2017
      No Score Yet 19% The Late Late Show With James Corden Guest 2017
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Idris Elba: King of Speed Host 2013
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Guest 2012
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Lopez Tonight Guest 2010-2011
      55% 80% The Big C Lenny (Guest Star) 2010
      81% 89% The Office Charles Miner (Guest Star) 2009
      No Score Yet No Score Yet The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Unknown (Character) 2009
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange Host 2008
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Jonny Zero Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Girlfriends Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
      94% 96% The Wire Russell "Stringer" Bell (Character) 2002-2004
      No Score Yet 66% CSI: Miami Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
      20% No Score Yet Hack Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
      No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Dangerfield Unknown (Character) 1999
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Ultraviolet Vaughn Rice (Character) 1998