Idris Elba Biography

Summary

"Idris Akuna Elba" (born 6 September 1972) is a British television, theatre, and film actor who has starred in both British and American productions. Idris Elba grew up in Hackney, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera "Family Affairs". He has worked in a variety of TV roles including "Ultraviolet" and "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries". He is also known for playing Russell 'Stringer' Bell, the drug dealer who aspired to become a high powered businessman, in HBO's "The Wire". Elba is also a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis / Big Driis the Londoner, and a hip-hop soul recording artist.

In 2009, Idris began playing a character in NBC's television hit series "The Office". He was in six episodes playing Charles Miner, Michael Scott's new boss. Elba is currently in talks for a starring role in Dark Castle Entertainment's adaptation of DC/Vertigo's "The Losers". He will be under the direction of Sylvain White in the role of Roque, the second-in-command of a black-ops team out for revenge against a government that did them wrong. Recently, he was seen in the thriller "Obsessed" with Beyoncé Knowles and Ali Larter and will appear in the 2010 thriller "Takers" starring Hayden Christensen, T.I., and Paul Walker.

Early life

Elba, an only child, was born 'Idrissa Akuna Elba', and shortened his first name at school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting. His father is Sierra Leonean and his mother Ghanaian. Elba grew up in East Ham. He began helping an uncle with his wedding-DJ business at age 14, and within a year had started his own DJ company with some friends. He left school at 16 and won a place in the National Youth Music Theatre - thanks to a £1,500 Prince's Trust grant - but then ended up having to do everything from tire-fitting to cold-call advertising sales to pay the rent between roles in "Crimewatch" murder reconstructions. He was working in nightclubs under the DJ nickname Big Driis by the age of 19, but began auditioning for television parts in his early twenties. After a stint in the National Youth Music Theatre, Elba worked the night shift at a Ford factory in Dagenham, London in 1989 and '90. Elba started acting in secondary school (Trinity Comprehensive, Barking Road, Canning Town) with encouragement from his drama teacher (Susan McPhee).

Television Work

Although his film, television, and stage work officially commenced around 1992, in 1995 he landed his first role on a British series called "Bramwell", a medical drama set in 1890s England. Elba's first credited role arrived in 1995, with a supporting role as a gigolo on the episode of the farcical British series "Absolutely Fabulous", entitled 'Sex.' Many supporting roles on British television followed, including such series as "The Bill", "Degrees of Error", "The Ruth Rendell Mysteries", and "The Governor". He then joined the cast of the soap opera "Family Affairs" and rose to prominence in the acclaimed serial "Ultraviolet". Elba went on to appear in a more established British television series, "Dangerfield", in 1999 as a forensic scientist.

Soon, however, he decided to move to New York City. He returned to England occasionally for a job, such as a part in one of the "Inspector Lynley Mysteries", a top-rated British crime series. In 2001, Elba acted as Achilles in the stage play Troilus and Cressida in NYC. After a supporting turn on a 2001 episode of "Law & Order", Elba landed a starring role on a 2002 HBO cop drama, "The Wire". From 2002 to 2004, Elba portrayed Russell 'Stringer' Bell in the HBO drama series, perhaps his best known role. In 2005, he also portrayed Captain Augustin Muganza in "Sometimes in April", an HBO film about the Rwandan Genocide. Elba also appeared on the 2007 Black Entertainment Television special "Black Men:The Truth". Elba also appeared in the role of Charlie Kgotso in "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" opposite Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose, which filmed in Botswana. The series premiered on 23 March 2008, Easter Sunday, on Britain's most popular TV channel, BBC One, receiving a high 6.3 million viewers and 27% of the audience share.

In January 2009, it was reported per "Variety" that Elba will portray Charles Miner, a new rival to Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell) for NBC's "The Office". Elba appeared in a six episode story arc later in the 2009 season as well as the season finale.

Film Career

2001-2008

Elba appeared in "Buffalo Soldiers" in 2001 alongside Joaquin Phoenix but, the film's negative depiction of American soldiers stationed in Germany just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was deemed too politically insensitive, and it vanished quickly from theaters. In 2005, he portrayed Rev. Frank, a Southern Baptist minister and gospel music hopeful threatened by the arrival of an old friend who challenges his pastoral position, in Rob Hardy's spiritual drama "The Gospel". Elba portrayed a scientist and partner of Hilary Swank's professional debunker of religious myths in Stephen Hopkins' gothic, biblically themed 2007 horror picture "The Reaping".

In 2006, Elba also signed on as the lead of the 2007 comedy "Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls", playing Monty, a blue-collar mechanic who falls in love with a six-figure attorney (Gabrielle Union) and finds the relationship threatened by the re-arrival of his ex-wife. He also joined the supporting cast of Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's "28 Weeks Later", the horror-themed sequel to Danny Boyle's 2002 zombie picture "28 Days Later" also released in 2007. He played 'Tango' in the 2007 thriller "American Gangster" alongside Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. He filmed "This Christmas" with Chris Brown, Mekhi Phifer, Loretta Devine and Regina King, which brought in nearly $50 million at the box office in 2007.In 2008, Elba starred in the horror film "Prom Night" and Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla".

2009-present

In January 2009, Elba starred in horror film "The Unborn". He also starred in "Obsessed", alongside Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter, as an asset manager who has a beautiful wife (Knowles) and thriving career until a temp office worker (Larter) begins stalking him. "Obsessed" was a box office success after it took in $28 million in its opening weekend.

Elba will star in Dark Castle's adaptation of DC/Vertigo's "The Losers". He will be under the direction of Sylvain White in the role of Roque, the second-in-command of a black-ops team out for revenge against a government that did them wrong. Filming will take place in Puerto Rico and the movie is scheduled for release in April 2010. Elba will be seen in the 2010 thriller "Takers" also starring Hayden Christensen, T.I., and Paul Walker. Elba is currently filming the 2010 film Legacy. He posted a picture of himself from the set on his Twitter page. In the film, Elba portrays a black ops soldier Malcolm who returns to Brooklyn, after a failed mission in Eastern Europe, where he undergoes a journey looking for retribution.

Music Career

In 2001, Elba appeared in music videos for Fat Joe and Angie Stone. In 2006, Elba recorded the four-song EP Big Man for Hevlar Records. He also co-produced and performed on the intro to Jay-Z's 2007 album "American Gangster". He also DJ'd at the 2007 NBA All Star parties at the Venetian Hotel and Ice House Lounge in Las Vegas. Elba also appeared in the Respect My Conglomerate (... more) music video for Busta Rhymes's 2009 "Back on My BS" album. In July 2009, Elba was the DJ for BET's new series 'Rising Icons'. Elba also announced the release of his first single 'Please Be True.' Elba is currently working on his first album, and plans to tour Europe in late 2009.

Personal life

Elba was married to Dormowa Sherman a Liberian actress, writer and dancer. The two have a daughter named Isan, born in 2002. Though the two split four years after the birth of their child, it is rumored that they are still very much in love. They have been photographed out together on many occasions since the divorce, but neither care to comment on speculations. Elba hangs out with rappers such as Diddy and Ludacris and spends much of his time in Atlanta where he owns a house and lives close to his daughter and ex-wife. He is represented by ICM. In April 2009, it was announced that Elba has become an Anti-Crime Ambassador.

Image

He was featured as one of the 'Ten Hottest Men on the Planet' in the April 2004 issue of "Essence" magazine and again in the November 2005 issue. Idris was chosen as one of "People Magazine"s annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, in May 2007.