Idris Elba

Idris Elba is known for his roles as Stringer Bell in HBO’s The Wire (2002 to 2004), DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther (2010 to 2019) — for which he earned a Golden Globe — and as Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013). Elba also appeared in American Gangster (2007), Prometheus (2012), Thor (2011) and The Suicide Squad (2021). He starred in Pacific Rim (2013), Beasts of No Nation (2015) — which earned him Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations — and Molly’s Game (2017). Elba voiced characters in the animated films Zootopia (2016), Finding Dory (2016) and Sonic the Hedgehog (2022).

Aside from acting, Elba performs as a DJ under the names DJ Big Driis and Idris. He is also an R&B singer and has released EP’s Big Man (2006), High Class Problems Vol. 1 (2010) and Cordi Elba (2022) with Australian pop rock duo Lime Cordiale. He released his album, Idris Elba Presents mi Mandela, in 2014.

Elba was previously married to Hanne Nørgaard from 1999 to 2003 and to Sonya Nicole Hamlin for four months in 2006. He welcomed daughter Isan with Nørgaard in 2002 and son Winston with ex-girlfriend Naiyana Garth in 2014. Elba married model Sabrina Dhowre in 2019.