Idris Elba
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| Idris Elba | |
|---|---|
 Elba at a 2007 American Music Awards after-party, November 2007 |
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| Born | Idrissa Elba September 6, 1972 Hackney, London, England |
| Other name(s) | DJ Big Driis Big Driis the Londoner |
Idrissa[1] Elba (born September 6, 1972) is a British television, theatre, and film actor who has starred in both British and American productions. Elba is also a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis / Big Driis the Londoner, and a hip-hop soul recording artist.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Personal life
Elba, an only child, was born in Hackney, London. His father is a Sierra Leonean and his mother is from Ghana, West Africa.[2][3][4] Elba has a daughter named Isan.
[edit] Career
Elba started acting in secondary school with encouragement from his drama teacher. He got his break as a supporting cast member of UK soap opera Family Affairs and rose to prominence in the highly acclaimed vampire series Ultraviolet, but is perhaps best known for playing Russell "Stringer" Bell, one of the major characters in the HBO drama series The Wire. He also portrayed Captain Augustin Muganza in Sometimes in April, an HBO TV movie about the Rwandan Genocide somewhat similar to Hotel Rwanda. One of his major roles included Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls. Elba also co-produced and performed on the the intro on Jay-Z's American Gangster album. Elba is currently starring in the horror film "Prom Night," in theaters April 11, 2008.
Elba has a large female fan base following an appearance on the cover of Essence magazine's "Hot Hollywood Men" issue in April 2004 and again in Essence's November 2005 "10 Hottest Men on the Planet" issue.
He recorded the four-song EP Big Man for Hevlar Records in 2006.
[edit] Filmography
- The Unborn (2009) ....Arthur Wyndham
- RocknRolla (2008) ....Mumbles
- The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (TV series) (2008)
- Prom Night (2008) ....Detective Winn
- Clubbed (2007) ....TBA
- This Christmas (2007) ....Quentin Whitfield
- American Gangster (2007) ....Tango
- 28 Weeks Later (2007) ....General Stone
- The Reaping (2007) ....Ben
- Daddy's Little Girls (2007) ....Monty James
- The Gospel (2005) ....Charles Frank
- Sometimes in April (2005) ....Augustin Muganza
- The Wire (2002-2004) .... Russell 'Stringer' Bell
- The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Payment in Blood (2002) .... Robert Gabriel
- Buffalo Soldiers (2001) .... Kimborough
- In Defence (2000) TV Series .... PC Paul Fraser: (segment 3)
- Sorted (2000) .... Jam
- Dangerfield episode (1999) .... Matt Gregory
- Belle maman (1999) .... Grégoire
- Ultraviolet (1998) .... Vaughan Rice
- One Love.... Aaron
[edit] Awards/nominations
- BET Awards
- 2007, Best Actor: Daddy's Little Girls (Nominated)
- Black Reel Awards
- 2006, Best Actor: The Gospel (Nominated)
- 2006, Best Actor Network/Cable: Sometimes in April (Nominated)
- Image Awards
- 2006, Outstanding Actor in a Mini-Series/Television Movie: Sometimes in April (Nominated)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards
- 2008, Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture: American Gangster (Nominated)
[edit] References
