Idris Elba


Idris Elba

Elba at an American Music Awards after-party, November 2007
Born Idrissa Akuna Elba
6 September 1972 (1972-09-06) (age 36)
Hackney, London, England, UK
Other name(s) DJ Big Driis
Big Driis the Londoner
Occupation Actor
Years active 1995–present

Idris Akuna Elba[1][2] (born 6 September 1972)[1] 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.[1] One of his first acting roles was in a British soap opera, Family Affairs.[3] He has worked in a variety of TV roles including Ultraviolet and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.[1] He is best known as Russell "Stringer" Bell, the drug dealer who aspired to become a high powered businessman, in HBO's The Wire.[4] Elba is also a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis / Big Driis the Londoner, and a hip-hop soul recording artist.[1]

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. He can currently be 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.

Contents

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.[2] His father is Sierra Leonean and his mother Ghanaian.[1] 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.[5][3] 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.[6] 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.[3][5] 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.[6]

Early work (1995–2005)

Elba started acting in secondary school (Trinity Comprehensive, Barking Road, Canning Town) with encouragement from his drama teacher (Susan McPhee). 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.[5] 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."[2][7] Many supporting roles on British television followed, including such series as The Bill, Degrees of Error, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, and The Governor.[7] He then joined the cast of the soap opera Family Affairs and rose to prominence in the acclaimed serial Ultraviolet.[2] Elba went on to appear in a more established British television series, Dangerfield, in 1999 as a forensic scientist.[5] Soon, however, he decided to move to New York City.[3][5] 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.[5]

Stringer is very calculating and he has to be for so many reasons. He'll calculates the next steps, shipments, inventory, pays workers..all that. But the wicked part is that he can plan murders because that's a part of his business. I'll tell you, if I, Idris, had to contract for murders as part of my job, I couldn't do it because I have a heart. I have no stomach for ordering other people's deaths. Stringer just gets in there, orders the deed and bam..that's it..it's done and he doesn't think twice about it. There's no way I could be that cold. I'm also a more lively kid out there, doing stuff and I can't just do one thing forever. Stringer is committed to his job and business so much so he doesn't have much of a personal life so he's more one dimensional. As for me I have a child, a life, thirst for travel, you know I'm curious..whereas Stringer is more interested in being the best business person and his interests don't go further than that.
—Elba, The Wire[4]


In 2001, Elba acted as Achilles in the stage play Troilus and Cressida in NYC.[3] 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.[5] He also appeared in music videos for Fat Joe and Angie Stone.[5] After a supporting turn on a 2001 episode of Law & Order, Elba landed a starring role on a 2002 HBO cop drama, The Wire.[7] From 2002 to 2004, Elba portrayed Russell "Stringer" Bell in the HBO drama series, perhaps his best known role. 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.[2] 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.[7] In 2005, he also portrayed Captain Augustin Muganza in Sometimes in April, an HBO film about the Rwandan Genocide.[7]

Breakthrough (2006–present)

In 2006, Elba recorded the four-song EP Big Man for Hevlar Records.[2] Idris was chosen as one of People Magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, in May 2007.[8] He also co-produced and performed on the intro to Jay-Z's 2007 album American Gangster.[9] 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.[7] 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.[7] 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.[7] 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.[10][11]

Elba also appeared on the 2007 Black Entertainment Television special Black Men:The Truth.[12] In 2008, Elba starred in the horror film Prom Night and Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla.[10] 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.[13] 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.[14] Elba starred in the January 2009 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.[15] Obsessed was a box office success after it took in $28 million in its opening weekend.[16] 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.[13] Elba appeared in a six episode story arc later in the 2009 season as well as the season finale.[13]

Elba is currently in talks for a starring role 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.[17] Elba will be seen in the 2010 thriller Takers also starring Hayden Christensen, T.I., and Paul Walker. Elba also appeared in the Respect My Conglomerate music video for Busta Rhymes's 2009 Back on My BS album. Respect My Conglomerate @ YouTube

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.[6][18][19][20] 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.[6] He is represented by ICM.[21] In April 2009, it was announced that Elba has become an Anti-Crime Ambassador.[22]

Filmography

Year Film/Television Role Notes and Awards
1995 Absolutely Fabulous Gigolo Ep: Sex
1997 Family Affairs Tim Webster
1998 Ultraviolet Vaughan Rice
1999 Belle maman Grégoire
Dangerfield Matt Gregory
2000 Sorted Jam
In Defence PC Paul Fraser (segment 3)
2001 Buffalo Soldiers Kimborough
2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Robert Gabriel Ep: Payment in Blood
The Wire Russell 'Stringer' Bell
2003 One Love Aaron
2005 Sometimes in April Augustin Muganza Nominated – Black Reel Awards Best Actor Network/Cable
Nominated – Image Awards Outstanding Actor in a Mini-Series/Television Movie
The Gospel Charles Frank Nominated – Black Reel Awards Best Actor
2007 Daddy's Little Girls Monty James Nominated – BET Awards Best Actor
The Reaping Ben
28 Weeks Later General Stone
American Gangster Tango Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture
This Christmas Quentin Whitfield
2008 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Charles Gotso
Prom Night Detective Winn
RocknRolla Mumbles
The Human Contract Larry
2009 The Unborn Arthur Wyndham
The Office Charles Miner appearing in several season 5 episodes
Obsessed Derek Charles
2010 Takers Gordon Jennings
Legacy Thomas Ikimi
2011 Batman: The Series Black Mask

Awards/nominations

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Idris Elba Summary". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/idris-elba/person/44798/summary.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Idris Elba Biography". Celebrifi.com. http://www.celebrifi.com/celebrities/Idris-Elbal. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "He often has fewer lines than anyone else but you still feel as though he has the bigger part, because he is luminous". Guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/21/television. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  4. ^ a b "The Wire Cast and Crew: Idris Elba, Rusell "Stringer" Bell". Hbo.com. http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/idris_elba.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Idris Elba". Answers.com. http://www.answers.com/topic/idris-elba. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  6. ^ a b c d "Life as a RocknRolla: meet the crafty Cockney Idris Elba". Entertainment.timesonline.co.uk. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article4572201.ece. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Biography". Moviefone.com. http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/idris-elba/2007953/biography. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  8. ^ "People Magazine's "Most Beautiful People" issue". CBS.com. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/042507_people_list_facts.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  9. ^ "He often has fewer lines than anyone else but you still feel as though he has the bigger part, because he is luminous". Movietome.com. http://www.movietome.com/pages/tracking/index.php?sls_id=30960. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  10. ^ a b "Idris Elba and Columbus Short Interview, This Christmas". Moviesonline.ca. http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_13494.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  11. ^ "This Christmas". Thenumbers.com. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2007/TCHRS.php. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  12. ^ "Idris Elba". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252961/bio. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  13. ^ a b c "'Detective Agency' finds big auds". Variety.com. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982869.html?categoryid=14&cs=1. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  14. ^ "Minghella's last film watched by 6.3m". Guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/25/tvratings.television. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  15. ^ "Idris Elba And Beyonce To Play Married Couple In 'Obsessed'". Blackvoices.com. http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/03/06/idris-elba-and-beyonce-to-play-married-couple-in-obsessed/. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  16. ^ "Weekend Report: Moviegoers Fixate on ‘Obsessed’". Boxofficemojo.com. http://http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2581&p=.htm. Retrieved on 2009-04-26. 
  17. ^ "Idris Elba Confirmed For ‘The Losers,’ Zoe Saldana Playing Aisha". MTV.com. http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/04/02/idris-elba-confirmed-for-the-losers-zoe-saldana-playing-aisha/. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  18. ^ Elba says his ex is a beautiful person, but they wanted different things out of life. He does not rule out the possibility of a rekindled flame.Visimag.com Film Bytes - Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls
  19. ^ Ties to 'Wire' cut - but new work calls
  20. ^ edmontonsun.com - MovieNews - Speaking of Elba
  21. ^ "Two actors get tough for 'The Losers' film". Hollywoodreporter.com. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7288557915e143d02da6c2b13a02d006. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 
  22. ^ "Idris Elba Becomes Anti Crime Ambassador". Looktothestars.com. http://www.looktothestars.org/news/2332-idris-elba-becomes-anit-crime-ambassador. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. 

External links

Sister project Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Idris Elba
sex





stock | retire | vm
Why are we here?
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
This page is cache of Wikipedia. History