Idris Elba

Idris Elba married Henne Norgard in 1999. They had one daughter. However, the couple divorced after four years.

He later married Sonya Hamlin in April 2006. Their marriage was annulled after a few months.

Idris Elba was born as Idrissa Akuna Elba on 6th September 1972 in Hackney, London, in the UK. His father Winston, who worked for a Ford motor factory in Dagenham, was from Sierra Leona, and his mother, Eve, was from Ghana.

Elba shortened his name to ‘Idris’ while attending school at Canning Town. It was during this time that he got involved in acting. His first role was in the play ‘The Stage’, which he had landed after answering an advertisement in a newspaper.

He also started a DJ company with his friends. He then received a grant from the Prince’s Trust due to which he was able to get a place in the National Music Theatre.

Idris Elba’s acting career began with guest as well as minor roles in the TV series ‘The Bill’, ‘Bramwell’, ‘The Governor’, ‘Family Affairs,’ ‘Ultraviolet’ and ‘London’s Burning’. He made his film debut in 1999, with a supporting role in the French film ‘Belle Maman’ which was directed by Gabriel Aghion.

He gained considerable popularity for his main role in the British crime drama series ‘The Wire’. It was appreciated by the critics as well as loved by the audience. It also won several awards. Over the years, the series has been regarded by many as one of the best TV series of all time.

He was seen in many TV films as well as feature films over the next few years. Some of his films were ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ (2001), ‘The Gospel’ (2005), ‘Daddy’s Little Girls’ (2007), ‘The Human Contract’ (2008), ‘The Unborn’ (2009) and ‘Obsessed’ (2009). Since 2010, he has been playing the titular lead role in the TV series ‘Luther’, for which he gained critical acclaim.

His popularity reached even greater heights after he played an important role in the 2011 superhero film ‘Thor’. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film was based on the famous Marvel comics’ superhero of the same name. The movie was a commercial success and was also met with mostly positive reviews. Elba reprised his role in the 2013 sequel ‘Thor: The Dark World’.

In 2013, he played the famous revolutionary Nelson Mandela in the biopic ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.’ The film was, however, a commercial failure and was met with mixed reviews. Other films he appeared in over the next few years include ‘Second Coming’ (2014), ‘The Gunman’ (2015) ‘The Jungle Book’ (2016), and ‘Star Trek Beyond’ (2016).

Idris Elba has appeared in music videos for Fat Joe, Angie Stone, and Giggs. He has also served as a director and producer for multiple music videos by Mumford and Sons and K Michelle.

Idris Elba has appeared in music videos for Fat Joe, Angie Stone, and Giggs. He has also served as a director and producer for multiple music videos by Mumford and Sons and K Michelle.