Idris Elba was born in London, England from parents of Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian descent. Elba is a man of many talents, finding public acclaim for his acting, musical performances, and kickboxing.
His career as an actor launched in England before he made his way to the American market, where he became well known for his role in HBO hit series The Wire as a crime boss and in the biographical hit Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Prior to making his mark on the big screen, Elba’s resume is home to many roles from British TV as well as working alongside his father in a car factory. When he decided to make his way to the Big Apple, settling in Brooklyn, New York, he hustled several entertainment gigs from doorman to DJ, to support his career.
In his music career, his stage name is Big Driis. DJing, rapping, and producing, Elba’s first major credential was his feature on the 2007 American Gangster album with Jay-Z. In 2018, Big Driis handled the music for the royal wedding, launched his own record label, 7Wallace Music, and the next year, scratched a set at Coachella.
Idris Elba’s Black Moments:
- Awarded Three NAACP Image Awards
- Awarded Golden Globe for Best Actor
- 2 BET Best Actor Awards
- Voted on several Sexiest Man Alive lists, including People’s THE Sexiest Man Alive in 2018
- Actively works with UK Parliament in the efforts to eradicate Ebola from West Africa
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