Idrissa Akuna ElbaÂ
OBEÂ (
/ˈɪdrɪs/; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor, writer, producer, musician, and DJ.
 He is known for roles includingÂ
Stringer Bell in theÂ
HBOÂ seriesÂ
The Wire,
Â
DCIÂ
John Luther in theÂ
BBC One seriesÂ
Luther, andÂ
Nelson Mandela in the biographical filmÂ
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013). He has been nominated four times for aÂ
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, winning one, and was nominated five times for aÂ
Primetime Emmy Award.
Elba appeared inÂ
Ridley ScottsÂ
American Gangster (2007) andÂ
Prometheus (2012). Elba portrayedÂ
Heimdall inÂ
Thor(2011) and its sequelsÂ
Thor: The Dark World (2013) andÂ
Thor: Ragnarok (2017), as well asÂ
Avengers: Age of Ultron(2015) andÂ
Avengers: Infinity War (2018). He also starred inÂ
Pacific Rim (2013),Â
Beasts of No Nation (2015), for which he receivedÂ
BAFTAÂ andÂ
Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor, andÂ
Mollys Game (2017). In 2016, he voiced Chief Bogo inÂ
Zootopia,Â
Shere Khan in the live action/CGI adaptation ofÂ
The Jungle Book, Fluke inÂ
Finding Dory, and played the role of Krall inÂ
Star Trek Beyond. He made his directorial debut in 2018 withÂ
an adaptation of the 1992 novelÂ
Yardie byÂ
Victor Headley.
In addition to his acting work, Elba performs as a DJ under the monikerÂ
DJ Big Driis (orÂ
Big Driis the Londoner) and as anÂ
RBÂ musician.
 In 2016, he was named in theÂ
Time 100 list of the Most Influential People in the World.
 As of May 2019, his films have grossed over $9.8 billion at the global box office, including over $3.6 billion in North America,
where he is one of the top 20 highest-grossing actors.