Life in Film: Idris Elba

Check out the movie and television career of Idris Elba.

The Wire - Idris Elba will always be remembered for his role as Stringer Bell on HBO’s The Wire.  Bell’s character is named after two Baltimore drug lords (Stringer Reed and Roland Bell) and his life is similar to businessman Kenneth A. Jackson.\r(Photo: Courtesy of HBO via IMDB)

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The Wire - Idris Elba will always be remembered for his role as Stringer Bell on HBO’s The Wire.  Bell’s character is named after two Baltimore drug lords (Stringer Reed and Roland Bell) and his life is similar to businessman Kenneth A. Jackson.\r(Photo: Courtesy of HBO via IMDB)

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The Gospel - Idris Elba was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Best Actor in a Film for his performance in the 2005 film The Gospel, a story about the prodigal son.(Photo: Courtesy of Columbia TriStar via IMDB)

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The Gospel - Idris Elba was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Best Actor in a Film for his performance in the 2005 film The Gospel, a story about the prodigal son.(Photo: Courtesy of Columbia TriStar via IMDB)

Sometimes in April - Idris Elba returned to HBO in 2005 to take part in a gripping film on the genocide in Rwanda titled Sometimes in April.  The movie focuses on two brothers, played by Elba and Oris Erhuero.(Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

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Sometimes in April - Idris Elba returned to HBO in 2005 to take part in a gripping film on the genocide in Rwanda titled Sometimes in April.  The movie focuses on two brothers, played by Elba and Oris Erhuero.(Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

28 Weeks Later - Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo cast Idris Elba in 28 Weeks Later, the 2007 horror science fiction sequel to 28 Days Later.  Elba played the role of Brigadier General Stone.(Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox via IMDB)

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28 Weeks Later - Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo cast Idris Elba in 28 Weeks Later, the 2007 horror science fiction sequel to 28 Days Later.  Elba played the role of Brigadier General Stone.(Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox via IMDB)

Daddy's Little Girls - Tyler Perry cast Idris Elba in his 2007 romantic drama, Daddy’s Little Girls.  Elba played Monty James, a single father raising three daughters who eventually falls for Gabrielle Union’s character, attorney Julia Rossmore.(Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate via IMDB)

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Daddy's Little Girls - Tyler Perry cast Idris Elba in his 2007 romantic drama. Elba played Monty James, a single father raising three daughters who eventually falls for Gabrielle Union’s character, attorney Julia Rossmore. (Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate via IMDB)

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Obsessed - In what turned out to be a surprise box office hit, Idris Elba played alongside Beyoncé Knowles in the 2009 thriller Obsessed. Despite mixed reviews, it opened at the top of the box office.(Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

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Obsessed - In what turned out to be a surprise box office hit, Idris Elba played alongside Beyoncé Knowles in the 2009 thriller Obsessed. Despite mixed reviews, it opened at the top of the box office.(Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

RocknRolla - English screenwriter and filmmaker Guy Ritchie cast Idris Elba in the 2008 crime film RocknRolla.  Alongside Gerard Butler and Ludacris, the film was a hit. In addition, Elba had a chance to return home to London and speak in his native accent on camera.(Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. via IMDB)

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RocknRolla - English screenwriter and filmmaker Guy Ritchie cast Idris Elba in the 2008 crime film RocknRolla.  Alongside Gerard Butler and Ludacris, the film was a hit. In addition, Elba had a chance to return home to London and speak in his native accent on camera.(Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. via IMDB)

The Office - Idris Elba had a short stint on the hit NBC comedy The Office for six episodes in 2009. Elba was brought on to play Charles Miner, a rival to Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott, played by actor Steve Carell.\r(Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

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The Office - Idris Elba had a short stint on the hit NBC comedy The Office for six episodes in 2009. Elba was brought on to play Charles Miner, a rival to Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott, played by actor Steve Carell.\r(Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

Takers - Idris Elba co-starred in Takers, which starred the rapper T.I.  Elba played Gordon Jennings, the leader of a group of professional bank robbers.  The film opened at number one opening weekend and a sequel is in the works. \r\r(Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

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Takers - Idris Elba co-starred in Takers, which starred the rapper T.I.  Elba played Gordon Jennings, the leader of a group of professional bank robbers.  The film opened at number one opening weekend and a sequel is in the works. \r\r(Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

Photo By Photo Credit: Suzanne Tenner

Thor - Earlier this year, Elba played Heimdall in the Marvel Studious film Thor.  He signed a four picture deal with Marvel, despite complaints from the Council of Conservative Citizens that a Black man shouldn't play a Nordic god. (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel)

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Thor - Earlier this year, Elba played Heimdall in the Marvel Studious film Thor.  He signed a four picture deal with Marvel, despite complaints from the Council of Conservative Citizens that a Black man shouldn't play a Nordic god. (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel)

Luther\r - In the British psychological drama, Elba stars as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther.  The role has earned him two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination.  It's undecided whether Luther will get a third season, but Idris recently said, "We’ll have to see what the appetite is like for it at the end of this series. If it’s a good, healthy appetite then we’ll figure out how we’re going to do some more."\r(Photo: Courtesy of BBC)

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Luther\r - In the British psychological drama, Elba stars as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther.  The role has earned him two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination.  It's undecided whether Luther will get a third season, but Idris recently said, "We’ll have to see what the appetite is like for it at the end of this series. If it’s a good, healthy appetite then we’ll figure out how we’re going to do some more."\r(Photo: Courtesy of BBC)