Idris Elba Bio, Age, Wife, Net Worth
Get to know the multi-talented star of The Wire
Name: Idris Elba
Age: 50 years old
Date of Birth: September 6, 1972
Birth Place: London, England
Relationship Status: Married
Height: 6’ 2”
Occupation: Actor, producer, writer, musician, DJ, singer, and rapper
Best Known for: The Wire, Luther, and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Nationality: English
Get to know Idris Elba, a renaissance man
Idris Elba can do it all. His titles include actor, author, producer, musician, DJ, rapper, and vocalist.
And that’s not all. The Brit broke an auto racing speed record at the Pendine Sands’ “Flying Mile” driving his Bentley. He also trains and fights in kickboxing and mixed martial arts.
Oh, and did we mention Elba was named the Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine? Let’s get to know more about this modern-day renaissance man.
What is Idris Elba’s full name?
His full name is Idrissa Akuna Elba.
What is his nationality?
Elba is from England, so he is English.
What is his profession?
Idris is an actor, producer, writer, musician, DJ, singer, and rapper.
What is Idris Elba known for?
Elba is best known for the characters he plays on TV: Stringer Bell in HBO’s The Wire and DCI John Luther in BBC One’s Luther. He also is known for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
In 2018 People magazine named Elba the Sexiest Man Alive. He was honored in 2016 as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
How old is Idris Elba?
He is 50 years old.
VIDEO: Idris Elba & Matthew McConaughey answer your questions
When was he born?
Elba was born on September 6, 1972, in the Borough of Hackney, London, England, UK.
How tall is Idris Elba?
His height is 6’ 2”.
How much does he weigh?
Elba weighs 215 lbs.
Does Idris Elba have children?
Idris Elba has two children, his daughter Isan Elba (born in 2002) and his son Winston Elba (born in 2014).
Who are his parents?
Idris’ father Winston Elba was a shop steward at Ford Dagenham. He died of lung cancer in 2013. His mother is Eve Elba.
Does he have any siblings?
Idris Elba does not have any siblings.
Is Idris Elba Nigerian?
He is not Nigerian, but his parents did immigrate from two West African countries. His father came to London from Sierra Leone and his mother was born in Ghana.
What nationality is Idris Elba?
He is English with West African ethnicity.
What religion is Idris Elba?
Elba follows a secular lifestyle as many do in the European Union. He explains, “I am not a religious person, but as I move forward that is something I want to work on, my spirituality.”
Is Idris Elba Cockney?
Elba is a Cockney from London’s East End.
Who is Idris Elba’s favorite football/soccer team?
He is a fan of Arsenal F.C., the Premier League team based in Islington, London, England.
Does Idris Elba have an automobile racing record?
He broke the record for the land speed “Flying Mile” at the Pendine Sands during the filming of Discovery Channel’s Idris Elba: No Limits in 2015.
Is Idris Elba a kickboxer?
Elba is a kickboxer. He won his first-ever professional kickboxing match against Lionel Graves at London’s York Hall as part of Discovery Channel’s documentary Idris Elba: Fighter.
What awards has Idris Elba won?
- People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2018
- The Rear of the Year award in 2017
- Order of the British Empire or OBE in 2016 for services to drama
- GQ magazine’s 50 best-dressed British men award in 2015
- MOBO Inspiration Award in 2014
- Essence magazine’s Sexiest Man of the Year award in 2013
- People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People in the World award in 2007
Idris Elba relationships and dating
Is Idris Elba married?
Elba married Sabrina Dhowre in 2019. They began dating in early 2017 and got engaged on February 10, 2018. The couple married April 26, 2019, in Marrakesh.
Who is Idris Elba’s wife?
Idris Elba met American model and actress Sabrina Dhowre during the shooting of the film The Mountain Between Us in 2017. Sabrina is a past beauty pageant champ who was Miss Vancouver in 2014 and is 16 years his junior. But it couldn’t stop sparks from flying between the two. The pair made their red carpet appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017. On February 10, 2018, Idris proposed to his sweetheart at the London screening of his directorial debut film Yardie.
Has Idris Elba been married before?
Elba was married twice before his current marriage to Sabrina Dhowre. He was married to Hanne “Kim” Norgaard from 1999 to 2003 and married Sonya Nicole Hamlin for a short time in 2006.
First marriage
Idris Elba and Danish artist Hanne Nørgaard got hitched in 1999. Together they have a girl named Isan (b. 2002). Elba described their financial battles during their marriage which as far as anyone knows took a toll on their relationship. The couple filed for separation in 2003. Their girl remains with her mother in Atlanta, Georgia after the couple’s divorce.
Second marriage
Sonya Hamlin—who works as a property legal counselor—and Idris were acquainted with a common friend in 2006. The two were instantly drawn to each other, and after dating for only a handful of months, they got married in Las Vegas on a whim. Unfortunately, Elba was struggling for his big break at the time and Sonya’s thriving career put stress on the marriage. There were reports that he had the marriage annulled. The marriage lasted from April 9, 2006, to August 11, 2006.
Idris Elba previous dating relationships
Desiree Newberry
In 2010, Elba had reported that he had fathered his first child named Otenga with his then-girlfriend Desiree Newberry. After a paternity test, it turned out he was not the natural father of the boy. He expressed he was ‘heartbroken’ after learning the news.
Naiyana Garth (2013-2016)
Idris fell for another cosmetics artist when he started dating Naiyana Garth in 2013. Idris became a father for the second time with a boy named Winston (b. 2014) after his father. Be that as it may, he left their London home and the long-time couple ended their relationship in February 2016.
K. Michelle (2013-2014)
Idris got involved with vocalist K. Michelle while he was still in a relationship with Naiyana Garth. The two first crossed paths at the Soul Train Awards. Michelle devoted her collection Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart to her short time with Elba.
Education
Idris went to Kingsland High School and after that attended Woofing and Dagenham College in London to study drama. He finished school in 1988 and joined the National Youth Music Theatre with the assistance of a grant of £1,500 from the Prince’s Trust.
Early life
Elba was born on September 6, 1972, at Forest Gate Hospital in Hackney, London, the child of Winston, a Sierra Leonean man who served at the Ford Dagenham plant, and Eve, a Ghanaian lady. Elba’s guardians were hitched in Sierra Leone and afterward moved to London.
Elba grew up in Hackney and East Ham in London. Idris shortened his first name from “Idrissa” at school in Canning Town, where he first became interested in acting.
He credits The Stage for giving him his first huge break, having seen a promotion for a play in it; he tried out and met his first agent while performing in the part.
In 1986, he started supporting an uncle with his wedding DJ business; inside a year, he had begun his own DJ company with a few of his companions.
Elba finished school in 1988 and won a place within the National Youth Music Theater thanks to a £1,500 Prince’s Trust grant.
To back himself between parts in his early career, he worked in odd jobs including tire-fitting, cold-calling, and night shifts at Ford Dagenham.
He was performing in taverns under the DJ nickname “Big Driis” during his youth but began auditioning for television performances in his early twenties.
Keeping fit
Idris Elba is in great shape for a fellow in his late-40’s and is known for his lean and ripped body. He works out as frequently as he can and begins his day off by running for 45 minutes taken after by 100 push-ups and swimming—which he considers a total body workout.
He is also a proficient kickboxer. In spite of the fact that he doesn’t follow an arduous schedule amid shoots, he does hit the dojo 2 to 3 times per week. He breaks down the drills into 3-minute rounds, which comprise of high and low kicks, combos, and light sparring.
Idris Elba net worth
How much is Idris Elba worth?
Elba’s net worth is estimated to be about $25 million, which he earned through his acting, producing and singing careers.
What are his brand endorsements and sponsorships?
Elba has endorsed the following brands: Toyota Avalon (2013), Sky Cable Television (U.K.) (2015), Stand Up 2 Cancer, Fathom Events, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege.
Idris Elba musical career
Can Idris Elba sing?
Elba can sing—you can hear him sing “The Road Less Traveled” in the 2016 movie The Take.
Is Idris Elba a DJ?
When Elba performs as a DJ, he is known as DJ Big Driis or Big Driis the Londoner.
What kind of music does Idris Elba play?
Elba spins records of contemporary R&B and hip hop music.
What is the name of his record label?
Elba launched his record label 7Wallace Music in July of 2018.
Idris Elba albums
Murdah Loves John (The John Luther Character Album), 2015
Extended plays
Big Man, 2006
Kings Among Kings, 2009
High-Class Problems Vol. 1, 2010
Idris Elba Presents Mi Mandela, 2014
DJ and music gigs
Elba has shown up in music recordings for Angie Stone, Fat Joe as well as rapper Giggs. He made the four-song E.P. Big Man for Kevlar Records in 2016. He co-produced and played on the intro to Jay-Z’s collection American Gangster. He DJed at the 2007 N.B.A. All-Star performances in Las Vegas at The Venetian and Ice House Lounge.
In July 2009, Idris was chosen as the D.J. for BET’s Rising Icons. Elba announced the release of his first single “Please Be True.” Within the August 2009 issue of Essence magazine, he declared the title of his six-song E.P. as Kings Among Kings. He released his E.P. High-Class Problems Vol. 1 within the United Kingdom in February 2010, for which he has received numerous awards including a Billboard Music Awards nomination.
In 2011, he played at the starting of Pharoahe Monch’s collection W.A.R. The next year, he co-directed and played in the Mumford & Sons music video for “Lover of the Light.”
In 2014, he created K. Michelle’s “The Rebellious Soul Musical,” which debuted on VH1 on August 19, 2014. In May, Elba was featured on Mr. Hudson’s single “Step Into the Shadows.” Mr. Hudson, moreover, delivered his collection Idris Elba Presents mi Mandela, which was released in November of 2014. He included on the remix of the Ghanaian music group, VVIP’s single “Selfie” alongside Nigerian rapper Phyno discharged on September 12, 2014, and video released on YouTube on April 11, 2015.
Rap recordings
Elba delivered a rap for the second collection by Noel Fielding and Sergio Pizzorno’s band, the Loose Tapestries. Elba, moreover, rapped in a remix of Skepta’s “Shutdown,” which was uploaded on June 1, 2015, to SoundCloud. On August 17, a melody was discharged on which Elba showed up on Nigerian vocalist D’banj’s single “Confidential,” highlighting Sierra Leonean rapper Shadow Boxer with the video uploaded to YouTube on August 20. In November 2015, Elba opened for Madonna amid her Rebel Heart Tour in Berlin, Germany. Elba is additionally highlighted on the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis collection This Unruly Mess I’ve Made (2016).
In July 2018, he propelled his record label, 7Wallace Music. Elba played at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2019. In 2019 he highlighted on the track “Boasty” by British grime craftsman Wiley. Elba, furthermore, appears in the “Boasty” music video, conveying his verse in a chateau that incorporates a film set. In 2019, Elba showed up in Taylor Swift’s melody “London Boy” from her seventh studio collection, Lover. The intro of the tune samples a piece from an interview by Elba.
Idris Elba acting career
Movies:
His films include Sorted, Belle Maman, One Love, Buffalo Soldiers, Sometimes in April, The Gospel, The Reaping, Daddy’s Little Girls, 28 Weeks Later, American Gangster, Prom Night, This Christmas, The Human Contract, RocknRolla, Obsessed, The Unborn, Legacy, The Losers, Takers, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Thor, Pacific Rim, Prometheus, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Prometheus, Second Coming, No Good Deed, Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Gunman, Zootopia, Beasts of No Nation, Bastille Day, The Jungle Book, 100 Streets, Finding Dory, The Dark Tower, Star Trek Beyond, Molly’s Game, The Mountain Between Us, Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok, Hobbs & Shaw, Yardi, and Cats.
TV shows:
His TV series are 2point4 Children, Parachute Instructor, Space Precinct, The Bill, Absolutely Fabulous, Bramwell, The Governor, Crocodile Shoes II, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Crucial Tales, Insiders, Family Affairs, Silent Witness, Verdict, Ultraviolet, Dangerfield, In Defence, London’s Burning, Law & Order, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Hack, The Wire, C.S.I.: Miami, Queens Supreme, Soul Food, Girlfriends, Sometimes in April, Jonny Zero, All in the Game, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, The Office, The Big C, Walk Like a Panther, Luther, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, How Hip Hop Changed the World, Demons Never Die, Idris Elba’s How Clubbing Changed the World, Idris Elba: King of Speed, Playhouse Presents, Idris Elba: No Limits, Guerrilla, Idris Elba: Fighter, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2017, In the Long Run, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2018, Saturday Night Live, and Turn Up Charlie.
Idris Elba kickboxing career
The Discovery Channel created a documentary, Idris Elba: Warrior, chronicling Elba’s 12-month kickboxing and blended military arts training under Muay Thai coach Kieran Keddle. The show featured Elba’s first professional kickboxing victory against Lione Graves, a more youthful and skilled Dutch fighter, at London’s York Hall.
Find Idris Elba on social media
Facebook:@idriselba
Instagram:@idriselba
Twitter:@idriselba
Idris Elba quotes
1.) I love to talk about nothing. It’s the only thing I know anything about.
2.) I’m never shaken or stirred.
3.) When you come from an underprivileged background, oftentimes, you feel a little overwhelmed by your education or your lack of.
4.) You get a reputation for answering phones, and all they do is ring.
5.) That’s the thing about people. They always find ways to surprise you.
6.) There are things that I really find important, and that we need to remind ourselves of. When you think about disability, do you really think about it? Someone who’s got a full-time trainer or a boxer, someone who’s got a major disability, but who doesn’t let that get in his way, that’s a really good message for someone who is able-bodied. It can make them think, ‘Wow, I suppose I could be doing better for myself.
Wise words from Idris Elba
7.) Waking up in truth is so much better than living in a lie.
8.) Look whoever you’re talking to in the eyes. Don’t look away. Two reasons: you can tell whether they are lying. Also, so that they can see whatever you’re saying you mean, and you can connect to that person.
9.) Fear nothing. Do what you want to do, but be educated and intelligent and confident about it.
10.) My father always told me that a fool at 40 is a fool for life.
11.) The other thing I think is important is to keep your head down.
12.) Know what your target is; don’t guess it…if you don’t know what your targets are, you’re never going to get there.
13.) It turns out that you make your own luck, but you work hard to keep it.
Idris Elba quotes on ambition
14.) I’m an ambitious person. I never considered myself in competition with anyone, and I’m not saying that from an arrogant standpoint, It’s just that my journey started so long ago, and I’m still on it, and I won’t stand still.
15.) Don’t just give yourself boundaries!
16.) I come from an era, in my world, where you just had to define yourself as who you are and what you do.
17.) I’m a veteran of looking at an opportunity and knowing whether it will take me forever or not.
18.) My definition of bad-ass is that I’m a force of nature and true spirit. I’m self-admitting that, and it sounds vain to say that, but I am.
19.) I’m not afraid to fail. I’m not afraid to fall over and make a mistake. That often cripples people on the onset of getting into anything.
20.) I’ve always had ambition, and the acting was successful and put my name on the map, but it was never the plan to stop there.
On race
21.) We’re all human beings. Experience experiences, let’s just be honest. Let’s not try and dissect suffering into a race, or whatever you want to call it. We’re all human beings, one way or another. All races have gone through times that are challenging; that’s part of being a human.
Idris Elba quotes on his career
22.) You won’t know you got to the top until you got there.
23.) I’m rebelling against being handed a career, like, ‘you’re the next this; you’re the next that.’ I’m not the next anything, I’m the first me. I can’t be myself, I can’t just be Idris Elba. But that’s just the nature of the business.
24.) I love working. I’m a workaholic, and I’m really privileged for some of the jobs I get offered, and so I just want to keep going.
25.) Work hard, sleep less.
26.) I love to play different roles. That’s just the kind of actor I am.
27.) What really excites me in a project is when it goes in a way you haven’t been before.
On his music
28.) Yeah, I know, any time you hear an actor say, ‘I make music,’ you cringe. But I want to be gradual with my music. I want to earn my stripes.
29.) Whether it’s music or acting, that creativity all comes from the same source.
What’s next for Idris Elba? His upcoming movie
In August of 2021, watch for the release of the fantasy-action thriller, The Suicide Squad. Idris Elba stars along with Margot Robbie, John Cena and Pete Davidson.
The movie is based on DC Comics’ Suicide Squad. It will be the eleventh film in the DC Extended Universe.
— Claire Evans
Claire writes about pop culture, entertainment, personalities, and movies.
Etcetera
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