Idris Elba
Idris Elba's parents came from Sierra Leone. His father won a scholarship to study marketing in the UK and that is where Idris was born on September 6, 1972.
At his school in Canning Town he had a crush on his drama teacher Miss Sue McFee, but she proved crucial in encouraging him to act.
Although keen on starting a career in acting, initially Idris Elba worked on the production line of Ford in Dagenham.
However, Idris Elba got a place in the National Youth Music Theatre and was awarded a grant by the Prince's Trust.
After starting his career in theatre, Elba started to pick up roles on TV including parts in Dangerfield, Bramwell and Ultraviolet.
Ultraviolet proved particularly important to Idris Elba's career development as Fox adapted the Channel 4 show and Elba used the opportunity to try to further his acting career in the USA.
Initially, Elba struggled in the States and started to DJ in bars to earn money, but then he made appearances in TV series like Soul Food and Law & Order.
Elba's major breakthrough came when he was cast as Russell "Stringer" Bell in the HBO police drama, The Wire.
Elba also gained several parts in movies including as Augustin Muganza in HBO's Sometimes in April, as Ben in The Reaping with Hilary Swank, as Monty in Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, and as Stone alongside Robert Carlyle in 28 Weeks Later.
In March 2008, Idris Elba appeared in the BBC's The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
In 2008, Elba was also working on the thriller Obsessed alongside Beyoncé Knowles and RocknRolla with Gemma Arterton.
As well as his acting, Idris Elba also works as a DJ, under the name Big Driis, and has released a hip-hop record.
In 2009, he was cast in the lead role in a six-part psychological drama on the BBC, called Luther.
More information on Idris Elba
The Guardian's profile of Idris Elba
The Guardian's interview with Idris Elba
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