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Idris Elba Biography

Birth Name:Idrissa Akuna Elba

Birth Place:Hackney, London, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Writer, Director, Camera department

Fast Facts

Discussed diversity in film and television to the UK Parliament in 2016
Became an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2016
Received the first Breakthrough in Film Award from The Hollywood Reporter in 2013
Is the child of a Ghanaian mother and a Sierra Leonean Creole father
Was in the training program at the National Youth Music Theater in London
Worked with his father in a car factory before becoming involved in music
Encouraged to pursue an acting career by his high school drama teacher
Quote: "I don't necessarily want to be famous․ I want to be known for great work․ I want to be known to surprise audiences․ That, to me, is what is really fulfilling․"
Quote: "[Responding to a question during a "Good Morning America" interview about becoming the next James Bond] "If I'm really honest, I think I'm too old for that․ Running around and cars and ladies and martinis․""
Has performed as an artist and DJ under the moniker Driis
Produced and starred in the music video "Lover of the Light․"
Trained to be a semi-professional kickboxer in 2016

Awards

2005Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2005Vision Award-Best Dramatic Performance: nominated
2006Black Reel-Best Actor - Television: nominated
2006Black Reel-Best Actor: nominated
2006Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2006Vision Award-Best Dramatic Performance: nominated
2007BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2008BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010BET Award-Best Actor: winner
2010Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2011BET Award-Best Actor: winner
2011Dagger-Best Leading Actor: winner
2011Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2011IGN Award-Best TV Hero: nominated
2011Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2011Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2011INOCA TV-Best Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
2011Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2011Individual Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012ACCA TV-Best Actor (TV Movie or Mini-Series): nominated
2012BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Male: winner
2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2012Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
2012Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2012Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2013Capri Actor Award-: winner
2013Dagger-Best Leading Actor: nominated
2013WFCC Award-Best Male Images in a Movie: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Artist of the Year: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2014Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
2014National Television Award-Radio Times - TV Detective: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2014RTS Television Award-Actor - Male: winner
2014Screen Nation Film and Television Award-Male Performance in TV: winner
2015AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2015BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015Capri Supporting Actor Award-: winner
2015DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015Ghana Movie Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2015Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2015IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015ICP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2016BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016BAFTA TV Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
2016BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture: winner
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Motion Picture: nominated
2016Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series: winner
2016DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2016Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: winner
2016Independent Spirit Award-Best Feature: nominated
2016Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2016INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016ALFS Award-British/Irish Actor of the Year: nominated
2016NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016Odyssey Award-Best Support Actor: nominated
2016OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
2016Screen Nation Film and Television Award-Favourite International Film: winner
2017BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2017BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2017BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Male Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role: nominated
2017BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: winner
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film): nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film): winner
2017Blimp Award-Favorite Villain: nominated
2017LAOFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2017NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2018C.I.C.A.E. Award-Panorama: nominated
2018Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2018Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2018Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2018Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2018Grand Jury Prize-World Cinema - Dramatic: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Emerging Director: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2019National Film Award-Best Drama: winner
2020Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2020National Film Award-Outstanding Performance: nominated
2020Shorty Award-Best Gif: nominated
2021Tribute Award-: winner
2021Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2022Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
2022AACTA Award-Best Lead Actor in Film: nominated
2022AFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor: nominated
2022CCA Super Award-Best Actor in a Superhero Movie: nominated
2022CCA Super Award-Best Villain in a Movie: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2022SFCS Award-Best Villain: nominated
2023Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: winner
2024CCA Super Award-Best Actor in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie: winner
2024Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2024OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2025AACTA International Award-Best Actor in a Series: nominated
2025Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor - Television: nominated
2025Canadian Screen Award-Best History Documentary Program or Series: winner
2025Independent Spirit Award-Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series: nominated
2025OFTA Television Award-Best Narration: nominated
2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
2026Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2026Image Award-Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated