Idris Elba

Elba in 2011, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Idrissa Akuna Elba

Place of Birth: Newham, Essex, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 6 September, 1972

Ethnicity:
*Sierra Leonean (father)
*Ghanaian (mother)

Idris Elba is a British actor, producer, director, and musician. His roles include The Wire, Luther, Beasts of No Nation, and Pacific Rim. He is also known as DJ Big Driis, Big Driis the Londoner, Big Driis, 7 Dub, and Me Innit.

Idris is the son of Eve (White) and Winston Elba. His parents are both African. His father is from Bonthe District, in Sierra Leone; in 2019, Idris was given Sierra Leonean citizenship. His mother is from Ghana. His father is said to have Krio ancestry. His mother likely has Akan roots.

Idris is married to Sabrina Dhowre. He has two children.

Idris’s paternal grandfather was named Moses. Moses was a sailor and policeman.

Idris was selected People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2018. He is the third non-white man, and the third man of significant African ancestry, to have been given this title by the magazine (Denzel Washington, in 1996, is the first, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, in 2016, John Legend, in 2018, and Michael B. Jordan, in 2020, are the others, fitting both criteria). Idris is also one of three English-born men to have thus far been given the title (Jude Law, in 2004, is the first, and David Beckham, in 2015, is the second).