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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: * father – Sierra Leonean * mother – Ghanaian
Idris Elba is a British actor, producer, director, rapper, singer, and DJ. His roles include The Wire , Luther , Pacific Rim , and Beasts of No Nation . He is also known as DJ Big Driis, Big Driis the Londoner, 7 Dub, Me Innit, Big Driis, and Idris.
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 Canadian model, media personality, and U.N. goodwill ambassador Sabrina Dhowre, who is of Somali descent. He has a daughter with his former wife Hanne “Kim” Nørgaard; and a son with his former partner Naiyana Garth.
Idris’s paternal grandfather was named Moses. Moses was a sailor and policeman.
Idris’s maternal grandfather’s surname was White.
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 the third English-born man to have been given the title ( Jude Law , in 2004, was the first, and David Beckham , in 2015, was the second).