November 28, 2017 | Chanell Alexander

24 Smoldering Facts About Idris Elba


With his chiseled good looks and his compelling acting talent, Idris Elba has genuinely brought British swag to the United States. Here are 24 facts that show his evolution in show business—and in our hearts.


Idris Elba Facts

24. He Absolutely Fabulous

In 1995, Idris Elba partied it up with the leading ladies of Absolutely Fabulous, a hit British TV show. He played a male escort named Hilton on the third episode of the show. Seems like Eddy and Patsy saw something in him long before we did! What a long way he has come!

Idris Elba FactsAbsolutely Fabulous, BBC Worldwide

23. He Can Rule Some Turntables!

Elba is a man of many talents. Before becoming an actor, he used to be a house music DJ, and has gone by creative names such as "DJ Dris" and "Big Driis" in the past. Elba is even still DJing today! He remixed the newest The Jungle Book soundtrack, and he has completed his own music project called Hiatus.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

22. Behind the Camera

The actor doesn't just enjoy being in front of the camera, he likes to create behind it too. In 2012, he directed a music video for the Mumford and Sons song, “Lover of the Light.” He also starred in the video as a blind man who decides to explore the world in ways he never thought were possible.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

21. What Can’t This Guy Do?

Elba is clearly an adrenaline junkie. In an exciting marketing campaign for a model of the Ford Fiesta R1, Elba raced in the vehicle to bring awareness to its performance and speed, and went up against some of the most famous rally racers in the world.

 

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

Advertisement

20. His Ties to Ford Run Deep

To support Elba’s family, the actor’s father worked at a car factory. Inspired by his father, Elba began to work night shifts at Ford Dagenham to make ends meet in between acting gigs when he was first starting out.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

19. Voice Acting

In addition to his DJ work, Elba also loaned his voice to Jay-Z’s opening “Intro” for the American Gangster soundtrack (Elba also had a role in the film). Jack of all trades is an understatement.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

18. Giving Back

In 2009, Elba was selected as the spokesman and Anti-Crime Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity created by British Royal, Prince Charles. His role was to steer British youth from a life of crime. In fact, the charity even supported Elba when he himself was a youth, giving him a grant.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

17. Not a Fan of Oasis

In 2013, Elba was entering an award show when Oasis member Liam Gallagher tried to grab his hat. Elba was not happy with the gesture, and a physical altercation almost ensued. Gallagher has a different story of the incident, and says that it was Elba who actually tried to muss up his hair. Can’t we all just get along?

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

16. Gamer Guy

Elba is not all about the movies: He has also dabbled in voice acting. Elba’s voice was featured in one of the most popular first-person-shooter franchises of all time, in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

15. A Royal Recommendation

In 2016, Elba became an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, a rare honor from the Royal Family. When Prince William presented him with the designation, Elba took his mother to experience the Buckingham Palace ceremony.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

Advertisement

14. Save the World

Elba’s father is a native of Sierra Leone, and when ebola went on to ravage the country, Elba saw a way to use his celebrity status to help. He collaborated with The Africa United global health campaign to educate people on how to protect themselves from the disease.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

13. Not a Perk of the Job

Being an actor can be a gruelling job, and Elba is not exempt from feeling a little annoyed with his work sometimes. During the filming of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Elba had to travel from South Africa to London for extensive reshoots for Thor: The Dark World right after he returned to England. The pain of the stunts and insane traveling schedule got to him so much that he voiced his displeasure in an interview after The Dark World was released.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

12. Breakout Role

The TV series Luther set up Elba as a leading man in Hollywood, and his performance, as well as the show as a whole, was critically acclaimed. The role allowed him to act as a detective with the intellect of Sherlock Holmes and the technique of Colombo.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Imageshttps://www.gettyimages.com

11. One of the Most Embarrassing Moments of All Time

Elba clearly has a sense of humor: the actor once spilled the beans about the time he mistakenly kept his mic on while he was using the bathroom. There is nothing more refreshing than a guy as suave as Elba being able to laugh at himself.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

10. Get 'Em While They're Young

Even as a child, Elba's parents trusted him to keep the party going: He was charged with DJing parties and house get-togethers when he was just eight years old. This makes Elba a veteran of DJing!

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

9. A Crush of Epic Proportions

When asked who his celebrity crush was, Elba remarked that he always carried a torch for Meryl Streep. He was even so nervous when he met her that his tongue swelled up!

Olivia Wilde factsGetty Images

Advertisement

8. Record Breaker

Elba has a need for speed: In May 2015, he broke a British land speed record in a Bentley. He hit over 180 mph, breaking a record previously held by Sir Malcolm Campbell, who set his record in 1927.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images 

7. A “New York” State of Mind

Elba has been known to be a man of many voices, and to blend into roles without his signature British accent, Elba honed his American accent in a Brooklyn barbershop. A genuine commitment to sounding as American as possible!

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

6. Don't Look!

Another significant role in Elba’s career was his stint on The Wire as Stringer Bell, one of the series' most memorable characters. The show has been watched by millions—except for Elba. In an interview, he explained that he was not too keen on watching himself in the show. As he said of never watching the series, "I'm supercritical of my own work. As an actor, if you're being told how wonderful you are, what do you need to strive for? I don't know if I'm good just because some critic says I am in the press."

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

5. True Crime

From The Wire to Luther, Elba has more than shown he can handle the demands a crime drama series can bring. Perhaps he picked up these skills from his first roles in Crimewatch murder reconstructions! Yep, if you're ever watching true crime reruns, keep an eye out for him.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

4. Superstar

During Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour, Elba had the honor of opening for the legendary superstar in Berlin, Germany. Is a DJ tour somewhere on the horizon for Elba? Better yet, could a Grammy be possible?

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

3. Cover Photo History

Maxim, a magazine that usually features women on their front cover, made history when they revealed Elba on the front cover of their September 2015 issue, and Elba became the first man to ever appear on the cover of the magazine! His inclusion fit the theme—it was also the first fashion issue of Maxim, and Elba is quite stylish.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images

Advertisement

2. Near Death Experience

On the set of Beasts of No Nation, Elba leaned against a tree that overlooked a waterfall. Horrifically, the actor lost his balance and almost tumbled over the edge to a 90-foot drop. Luckily, he happened to land onto a narrow ridge that prevented his almost certain death.

Idris Elba FactsGetty Images 

1. A Natural

Elba has been honest about the fact that he does not have any formal acting training. A Golden Globe winner and frequent Emmy nominee, his accomplishments in Hollywood are that much more impressive. Sometimes all it takes is desire, an innate talent, and hard work.

Idris Elba FactsGetty ImagesSources:  12345678910111213141516171819


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.