Career Timeline of Idris Elba: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Idris Elba built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Idris Elba, an English actor and musician, has garnered significant acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award and multiple BAFTA and Emmy nominations. Recognized for his influence, he was featured in the Time 100 list. Elba's filmography boasts substantial commercial success, with his movies collectively earning over $9.8 billion worldwide, positioning him among the highest-grossing actors.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2002: Appearance in Fat Joe's Music Video

In 2002, Idris Elba made an appearance in a music video for Fat Joe.

2004: Appearance in Angie Stone's Music Video

In 2004, Idris Elba appeared in a music video for Angie Stone.

2006: Recording of 'Big Man' EP

In 2006, Elba recorded the four-song EP titled Big Man for Hevlar Records.

2007: Collaboration on Jay-Z's 'American Gangster' and DJing in Las Vegas

In 2007, Elba co-produced and performed on the intro to Jay-Z's album American Gangster. Additionally, he DJed at the 2007 NBA All-Star parties at The Venetian and Ice House Lounge in Las Vegas.

April 2009: Appointment as Anti-Crime Ambassador for The Prince's Trust

In April 2009, The Prince's Trust appointed Elba as their anti-crime ambassador.

July 2009: DJ for BET's Rising Icons and Announcement of First Single

In July 2009, Elba was the DJ for BET's current series Rising Icons and announced the release of his first single "Please Be True".

August 2009: Announcement of EP Title 'Kings Among Kings'

In August 2009, Elba announced the title of his six-song EP as Kings Among Kings in the August issue of Essence magazine.

February 2010: Release of 'High Class Problems Vol. 1' and Awards Recognition

In February 2010, Elba released his EP High Class Problems Vol. 1 in the United Kingdom, which led to numerous prizes, including a Billboard Music Awards nomination.

2011: Performance on Pharoahe Monch's Album Intro

In 2011, Elba performed on the intro to Pharoahe Monch's album W.A.R..

2013: Commercials for Sky Box-Sets

In 2013, Elba appeared in various television commercials for Sky box-sets.

August 2014: Production of 'The Rebellious Soul Musical' Debut

On 19 August 2014, Elba produced K. Michelle's "The Rebellious Soul Musical," which debuted on VH1.

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September 2014: Featured on VVIP's 'Selfie' Remix

On 12 September 2014, Elba was featured on the remix of Ghanaian music group VVIP's single "Selfie" along with Nigerian rapper Phyno. The video was later released on YouTube.

October 2014: Presentation of 'Journey Dot Africa with Idris Elba' Series

In October 2014, Elba presented the series Journey Dot Africa with Idris Elba on BBC Radio 2, exploring all types of African music.

November 2014: Release of 'Idris Elba Presents Mi Mandela'

In November 2014, Mr. Hudson produced Elba's album Idris Elba Presents Mi Mandela, which was released.

April 2015: Release of VVIP's Selfie Music Video

On 11 April 2015, the music video for VVIP's "Selfie" remix, which features Idris Elba, was released on YouTube.

June 2015: Rapping on Skepta's 'Shutdown' Remix

On 1 June 2015, Elba rapped in a remix of Skepta's "Shutdown," which was uploaded to SoundCloud.

November 2015: Collaboration with Superdry

At the end of November 2015, Elba launched a collaboration with British fashion label Superdry.

November 2015: Opening for Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour in Berlin

In November 2015, Elba opened for Madonna during her Rebel Heart Tour in Berlin, Germany.

January 2016: Addressed UK Parliament on Diversity

In January 2016, Elba addressed the UK parliament about the lack of diversity on screen, emphasizing the slow pace of change regarding race, gender, and sexuality.

2016: Commercials for Sky Box-Sets

In 2016, Elba appeared in various television commercials for Sky box-sets.

2016: Featured on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' Album

In 2016, Elba was featured on the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis album This Unruly Mess I've Made.

October 2017: Hosted The Best FIFA Football Awards

On 23 October 2017, Elba hosted The Best FIFA Football Awards at the London Palladium and took a selfie with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar.

May 2018: Kwame Kwei-Armah Joins 'Tree' Project

In May 2018, Kwame Kwei-Armah joined the 'Tree' project and rewrote part of Tori Allen-Martin and Sarah Henley's material.

July 2018: Launch of 7Wallace Music Record Label

In July 2018, Elba launched his record label, named 7Wallace Music.

2018: British Film Institute Board of Governors

From 2018 to 2022, Elba served on the Board of Governors of the British Film Institute.

April 2019: Performance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

In April 2019, Elba performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

May 2019: Film Gross Revenue

As of May 2019, Elba's films have grossed over $9.8 billion at the global box office.

July 2019: Controversy Surrounding Play 'Tree' Authorship

On 2 July 2019, The Guardian published a story describing how writers Tori Allen-Martin and Sarah Henley said they had been removed from the production of the play 'Tree' under what they described as questionable circumstances. They alleged their creative input was not properly recognized, leading to a public dispute over authorship with Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah.

2019: Commercials for Sky Box-Sets

In 2019, Elba appeared in various television commercials for Sky box-sets.

April 2020: Collaboration with Jay Robinson on 'Know Yourself'

In April 2020, Elba collaborated with producer Jay Robinson on the track "Know Yourself", which was released on Mau5trap.

2020: Creative Direction for Emanuel's 'Need You' Music Video

In 2020, after hearing Emanuel's debut single "Need You", Elba created a music video from clips of people coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and is being credited as an executive producer of Emanuel's album.

February 2021: Guest DJ Mix for Mix Up on Triple J

On 13 February 2021, Elba performed a guest DJ mix for Mix Up on Australian national youth broadcaster Triple J.

September 2021: Announcement of Collaborative EP with Lime Cordiale

On 22 September 2021, Elba announced he would be releasing a collaborative EP with Australian pop rock duo Lime Cordiale titled Cordi Elba.

January 2022: Release of 'Cordi Elba' EP with Lime Cordiale

On 14 January 2022, the collaborative EP "Cordi Elba" with Australian pop rock duo Lime Cordiale was released.

2022: Departure from British Film Institute Board of Governors

From 2018 to 2022, Elba served on the Board of Governors of the British Film Institute.

January 2024: Release of 'Knives Down' and Cyberpunk 2077 Radio Stations

In January 2024, Elba released the song "Knives Down" and featured on two new radio stations for the video game Cyberpunk 2077.

2024: Attended UK Government Knife Crime Summit

In 2024, Elba attended the UK government's inaugural knife crime summit alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, emphasizing the importance of action.

2024: Idris Elba Starts "Sound International" Label

In 2024, Idris Elba started his own label "Sound International" inspired by his uncle's 1980s London "Sound System." The label will showcase diverse house music talent worldwide.