How education and upbringing influenced the life of Idris Elba. A timeline of key moments.
Idris Elba is a multifaceted English entertainer, recognized as an actor, rapper, singer, and DJ. He's garnered critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award and multiple BAFTA and Emmy nominations. Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2016, Elba's success extends to the box office, where his films have generated over $9.8 billion worldwide, solidifying his position as one of the highest-grossing actors in the industry.
In September 1972, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born. He is an English actor, rapper, singer, and DJ.
On 6 September 1972, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born in the London Borough of Hackney to Winston Elba and Eve.
In 1976, Prince Charles founded The Prince's Trust, a UK youth charity that Idris Elba credits with helping begin his career.
In 1986, Elba started helping an uncle with his wedding DJ business; within a year, he had started his own DJ company with some of his friends.
In 1988, Elba left Barking and Dagenham College and won a place in the National Youth Music Theatre after receiving a Prince's Trust grant.
In April 2009, Idris Elba was appointed as the anti-crime ambassador for The Prince's Trust, a UK youth charity.
In January 2016, Idris Elba addressed the UK parliament regarding the lack of diversity on screen, emphasizing the need for change regarding race, gender, and sexuality.
From 2018, Idris Elba served on the Board of Governors of the British Film Institute.
In April 2021, Elba said the series is "mainly the brainchild" of his wife, whom he described as a "super geek when it comes to anime".
In 2022, Idris Elba stepped down from the Board of Governors of the British Film Institute.
In June 2024, Elba launched a new production company called 22Summers with former Pulse & BBC exec Diene Petterle.
In 2024, Idris Elba attended the UK government's inaugural knife crime summit, advocating for action and diverse perspectives to address the issue.
In January 2025, Idris Elba revealed that he had stopped eating meat around six months prior.
On February 11, 2025, Idris Elba invested in Kiro Race Co, a team competing in the FIA Formula E World Championship.
In 2025, Idris Elba suggested banning 'ninja swords' and modifying kitchen knives as potential solutions to knife crime.