Idris Elba Idris Elba Idrissa Akuna Elba (; born 6 September 1972) is a British actor, producer, musician and DJ known for playing drug trafficker Stringer Bell on the HBO series "The Wire", DCI John Luther on the BBC One series "Luther" and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film "" (2013). He has been nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, winning one and was nominated five times for a Primetime Emmy Award. Elba appeared in Ridley Scott's "American Gangster" (2007) and "Prometheus" (2012). Elba portrays Heimdall in "Thor" (2011) and its sequels
Luther (TV series) Elba expressed his enthusiasm for making a film adaptation of the show, saying, "That's where the ultimate "Luther" story will unfold, is in the big silver screen — London as a huge backdrop and a very menacing, horrible character to play against." During a BBC Radio 4 interview in March 2012, co-creator Neil Cross revealed that plans were being made for a "Luther" film that would begin production at the conclusion of the third series, the show's last. In May 2012, Elba stated in an interview that the third series would serve as the lead-in for the planned film. Neil