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
Idris Elba to New York City soon after. He returned to England occasionally for a television role, such as a part in one of the "Inspector Lynley Mysteries". In 2001, Elba played Achilles in a stage production of "Troilus and Cressida" in New York City. After a supporting turn on a 2001 episode of "Law & Order", Elba landed a starring role on the 2002 HBO drama series "The Wire". From 2002 to 2004, Elba portrayed Russell "Stringer" Bell in the series, perhaps his best-known role in the United States. In 2005, he portrayed Captain Augustin Muganza in "Sometimes in April", an