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Idris Elba

(1972-), Actor

Sitter in 2 portraits
Born in Hackney to a Sierra Leonean father and a Ghanaian mother, Elba was an only child. His name Idrissa was shortened to Idris at the school he attended in Canning Town where he first became interested in acting. His big break after seeing an advertisement in The Stage, he auditioned and met his first agent whilst performing in his first role. Elba left school in 1988, and won a place in the National Youth Music Theatre where he was awarded a grant from the Prince's Trust. His first acting role was in a Crimewatch murder reconstruction. Amongst his long list of film credits he appeared in Ridley Scott's American Gangster (2007), he is also renown for playing Detective Luther in BBC One's series Luther.

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Idris Elba, by Julian Broad - NPG x139552

Idris Elba

by Julian Broad
bromide fibre print, 16 January 2010
NPG x139552

Idris Elba, by Rich Hardcastle - NPG x137429

Idris Elba

by Rich Hardcastle
archival digital print, March 2013
NPG x137429

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