EVERYTHING IDRIS

Idris Elba, 49, plays Dr. Nate Daniels, a recent widower who brings his two daughters on a long-planned trip to a game reserve in Beast (in theaters Aug. 19). But the family vacation quickly turns into a gritty fight for survival. Here are some things you may not know about the London-born star of the TV series Luther and the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

His name—of African origin—was shortened from Idrissa Akuna Elba.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Elba worked night shifts at the Ford auto factory in Dagenham, East London, to make ends meet in between acting gigs.

He was about to give up on his acting career when he landed the role of Russell “Stringer” Bell on TV’s The Wire—just under the wire!

Elba and his wife, actress Sabrina Dhowre Elba, attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, and he also DJ’d the reception.