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Russell “Stringer” Bell (‘The Wire’) -

Elba had a breakthrough performance in ‘The Wire’ as Stringer Bell, a ruthless drug kingpin who runs the Barksdale Organization.

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Russell “Stringer” Bell (‘The Wire’) -

Elba played the character from 2002 to 2004, introducing the actor to an American audience and showcasing his best US accent.

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Tango (‘American Gangster’) -

Elba returned to US screens three years later, with a role in crime film ‘American Gangster’. Idris played Tango in the film, a quick-footed gangster who forms a rivalry with Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington).

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Tango (‘American Gangster’) -

He also got involved with Jay-Z’s album of the same name, which featured vocals and production from the actor.

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Mumbles (‘RocknRolla’) -

Elba kept the gangster roles coming in 2008, starring in Guy RItchie’s crime comedy ‘RocknRolla’.

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Mumbles (‘RocknRolla’) -

He played Mumbles, a henchman who works with Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy).

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Charles Miner (‘The Office’) -

The actor made a great career move in 2009, joining US sitcom ‘The Office’ as Charles Miner.

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Charles Miner (‘The Office’) -

Miner is a company Vice President who comically interferes with Michael Scott’s carefree management style.  

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DCI John Luther (‘Luther’) -

‘Luther’ was arguably Elba’s biggest role in the UK. Elba plays the titular character, an unorthodox cop who’s plagued with plenty of emotional demons.

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DCI John Luther (‘Luther’) -

Elba has played Luther for four series, from 2010 to present. He is expected to return for a fifth next year.

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Heimdall (‘Thor’) -

‘Thor’ wasn’t Elba’s first superhero film, but it featured his strongest character. The actor played the role of Heimdall, an all-seeing and all-hearing god.

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Heimdall (‘Thor’) -

It was director Kenneth Branagh who convinced Elba to take the role. “[Branagh] called me up personally [...] 'I know this isn't a big role, but I would really love to see you play it.' It's Kenneth Branagh. I was like, 'Definitely'", Elba told Entertainment Weekly.

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Stacker Pentecost (‘Pacific Rim’) -

Elba kept the sci-fi roles coming in 2013. He starred as Stacker Pentecost in ‘Pacific Rim’, a military general tasked with fighting monstrous sea creatures.

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Stacker Pentecost (‘Pacific Rim’) -

According to IMDb, Tom Cruise was originally considered for this role.

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Nelson Mandela (‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’) -

Elba went big for this role in 2013. He starred as Nelson Mandela in ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’, which followed the activist’s life from childhood to president of South Africa.

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Nelson Mandela (‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’) -

After completing the film, Elba was filled with musical inspiration. He released an album, ‘Idris Elba Presents Mi Mandela’, one year later.

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Commandant (‘Beasts of No Nation’) -

In 2015, Elba took on the role of Commandant in ‘Beasts of No Nation’. Elba played the leader of a rebel army which uses child soldiers to fight vicious battles.

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Commandant (‘Beasts of No Nation’) -

This is perhaps Elba’s most-acclaimed role. He won a Screen Actors Guild Award for the performance.

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Chief Bogo (‘Zootopia’) -

We move onto more light-hearted territory with ‘Zootopia’. Elba played a buffalo police chief in the film.

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Chief Bogo (‘Zootopia’) -

Bogo is grumpy and pessimistic. Still, he warms to Officer Judy Hopps, a police rabbit from the small town of Bunnyburrow.

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Shere Khan (‘The Jungle Book’) -

Elba kept things animated in 2016. He voiced the menacing tiger, Shere Khan, in a remake of 'The Jungle Book'.

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Shere Khan (‘The Jungle Book’) -

Elba was one of the first voices to be announced for ‘The Jungle Book’. It was a highly-praised performance.

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Krall (‘Star Trek Beyond’) -

Elba went motion capture for ‘Star Trek Beyond’, the third film in the rebooted ‘Star Trek’ series.

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Krall (‘Star Trek Beyond’) -

Krall was once a noble captain, but turns into a mutated human warlord who searches for destruction.

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Roland Deschain (‘The Dark Tower’) -

For ‘The Dark Tower’, Elba played Roland Deschain, the last of the Gunslingers who battles Walter O'Dim for rule over the Dark Tower.

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Roland Deschain (‘The Dark Tower’) -

Elba picked the film because of director and co-writer, Nikolaj Arcel. “It just clicked. He's such a formidable man”, Elba told Entertainment Weekly.

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Charlie Jaffey (‘Molly’s Game’) -

Elba took on another crime role in ‘Molly’s Game’. He starred as Charlie Jaffey, lawyer for FBI target Molly Bloom, who runs a high-stakes poker ring in Los Angeles.

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Charlie Jaffey (‘Molly’s Game’) -

Elba had only 10 days to film ‘Molly’s Game’ with co-star Jessica Chastain. According to IMDb, they shot 45 pages of script in six days.

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The Director (‘Yardie’) -

Elba took on a role unlike any other in 2018. He adapted the novel ‘Yardie’ into a film, with himself serving as director.

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The Director (‘Yardie’) -

It is Elba’s first film as director.

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