I did a small survey on twitter in which I asked the blerd universe who their favorite actors and actresses are for the purpose of short actor profiles for this blog. I wanted to take some of the most loved actors, spotlight their careers and offer up what my favorite movie/role is from their filmology (most likely from the often neglected independent film world). A number of people responded (thanks, you guys!), and one name that kept coming up was the formidable Idris Elba (cue women around the world sighing).

Hailing from East London, Idris Elba grew up the only child of African immigrants. He began his acting career on serial British TV shows which soon expanded to film and theater in his home country and eventually on the international level, becoming a recognizable face in the New York theater scene and also Hollywood.

I have never swooned over him as many women have (I know, I know... something must be wrong with me, right?) nor do I really follow his career closely, but I have to admit he has had some bright spots in his career as an actor and possesses a definite versatility that allows him to constantly alternate between British and American productions. Take a look at some of his most prominent roles, big and small, and see what I consider the high point in Elba’s career:

He is most recognizable from...
...HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire where Elba played Stringer Bell, a brilliant and cunning cocaine drug lord who aspired to extend his power and influence into real estate and city politics. Often lauded for his performance on the series, this was the role that defined Elba in urban, pop cultures circles and solidified his place in the American entertainment industry.

He has made his mark on other TV shows with...
...a prominent multi-episode guest role on the NBC’s The Office playing a straight-talking, corporate-level supervisor, a role designed to contrast the off-the-wall antics of Michael Scott (Steve Carell), as well as his ongoing role as a troubled detective traumatized after a past case on the BBC series Luther.

He has done (will continue to do) the big summer blockbuster thing...
...appearing in the superhero movie Thor (2011) as Heimdall, the keeper of the gates of mythical Asgard, taking on the role of a member of the mercenary team in the comic book adaptation The Losers (2010) along side Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evans, and starring in Prometheus (2012), the quasi-prequel to the 1979 sci-fi Alien. Up next will be this year’s summer sci-fi big budget movie Pacific Rim about government-designed giant robots developed to protect the earth again invading creatures that arise from the Pacific.

And the niche film thing...
...with appearances in the the zombie flick 28 Weeks Later (2007), a sequel to the fantastic film 28 Days Later (2002) starring Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris about four survivors of a virus-induced world catastrophe, and in Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla (2008) as apart of a British crime underworld that highlighted his comic side.

In my opinion, his best film to date is...
...the little independent psychological thriller film Legacy, written and directed by a Nigerian/British director Thomas Ikimi and executive produced by Elba. In it, Elba plays the lead role of Malcolm Gray, a former Black Ops operative who, over the course of a day wholed up in a dingy Brooklyn motel room, relives some of the past that have brought him to this moment as he struggles with mental instability and whether to expose his politician brother he feels is corrupt. I had the pleasure of seeing one of the first screenings at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival in NYC and loved it. It is everything that makes a great psychological thriller from the feeling of wall-climbing claustrophobia to the feeling that everything is not what it seems. For me, it’s surely the independent films, and not the blockbusters, where Elba excels as an actor.

I am most excited to see him next take on...
...the role of Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, an upcoming British biopic based on the 1994 book “Long Walk to Freedom”. There is already alittle bit of grumbling in the film industry about the lack of resemblance between Elba and the South African anti-apartheid leader but can he stifle the critics with a great performance? We will see when the film is released November 29th. The production reteams Elba with Naomi Harris who will portray Winnie Mandela.

Talkback (What some of my fellow blerds had to say about why they love Idris Elba)...
Shana (@BohoBougie): Idris Elba...just his name triggers all kinds of thoughts, some G-rated, others NC-17. As a post-modern feminist I rail against most female objectification in films, yet I find myself bring hypocritical when it comes to the males of the species. What can I say? I appreciate beauty, especially the kind of rugged, yet sophisticated visage of Mr. Elba. Idris Elba's acting embodies 'cool jazz', a restrained unpredictability. His "Luther" is complex, taut, compassionate, and lethal. He can flirt shamelessly, as he did with Charlize Theron in "Prometheus" and still be a thug when necessary in other roles. I adored him as Cathy's artist/lover on "The Big C" for his ability to be "in the moment" and authentic. Whether he is speaking in his gravely British accent or in a more American dialect, his celebrity has yet to eclipse his roles or my ability to suspend belief when watching him on-screen. Unlike Denzel, Idris can still wholly embody his characters without the weight of his fame.

Who is your favorite actor and actress? If anyone wants to give their opinion, tweet (@shalathomas) or email (lifebetweenfilms@gmail.com) me for inclusion in a feature spotlight. Next up will be an actress spotlight so stay tuned!