Idris Elba, a popular English actor and DJ, has earned fame thanks to his lengthy acting and music careers. Here’s a quick breakdown of his height, age, and weight.
Idris Elba is 6 ‘2, almost 6’ 3. Born in 1972, he is 51 as of 2023. He weighs 211 pounds, or 96 kilograms.
Described as one of the most influential people in the UK, Elba has been involved in some of the most successful films in the world, cementing him a spot as one of the top 20 highest-earning actors in North America. Here, we’ll explore his physical characteristics and shine a spotlight on his personal life.
How Tall Is Idris Elba?
Idris Elba is 6’2 inches tall (1.9 m), although he has described himself in interviews as “nearly 6’3.” He has additionally referred to himself as a “ballsy 6 ‘2 black guy.”
How Old Is Idris Elba?
As of 2023, Idris Elba is 51 years old, although his birthday is upcoming on September 6th.
How Much Does Idris Elba Weigh?
Idris Elba weighs 211 pounds (96 kg). In Star Trek Beyond, Elba reported that his costume for villain Krall was so restrictive that he couldn’t comfortably eat lunch due to the prosthetics attached to his face. Reportedly, he ate lunch through a straw during shooting.
He attributes his weight loss during that time to eating less and drinking a lot of liquids. The former Men’s Fitness feature also reported that he “just has one of those bodies,” such that working out for a week or two helped drop the weight.
Specifically, he revealed that 45 minutes of running, 100 sit ups, 100 pushups, and swimming were core components of his workouts, claiming they work every muscle in the body.
He also kickboxes to keep the weight down and cites the following three reasons for staying fit:
- Eating a healthy breakfast
- Maintaining weight
- Staying active
Early Life
Born in 1972 to parents Winston and Eve, Idrissa Akuna Elba was raised in Hackney and East Ham. In school, he shortened his name to Idris. He attended school in Canning Town.
Acting Career
Idris Elba is best known for his acting roles in movies and shows such as The Wire, Luther, Thor, and The Dark Tower, but he credits his start to an advertisement for a play in The Stage, a British newspaper covering entertainment and theater.
Taking a chance, he auditioned and met with an agent while engaged in the role. Thanks to a £1,500 Prince’s Trust grant, he was admitted to the National Youth Music Theatre. Between roles, he took on several odd jobs, including tire-fitting, night shifts, sales pitching, and working in nightclubs.
His first role was in Crimewatch, a program dedicated to recreating major unsolved crimes to solicit information from the public. While not the most glamorous role, Elba would soon pick up a bigger role in the medical drama Bramwell, where he would play an important character in Season 1.
After some additional supporting roles on TV shows, including a part in Family Affairs, Elba moved to New York City, returning to England only occasionally for a television role.
There, he would land his first big it in the 2002 HBO drama The Wire, playing the role of Russel “Stringer” Bell, a crime boss and major antagonist. While Elba might not have been thrilled about the gangster role offers that followed, the HBO series was still critically acclaimed and would jumpstart his career to new heights.
His foray into the big screen would be multi-genre, including Daddy’s Little Girls (2007), 28 Weeks Later (2007), and Obsession (2009). In 2011, Elba took on the role of Heimdall in Thor, an important character in the Asgard of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Other sci-fi adventures were soon to follow, including Prometheus (2012), wherein Idris Elba played Janek, the captain of the titular ship seeking the origins of humanity.
His next major role was in the TV series Luther, in which he plays a morally conflicted detective facing difficult ethical dilemmas. For his role, he won the 2012 Golden Globe Award.
Just a year later, he played Stacker Pentecost in Pacific Rim and was hailed for his performance as Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Since then, he’s starred in many other films and TV shows, including providing voice overs for animated films like Zootopia.
Music Career
Aside from his acting prowess, Elba has also been involved as a DJ, rapper, and musician under the pseudonym Big Driis. In 1986 at the age of 14, he helped his uncle with his wedding DJ business, and within a year, had started his own business with friends. During adolescence, he worked in night clubs as Big Driis.
He was featured in “Dance Off” in 2016 and “Boasty” in 2019. His DJ career includes some high-profile gigs, such as the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Elba also performed live at Coachella 2019 with his record label 7Wallace Music. The lab is a nod to the real name of performer Biggie Smalls, Christopher Wallace.
Personal Life
Elba has been married thrice. His first marriage was to Hanne Nørgaard, with whom he had a daughter. They were divorced in 2003, after which he was married for 4 months in 2006 to Sonya Hamlin. He was married to Canadian model Sabrina Dhowre in 2017.
The Prince’s Trust, a charity Elba credited with kick starting his career, appointed Elba as the anti-crime ambassador in April of 2009
Final Thoughts
Idris Elba, once named Sexiest Man of the Year and Sexiest Man Alive, is a talented actor who has demonstrated his prowess across genres, from television to film. Drama, comedy, sci-fi, action, theater—he’s done it all. What’s more, he’s built a successful music career from the ground up with some notable high-profile bookings.
Listed among the top 100 most influential people of African descent in the UK, Elba’s repertoire of skills is unmatched, and his portrayal of characters, both real and fictional, continue to inspire.
