Happy birthday, Idris Elba: Looking back at his top 10 roles on the actor's 52nd birthday

Over the course of his nearly 30-year career, Idris Elba has delivered several outstanding performances in films and television shows. The actor quickly gained attention as a rising star in his early days with his brilliant portrayal of ambitious drug lord Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire.

From then on, he continued to surprise audiences with his wide variety of roles. Elba directed Marvel action blockbusters such as Thor and Pacific Rim, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and critically acclaimed dramas such as Luther, Beasts of No Nation and The Harder They Fall.

To celebrate this special occasion, let’s take a closer look at his top ten roles that truly thrilled audiences around the world:

10. Rufus Buck in The Harder They Fall (2021)

In the film The Harder They Fall, Idris Elba plays Rufus Buck, a legendary bandit out for revenge. Everything was set to conquer the screen and create a character you'll never forget. Director Jeymes Samuel told Vanity Fair: “When you look into his eyes, you know there's something good there, but he's about to do something really dangerous. And really deadly.” These scenes, in which Jonathan Majors played the role of Nat Love, were full of tension and excitement, and Rufus's ultimate fate was a shocking and sad turn of events.

9. Heimdall in the Thor franchise (2011-2022)

This all-seeing guardian of Asgard was never as powerful as when he had this imposing presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With his magnificent and powerful role as Heimdall, he was a major draw for the Thor franchise. When sharing the screen with Chris Hemsworth – who played Thor – he always made every scene fascinating. Heimdall's tragic end in Avengers: Infinity War was considered a deeply moving event by many fans around the world.

8. Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)

Next up is Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Idris took on the role of Nelson Mandela, an iconic South African statesman. His acting performance in this film was phenomenal and very emotional. The expression he showed while playing the character and his commitment to the subject matter was remarkable. One of the most notable scenes in this film was his time in prison on Robben Island. The movie star's interaction with Winnie Mandela, played by Naomie Harris, was specifically praised by many movie lovers.

7th Commander in Beasts of No Nation (2015)

In the role of the Commander, a ruthless warlord who kidnaps child soldiers, Idris Elba plays a despicable villain in Beasts of No Nation. Elba has brought this character to the screen with extreme skill and a flair for cruelty and manipulation, and is extremely disturbing. What happens to the character at the end is extremely upsetting and disturbing for the narrative.

6. Johannes Luther in Luther (2010 – 2019)

He played the role of DCI John Luther in the BBC series of the same name, a role that earned him praise from critics and enthusiastic viewers alike. One of his most iconic roles to date is of course that of John Luther, the brilliant but troubled detective. An undeniable chemistry with Ruth Wilson – who played the role of Alice Morgan – helped them build a spectacular relationship over the course of the series.

5. Stacker Pentecost in Pacific Rim (2013)

Elba played Stacker Pentecost, the charismatic leader of the grizzled Jaeger program in the science fiction action film Pacific Rim. Stacker's leadership and unwavering determination led humanity to save it from the Kaiju threat. His scenes with Charlie Hunnam, who plays the role of Raleigh Becket, were full of tension and excitement. The ending was thrilling because Stacker's death in the film was one of those terrible losses that the audience had to be constantly reminded of.

4. Stringer Bell from The Wire (2002 – 2008)

Stringer Bell, played by the actor in The Wire, is a remarkable example of subtle acting. In this role of a determined drug dealer in search of legitimacy, Elba delivers a layered performance that shows his strong acting power. We see him maneuvering his way through the tough world of organized crime. He made an impression on screen with Wendell Pierce, who played Avon Barksdale, and their parallel affair was one of the greatest things in the entire series.

3. Bloody Sports in The Suicide Squad (2021)

In the crazy cast of The Suicide Squad, he perfectly portrayed Bloodsport, a deadly mercenary tormented by the darkness of his past. The dry wit and crisp gunplay seemed to resonate with fans, as Bloodsport was the main focus. Although the character's fate was horrific and unexpected, Elba had a great performance alongside Margot Robbie in her role as Harley Quinn.

2. Shere Khan in “The Jungle Book” (2016)

It's almost unsettling to hear Idris Elba's iconic thunderous voice coming from a computer-generated tiger as Shere Khan in the live-action adaptation of this classic. Elba as Shere Khan, the wily tiger in The Jungle Book, brought a certain edge to this film. He was a terrifying yet compelling villain. The scenes where Shere Khan shared the screen with Neel Sethi's character Mowgli were so full of tension and thrills. Of course, after a whole lot of suspense, the end of the character was quite satisfying to watch.

1. Brixton – Fast & Furious presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

The best in this list is of course the villain role he played as Brixton in the Fast & Furious spin-off. The character was enhanced with cybernetic means. Elba's phenomenal performance was one of the absolute highlights of the show. He has the physicality and charm needed to take on Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. The encounters he has with the two can be action-packed and humorous, building up to a gripping story until its ultimate conclusion.

As Idris Elba toasts to another year of his life, there is very little chance of his influence and contribution to the world of entertainment waning. His versatility in each role gives the characters greater depth and profundity in portraying the themes. He was once considered one of the finest actors of his generation.

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