Idris Elba. Idrissa Akuna Idris Elba, OBE (/ˈɪdrᵻs ˈɛlbə/; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor, musician, and DJ. He is known for playing druglord Russell Stringer Bell on the HBO series The Wire, Detective John Luther on the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013).