'Sexiest Man Alive' Idris Elba turns 50

The British actor with the distinctive baritone can mimic about 20 different dialects and accents. His acting versatility has seen him play criminals, investigators, genies, comic heroes, good guys, bad guys and "normal guys." Turning 50 just amps his all-round coolness.

He first gained fame in the TV series "The Wire," but his breakthrough came with the British crime series "Luther," in which he played the titular character, Detective John Luther, from 2010 to 2019. He won the Golden Globe in 2012 for his portrayal of the unconventional investigator, after which job offers started piling up.

The last of his kind, Roland the gunslinger goes on a quest to find the legendary Dark Tower. If it collapses, the world will end. On his way, he encounters a sinister "man in black," a sorcerer who has the same goal — but no good intentions. In the film based on Stephen King's novel series, Idris Elba plays the gunslinger as an inwardly torn as well as cool character.

This western is almost exclusively cast with Black actors — a rarity in this genre. Elba plays a murderer who is on the loose again after a stint in prison. A bitter fight ensues between him and the child of one of his victims, who seeks revenge. After being released in US theaters in 2021, the film is now available on Netflix.

As a pointy-eared genie-in-a-bottle, Idris Elba promises a skeptical academic (played by Tilda Swinton) many things in exchange for his freedom. The story plays out in opulent scenes — ranging between 1,001 nights and a dreary hotel room. The film directed by George Miller premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

Also in the cinemas this year is this survival thriller, in which Elba plays a widowed family man who goes on safari in South Africa with his two daughters. After an encounter with a vicious lion, a fight for life and death ensues. The film is only worth watching if you want to admire Elba in action against a CGI animated predator.

Speculation remains rife about who will succeed Daniel Craig as Agent 007. Elba was long considered a favorite, but this now seems to be finally off the table. He told the British daily The Express, "I'm probably the most famous Bond actor in the world, and I haven't even played the role. Enough is enough. I can't talk about it anymore."

Elba studied acting and music at the National Youth Theatre in London, earning money as a DJ on the side. But he never gave that up. With growing fame, he got bigger contracts — even landing a gig at the turntables at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He also plays at major festivals around the world, such as Coachella or as seen here, at the South West Four Festival in London.

A big soccer fan and an amateur player, Elba competed in "Soccer Aid" to benefit the children's charity UNICEF, which was launched by Robbie Williams in 2006. The event featured male players — such as Brazil's Cafu or Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko — as well as women such as US player Heather O'Reilly and Briton Fara Williams on the pitch.

Elba's private life hasn't been as smooth as his career — though his third marriage with Sabrina Dhowre seems to be faring well. Whether on the red carpet or at events, the two seem to be happy in each other's company. Perhaps it's because they also work together professionally: The couple has created their own line of beauty products and host a podcast.

Elba won't be having a big bash to mark his milestone birthday on September 6 though. "I'm going to relax. I've had big parties and this time I want to immerse myself in a cool atmosphere," he told the Sunday Mirror, adding, "I'm excited to be 50. But I can't even say the word 50. It's like “What? I'm old!" But his fans are sure to adore him even at 100.