Idris Elba's passionate fight against knife crime, influential wife and huge net worth
Idris Elba, more commonly known for his acting roles such as DCI John Luther and Russell Bell, is back on our screens tonight with an important career move. As well as an actor the 52-year-old is a knife crime activist and has spent the last year making a documentary with the BBC on solutions to the crisis prevalent across the UK.
The hour-long documentary, Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, airs on BBC One at 9pm tonight - Wednesday, January 29, and is available for 11 months on BBC Iplayer. Within the documentary, the Luther actor speaks to those affected and searches for a way to break the cycle of violence.
As well as speaking to victims, offenders and police, Idris has impactful conversations with influential figures including King Charles and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. But what are his views on knife crime and how it can be tackled? For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
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In 2019, after hearing of the death of Jodie Chesney, a 17-year-old who was stabbed in London, Idris made a passionate video urging young men to put down the knives as a plea to reduce knife crime. Six years later, Idris has not stopped the fight, constantly trying to find solutions to the rise in knife crime and educating young people on its dangers.
Speaking to the BBC, Idris spoke of his belief that ninja swords should be banned and suggested that household knives should be made safer. He said: "Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them, that sounds like a crazy thing to say but you can still cut your food without the point on your knife, which is an innovative way to look at it."
In a new interview with RadioTimes and other press he discussed the racial stereotypes around knife crime and how many people associated it with black and brown people. He said: "It's really misleading when people think it's just a black and brown problem.
"Proportionally, you're seeing black and brown kids in knife-related incidences because the areas where black and brown people live are usually the same areas where there's poverty and all sorts of restrictions on budgets, but it isn't largely just a black and brown problem. In fact, it's the opposite."
Idris is not the only activist within his household with his wife, Sabrina Elba, being a human rights activist as well as a model and CEO. Idris and Sabrina met in 2017 at a jazz bar before marrying two years later in Marrakech.
Sabrina, originally from Canada, moved across the world to London after meeting her now husband, putting her career as a lawyer on hold. Now the pair are often seen together socialising with elites including members of the Royal Family and attending prestigious events.
Whilst known mostly for his acting, Idris Elba has had a career in music, singing, rapping and DJing. According to Celebrity Net Worth the multi-talented Londoner is worth $50million which equates to just over £40.2million.
