He’s an actor, a director, a DJ and a singer.
He was even rumored to be the next Jame Bond in the 007 film franchise. But, for Idris Elba, all those monikers don’t compare to what he really aspires to be —Atlanta native Donald Glover.
"I want to be Donald Glover," he told the Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview. "He's the man. He literally does it all."
It does seem that Glover does it all. He plays the lead role in "Atlanta," on which his other credits are creator, executive producer, writer, director and executive music producer.
» Donald Glover tops GQ's best dressed man of the year list
He was British GQ's best dressed man of 2018. And in February, the Stone Mountain native made history at the Grammys when, as his alter ego Childish Gambino, he won both record and song of the year for "This is America." It was the first time a rap song won the coveted awards.
» Donald Glover: Childish Gambino makes history at 2019 Grammys
But Elba is no slouch when it comes to talents. He has reigned supreme on both the small screen and the silver screen, starring in television’s “The Wire” and “Luther,” and on the big screen in “The Dark Tower,” “Star Trek Beyond,” and as Heimdall, guardian of Asgard, in Thor and Avengers movies.
» Idris Elba flatly denies he's the next James Bond: 'No'
Elba has created and stars in a new Netflix comedy, “Turn Up Charlie,” in which he plays a struggling DJ who is a manny to his buddy’s preteen daughter.
As a DJ in real life, however, Elba’s hardly struggling at it. He’ll make his Coachella debut April 13. He also performed a set at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.
Like Glover, Elba has had a long musical career. He entered the industry at 14 and performed at Essence Fest in New Orleans and a festivals in England.
And he raps. Elba is featured on “Boasty,” which dropped March 6.
Also like Glover, Elba has ties to Atlanta.
He is a part-time resident of the city, and his daughter, Isan Elba, and ex-wife, Kim Norgaard, live here.
"I like the climate down here. It's sort of a city on the rise. ... ," he told The AJC in 2009. "The people are friendly. It's hard when you're in and out to sort of absorb Atlanta like I would like. But I know you can have a good social life here. Great food. I'm a big fan of Houston's."
He'll be filming in Atlanta soon playing the role of Deadshot in the "Suicide Squad" sequel.
And he’s People magazine’s sexiest man alive for 2018. That’s a title Glover hasn’t been able to claim yet.
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