It takes a unique combination of talent and luck for an actor to create an iconic role, and British actor Idris Elba had heaps of both at his disposal when Stringer Bell came along. Stringer, for the uninitiated, was the dark heart of the first few seasons of HBO's now iconic series "The Wire," a show that lagged in ratings and Emmys, but was regarded by critics -- and just about everyone else who saw it -- as the greatest drama in the history of television.But while appearing on a show of this sort is no guarantee of future stardom -- especially for a show with as large an ensemble cast as "The Wire" -- Elba's good fortune has continued. Commercially, he's had successes such as co-starring opposite Beyonce in the stalker-thriller "Obsessed" and guest starring in an arc on NBC's "The Office." But his most challenging and critically acclaimed post-Wire project has been as Detective John Luther, a man torn between doing good and the attraction of evil, on BBC's "Luther," which aired on BBC America in the U.S., and recently released its four-episode second season on DVD. Idris ElbaPhoto by PR PhotosOnce you got successful with "The Wire" and then in films, was there anything special you splurged on?No. I still haven't done that. Maybe my van was the biggest thing I bought. When I first worked on "The Wire," I bought a Dodge Ram. That was my first car, and I still got it. I love it. I think I'm gonna get me a nice big Rolex. I should, but I haven't done it yet. Prev NextMore On Celebrities And Money:10 ways to fight frugality fatigueMoney Q&A with Rob LoweCreate a news alert for "smart spending" advertisement
It takes a unique combination of talent and luck for an actor to create an iconic role, and British actor Idris Elba had heaps of both at his disposal when Stringer Bell came along. Stringer, for the uninitiated, was the dark heart of the first few seasons of HBO's now iconic series "The Wire," a show that lagged in ratings and Emmys, but was regarded by critics -- and just about everyone else who saw it -- as the greatest drama in the history of television.But while appearing on a show of this sort is no guarantee of future stardom -- especially for a show with as large an ensemble cast as "The Wire" -- Elba's good fortune has continued. Commercially, he's had successes such as co-starring opposite Beyonce in the stalker-thriller "Obsessed" and guest starring in an arc on NBC's "The Office." But his most challenging and critically acclaimed post-Wire project has been as Detective John Luther, a man torn between doing good and the attraction of evil, on BBC's "Luther," which aired on BBC America in the U.S., and recently released its four-episode second season on DVD.
No. I still haven't done that. Maybe my van was the biggest thing I bought. When I first worked on "The Wire," I bought a Dodge Ram. That was my first car, and I still got it. I love it. I think I'm gonna get me a nice big Rolex. I should, but I haven't done it yet.
More On Celebrities And Money:
Bankrate wants to hear from you and encourages thoughtful and constructive comments. We ask that you stay focused on the story topic, respect other people's opinions, and avoid profanity, offensive statements, illegal contents and advertisement posts. Comments are not reviewed before they are posted. Bankrate reserves the right (but is not obligated) to edit or delete your comments. Please avoid posting private or confidential information, and also keep in mind that anything you post may be disclosed, published, transmitted or reused.
By submitting a post, you agree to be bound by Bankrate's terms of use. Please refer to Bankrate's privacy policy for more information regarding Bankrate's privacy practices.