Its time to give my boy some props.  Idris Elba the star of Tyler Perry’s new movie, Daddy’s Little Girls is underrated and should be respected as one of the elite up-and-coming black actors today.  His role as Russel “Stringer” Bell from HBO’s “The Wire” was his breakout performance and he continues to show his range as “Monty” in his new movie.     

As Stringer, his character may have taken a backseat to Avon Barksdale during the first three seasons of the cult followed HBO hit, but Elba says the role itself is the most convincing portrayal of a black drug lord in cinematic history.  Better than Wesley Snipes’ performance as Nino Brown in the 1991 film New Jack City?   

“Not to brag, but he has been the best depiction of a high-level black gangster I know of,” Elba said of Stringer. “No disrespect to Wesley Snipes but Nino Brown was too over the top. Our writers created a character that was real, multi-layered and convincing.”  

I don’t know about that and I’m biased, I love the Wire.  Honestly I think Avon’s Character (Wood Harris) was better but we’ll get to him some other time.  I’m glad however that Elba paid homage to the writers of The Wire because their work particularly in the last season (Season 4) was possible the best writing I’ve EVER seen on ANY TV program and I’ll give anyone who questions it 100 reasons why.  

Elba said after his death in The Wire that he’s had to turn down parts that threatened to pigeonhole him into the gangster genre.  ”It’s hard to turn down parts, which I have had to do a lot. I’ve said no to a lot of money in the process but I really don’t want to go backwards in my career. Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell was a one-off.”  He sure is right about that. 

With his limited success, one of Elba’s biggest challenges professionally is cultural.  Elba, a British national speaks with a heavy English accent but continues to be cast in roles as an American.  So much so that he has become skilled enough with this speech to totally mask the accent when on camera.  A similar skill used by high profile foreign actors like Mel Gibson and Russell Crow.  

I haven’t seen Daddy’s Little Girl and probably won’t unless I catch it on a rainy afternoon on DVD but I do know his Stringer character very well.  I HATED HIM but it was completely a product of his character.  In fact his character has been reincarnated in the sprit of “Snitching Ass” Randy.  Elba’s acting skills are excellent and although he’s already an established actor he will see his demand in Hollywood rise as the years and work progress.