Idris Elba, known for his role as Russell "Stringer" Bell on the hit TV show The Wire, recently opened up about how the role had both positive and negative impacts on his career. The Wire, which aired from 2002 to 2008, follows the lives of individuals involved in the Baltimore drug scene, with Elba's character serving as the right-hand man to a drug kingpin.

In an interview with The Guardian, Elba revealed that while The Wire was his big break, it also had its downsides. Despite his convincing portrayal of an American, his British heritage ended up limiting the types of roles he was offered.

Elba expressed feeling more scrutinized and not being pushed or stretched as an actor. He sensed a glass ceiling approaching.

After The Wire, Elba appeared in TV shows like Girlfriends and starred in a series of TV movies. It wasn't until 2007 that he began landing more high-profile projects such as 28 Weeks Later and American Gangster. However, even in these movies, he felt that he wasn't being challenged due to playing supporting roles.

In 2010, Elba finally found a role that matched the caliber of The Wire with the BBC crime drama Luther. He portrayed DCI John Luther, a role that garnered critical acclaim.

Elba continued playing Luther until 2019 and recently returned for a feature-length movie, Luther: The Fallen Sun. He has also taken on more starring roles in recent projects like Beast and The Harder They Fall.

Although The Wire launched Elba's career, it didn't provide the challenging opportunities he desired. However, his talent and dedication eventually led him to new and exciting ventures in the industry.