Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • WeLoveUs.shop
  • 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • Celebrity

ESSENCE's 2013 Sexiest Man of the Year: 50 Reasons to Love Idris Elba

Of course you saw this one coming. Gorgeous Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom star Idris Elba has always reigned supreme as the Black woman's ultimate crush, so it's only right that we pay tribute to his all-around greatness like only ESSENCE can.
By Charli Penn · Updated October 27, 2020
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
01
Take the Lead

Both on and offscreen actor Idris Elba commands a certain presence that’s absolutely undeniable. Women flock to this man like moths to a flame and he always brings the heat. Let’s take a look at some of his finest moments caught on camera. Ladies, can you handle it?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Images
02
Ready for His Close Up

Sadly, Elba is officially off the market these days (and expecting a little one soon) but that doesn’t mean we can’t admire his perfect features and debonair qualities. Sigh….would you look at this man?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
03
Here’s Looking At You

Elba shows off his signature stare during a press room photo shoot in 2012. Yummy!

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Images
04
Let’s Get Serious

The whole “tortured artist” look really suits Elba well. Wouldn’t you agree?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
05
Suited Up For Success

Elba dons a suit when the occasion calls and it only makes his female fans adore him more. Stringer Bell has come a long way, huh ladies?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Images
06
Seeing Stars

When Elba smiles, he dazzles. We’re seeing stars, moons and rainbows right about now.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Images
07
Prisoner of Love

Idris, take us away!! Have you ever seen a man look better in stripes? Not us.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Images
08
Cover Star

Actor Idris Elba is a vision of sophistication and sexy behind the scenes of his last ESSENCE magazine cover shoot.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
09
Laid Back Lover

Idris kicks back for a sexy portrait on the shoot for his Novemeber 2011 ESSENCE magazine cover. He says he doesn’t want to be a sex symbol, but if he keeps looking this delicious on camera he will never have a choice.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
10
The Doting Dad

Idris is proud father to 11-year-old daughter Isan, who’s surprisingly not so wrapped up in her father’s super stardom. “She’s a nerd really, which I couldn’t be more grateful for,” says Idris. “She’s not much impressed with what I do, but she does see how people react to me in the streets.”

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
11
Commited to the Craft

“I think what audiences expect of me is to act my ass off, and that’s great, because that’s what I do, that’s what I love doing.”

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
12
The Right Moves

After a bumpy start to his career when he moved to New York, from London, in 2002, Idris has seen a string of successes only catapult him to more fame year after year.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
13
Red Carpet Ready

Idris knows people like to catch a photo of him on the move, so when he hits the red carpet he’s always dressed to impress.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
14
Scruffy and Hot

Idris has many looks, but we especially love his unshaven sex appeal.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
15
Man About Town

Oh, boy, doesn’t Idris look good in a suit?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
16
Healthy Habits

Idris was named the face of Smart Water and debuted a super sexy ad campaign the ladies couldn’t stop swooning over. We’re no experts, but we bet the Smart Water sales have gone up tremendously. (Wink!)

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
17
Personal Ad

Is Idris selling sex or water? We can’t be sure! Either way, we like it!

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
18
Our White Knight

Idris is not only Hollywood’s leading man, but he’s proof every day that talented brothers can make it to mainstream superstardom if they have the acting chops.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
19
Meet Luther

Idris’ recent success with his BBC America smash hit crime thriller Luther, in which he plays the starring role, earned him Emmy award nominations in 2011 and 2012.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
20
We See You, Idris

Idris is spotted by paparazzi showing off his perfectly stacked body in a see-through shirt. More, please!

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
21
Star Power

Idris, shown here in an ad for his hit show Luther on BBC America, is our favorite leading man.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
22
That’s A Wrap

Did we mention Idris looks good in anything? Not every man can look this good fully clothed.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
23
The Look of Love

His female fans make it no secret that they feel Idris’ eyes are one of his best assets. Aren’t they lovely?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
24
Twitter After Dark

Idris once treated his Twitter followers to this steamy self portrait.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
25
DJ Play My Favorite Song

As a struggling actor Idris made money to support his family spinning records at local night clubs. Now, he doesn’t have to do it to pay bills, but he still can’t resist spinning those turntables from time to time under the moniker DJ Dris.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
26
Profile Actor

Even from the side Idris bring the sexy.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
27
Mohawk Man

Idris recently rocked a Mohawk style haircut for awhile leaving his female fans with yet another look to obsess over.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
28
Hat’s Off to You

Idris has many, many styles to adore, but we’re really digging him in a hat. Who knew one man could give us so many ways to love him?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
29
On Set Sexy

Idris had a multiple episode arc on Showtime’s hit series The Big C, where he played Laura Linney’s steamy love interest. His loyal fans stayed glued to their TVs to support him every Monday night.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
30
1007743
Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
31
One Fine Man

There he goes working those hats to perfection again. And oh, those lips, are just divine. What’s not to love about Idris?

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
32
1007823
Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
33
Letting Loose

It’s tough to get on-on-one with Idris Elba, but the last time ESSENCE got him talkng, he opened up about fatherhood, success and fame in the November issue of ESSENCE. (On stands now!)

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
34
Cupid’s Arrow

Elba’s taste in women?

“You see actors with models and actresses, and it’s so cliché,” he notes. "I’d rather date someone who’s regular.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
35
Still Waters

Behind Elba’s smoldering gaze, he’s got plenty on his mind. The actor says he’s always thinking about his next move.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
36
Man in the Mirror

“There is something quite devious about my personality,” he says. “I’ll do all the right things. I’ll be the upstanding gentleman. But behind closed doors, I want to let loose.”

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
37
Wanted Man

Elba’s aura made him the ideal leading man for 2009’s Obsessed, where a female employee becomes infatuated with his married character.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
38
Suited Up

Elba cleaned up nicely for the 2009 BET Awards once again proving he can rock any red carpet.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Image
39
Deep Thinker

Elba gets into character on the set of the final season of The Office in 2012 when he made a multiple episode guest appearance as the new head boss at Dunder Mifflin.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
40
Big Screen Sensation

Idris gives the cameras his best shot at a New York premiere. He credits his loyal female following for encouraging him to play characters that are “doing well, looking good, and, in some cases, [being] larger than life.”

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Image
41
In Living Color

For many sisters Elba is their fantasy man in the flesh.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Corbis
42
Take It Off

Elba gets comfortable on the set of his first ever ESSENCE cover shoot in 2009.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
43
Round the World

Elba attends the 2008 Toronto Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Image
44
African King

With his dad from Sierra Leon and his mom from Ghana, Elba fit right in 2009 on the set of Africa-based drama The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency starring Jill Scott.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
45
To the Rescue

Elba played a sexy detective after a killer in Prom Night.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
46
Seargent Sexy

Even in uniform, Elba is captivating in 28 Weeks Later.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
47
Stand Up Guy

Playing a single dad of three girls in Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls wasn’t a total stretch for Elba, who is the proud father of one daughter. (By the way, we were so jealous of Gabby back then!)

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
48
Barack the Vote

Elba wears his support of President Barack Obama on his sleeve in 2009.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Corbis
49
Rising to the Top

Wherever Idris Elba ascends to in Hollywood, he’s taking our hearts with him.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
50
Acting Out

The leading man showing off his sexy stare.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
51
Bad Boy

Though Elba has mastered playing the tough guy on screen, he’s far from rotten in real life.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Corbis
52
Love for Hip-Hop

DJ Dris kept the party going in 2009 at the ESSENCE Music Festival.

Eye Candy: ESSENCE's Sexiest Man of the Year
Getty Image
TOPICS:  Idris Elba