Elba's interest in music developed parallel to his passion for acting it's just that one of them started paying a lot sooner than the other. During all of those DJ business he was also ploughing ahead with his theatrical performance work as well, with many of his earliest jobs being pretty far removed from the intense tough guy that graces our screens now. After the £1,500 Prince's Trust grant that secured him a place at the National Youth Music Theatre Elba was working regularly as the house DJ in various London nightclubs, but took a more steady position at Ford's Dagenham factory. But it wasn't just the likes of DJing that the nascent actor was expected to practise during his time at the Music Theatre. There was also...well, musical theatre. During his time at the school, leaving home at age 16, Elba landed a part in the musical Guys And Dolls. We travelled the world, the actor has said of his earliest success, looking back on it with fondness. As to whether you'll see him treading the boards again any time soon? I didn't ever see a future in musicals, but I loved it.
