Omar Elba is a talented actor known for his versatility and ability to transform into his characters. He has appeared in a variety of roles, including Tom Hanks's eccentric sidekick in 'A Hologram for the King', Jessica Biel's principled co-worker in 'Limetown', and an autistic refugee struggling to fit in due to his untreated neurological disorder in the critically acclaimed Netflix series 'Mo'.
Elba's portrayal of a character with autism and PTSD in 'Mo' received widespread critical acclaim, particularly from the autism community. Despite not being on the autism spectrum himself, Elba worked closely with ASD behavioral therapists and members of the autism community to prepare for his role. His nuanced performance was praised for its accuracy and sensitivity.
In addition to his acting work, Elba has also ventured into writing and directing. He wrote, directed, and starred in the short film 'Tim', a Freudian exploration of the Ego, Id, and Superego. For this project, Elba underwent significant physical transformations, gaining 20 pounds of fat to play the role of Tim and then losing weight and gaining 10 pounds of muscle to play Tim's Ego.
The film features Elba in both roles, with the two characters interacting onscreen simultaneously. The performances were shot one year apart, with Elba transforming his body twice to achieve the desired physicality for each character.
