Cheerio, Mates! Our Favorite Black Brits

Idris, Chiwetel and more stars we love from across the pond.

Idris Elba on police brutality: - "There’s a massive realignment with what police are designed to do, which is to protect and serve as opposed to shooting innocent people… We need to realign ourselves with what’s going on with policing."(Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for W Magazine)

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Idris Elba - Idris Elba caused an uproar — and more than a few people to blush — this past weekend when photos of him sporting a strategically-placed wire in his pants had us wondering if he was happy to see us. The photos revived our interest in all things British (naturally), so we're revisiting our list of favorite Black stars from across the pond. The No Good Deed star tops the list with his dapper style and English brogue. And his smile? More intoxicating than a couple of pints. (Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for W Magazine)

Emeli Sandé - This Scottish singer has been a sensation in Europe for the past couple of years, and America is finally catching on. Sandé's youthful beauty contradicts her old-soul vocal chords, and she's the most exciting voice to come out of England since Adele.    (Photo: Zak Hussein/Getty Images for Beats by Dre)

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Emeli Sandé - This Scottish singer has been a sensation in Europe for the past couple of years, and America is finally catching on. Sandé's youthful beauty contradicts her old-soul vocal chords, and she's the most exciting voice to come out of England since Adele.    (Photo: Zak Hussein/Getty Images for Beats by Dre)

Marsha Ambrosius: August 8 - The R&B/soul singer is still topping the charts at 37.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

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Marsha Ambrosius - The former Floetry member went solo three years ago and wowed us with her solo debut Late Nights and Early Mornings. Last month, she proved that was no beginner's luck with her equally-mesmerizing sophomore release Friends & Lovers. Comparisons to another famous Brit, Sade, are not unwarranted.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

Sidney Poitier - This perennially-suave Hollywood legend was born in America, but raised in a British colony of the Bahamas. Believe it or not, he spent months early in his career attempting to rid himself of his unique accent, which would eventually become his defining characteristic. (Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images)

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Sidney Poitier - This perennially-suave Hollywood legend was born in America, but raised in a British colony of the Bahamas. Believe it or not, he spent months early in his career attempting to rid himself of his unique accent, which would eventually become his defining characteristic. (Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images)

John Boyega, Da Brick (HBO) - After his star-making turn in last summer's hit creature feature Attack the Block, Boyega was hand-picked by Spike Lee to play the lead in his HBO boxing drama, loosely based on the life of Mike Tyson.  (Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

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John Boyega - The Attack the Block star is poised to become a next-generation leading man. After a stellar debut in the sci-fi indie, 20-year-old Boyega is making huge strides in Hollywood with a leading role in the upcoming Star Wars franchise reboot. Expect this one to get better with age.  (Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

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Naomi Campbell in Leaving Las Vegas - The supermodel actually shot scenes for this gritty drama, which earned Nicolas Cage an Oscar, but her role was left on the cutting-room floor. Pity the producer who had to give her the news. (Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images)

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Naomi Campbell - The only thing un-British about this former supermodel is her frequent bursts of bad manners. But to us, Naomi will always be to supermodels what James Bond is to spies: well-dressed yet lethal. (Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo:  Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images

Naomie Harris: September 6 - The British actress, who stars in the upcoming Bond film Skyfall, turns 36. (Photo: Burak Kara/Getty Images)

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Naomie Harris - Harris made her debut as the Bond Girl in Skyfall and followed it up with an acclaimed performance as Winnie Mandela (opposite fellow Brit Idris Elba) in Long Walk to Freedom. With beauty and brains, Harris has all the ingredients for a lasting Hollywood career. (Photo: Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Slick Rick: January 14 - The British rapper celebrates his 48th birthday.  (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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Slick Rick - One of the forefathers of American hip hop is actually a son of England. Slick Rick was born in London and came of age in the Swingin' Sixties before his family moved to the Bronx when he was a teenager. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

All Sade Songs - Can you imagine somebody trying to warble Sade classics "Your Love Is King," "Smooth Operator" or "Sweetest Taboo?" Neither can we. That's why all of the British Nigerian songtress's catalogue is "untouchable." Sade's music is a unique experience for listeners, a combo of earthy, silky and smoky vocals mixed with internationally-influenced jazz instrumentation that takes music lovers to a higher plane.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Sade - This Nigerian-born singer, who was raised in Britain, received the Order of the British Empire, the highest civilian honor in the country, by Prince Charles for her services to music. She dedicated her award to "all Black women in England." (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Chiwetel Ejiofor - A favorite of directors like Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, Chiwetel Ejiofor often snags the roles much bigger actors are dying to play. Up next, Oscar buzz for his roles in a pair of upcoming Steve McQueen films: Twelve Years a Slave and the title role in Fela, the story of Fela Kuti.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Chiwetel Ejiofor - This well-decorated thespian, who cut his teeth in English theater, made his Hollywood debut in Steven Spielberg's Amistad, opposite Djimon Hounsou, and delivered the most talked-about performance of 2013 in 12 Years a Slave. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Sophie Okonedo - This gorgeous actress, known for her darling dimples, rose from poverty to earn an Academy Award nomination for her role in Hotel Rwanda. (Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

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Sophie Okonedo - This gorgeous actress, known for her darling dimples, rose from poverty to earn an Academy Award nomination for her role in Hotel Rwanda. (Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Thandie Newton - While life certainly turned out well for this British-Zimbabwean beauty, as a child she was the odd one out. "From about the age of five, I was aware that I didn't fit," she said. "I was the Black, atheist kid in the all-white, Catholic school run by nuns. I was an anomaly." Proof that being different isn't always a bad thing. (Photo: AWAIS, PacificCoastNews.com)

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Thandie Newton - While life certainly turned out well for this British-Zimbabwean beauty, as a child she was the odd one out. "From about the age of five, I was aware that I didn't fit," she said. "I was the Black, atheist kid in the all-white, Catholic school run by nuns. I was an anomaly." Proof that being different isn't always a bad thing. (Photo: AWAIS, PacificCoastNews.com)

Estelle - Estelle is heavily favored in the Best International Act: U.K. after dropping her sophomore album, All of Me, earlier this year.(Photo: Ben Hider/Picturegroup)

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Estelle - We know she prefers American boys, but this crooner made fans around the world with her catchy 2008 hit. (Photo: Ben Hider/Picturegroup)

Photo By Photo: Ben Hider/Picturegroup

Melanie Brown: May 29 - The artist formerly known as Scary Spice turns 37. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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Melanie Brown - Talk about a British Invasion! Mel B and her fellow Spice Girls singlehandedly resurrected pop music with the release of their infectious hit "Wannabe." Love it or hate it, you know it had you saying zigazig-ahhh. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

Photo By Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

David Oyelowo on starring in Lee Daniels's upcoming, controversial epic The Butler: - “It’s more of an epic Forest Gump-like incredible sweeping story that explores what happens politically, socioeconomically to Black people in this country in the 20th century since slavery.”(Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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David Oyelowo - The Butler star is the latest addition to the club of British Nigerians taking over Hollywood. Like his countrymen Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sophie Okonedo, he's made his name playing big parts in critically-acclaimed dramas and bringing a dose of class to Hollywood blockbusters. (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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Steve McQueen - The darling of the British film and art scene took a painful piece of American history and turned it into the must-see film of the year with 12 Years a Slave, starring fellow Brit Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt. McQueen, who won an Oscar for helming the drama, is poised to join the ranks of the best directors of his generation. (Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

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Steve McQueen - The darling of the British film and art scene took a painful piece of American history and turned it into the must-see film of the year with 12 Years a Slave, starring fellow Brit Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt. McQueen, who won an Oscar for helming the drama, is poised to join the ranks of the best directors of his generation. (Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

Lennox Lewis: September 2 - The boxing legend remains one of the greatest at 49.(Photo: Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Laureus)

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Lennox Lewis - This Olympic gold medalist and undisputed heavyweight boxing champ truly met his match when he went three rounds with Donald Trump on Celebrity Apprentice. (Photo: Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Laureus)

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje - This star of Lost and The Bourne Identity could have wound up wearing a powdered wig, but not for a role in a period film. Before he was an actor, Adewale earned a master's degree in law from the University of London. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje - This star of Lost and The Bourne Identity could have wound up wearing a powdered wig, but not for a role in a period film. Before he was an actor, Adewale earned a master's degree in law from the University of London. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Craig David: May 5 - The British crooner celebrates his 31st birthday. (Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

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Craig David - This British superstar may have been born to do it, but his roots are as humble as they come. Raised in Hampshire by a retail clerk and a carpenter, David is living the American dream, only in England. (Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Seal: February 19 - The newly single singer turns 49.  (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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Seal - This world famous singer, who is of Nigerian and Brazilian descent, is a national treasure of England. He's sold over 20 million records worldwide and hosted Australia's version of The Voice. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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Mo Farah - This Somalian-born Brit earned his adopted country its first-ever gold medal in the 10,000 meter race at the 2012 London Olympics. (Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

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Mo Farah - This Somalian-born Brit earned his adopted country its first-ever gold medal in the 10,000 meter race at the 2012 London Olympics. (Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Tiffany Porter - Porter was born and raised in Michigan, but started to pledge allegiance to Great Britain after the USA passed her up to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She returned to her native soil recently to complete a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Michigan. (Photo: adidas via Getty Images)

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Tiffany Porter - Porter was born and raised in Michigan, but started to pledge allegiance to Great Britain after the USA passed her up to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She returned to her native soil recently to complete a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Michigan. (Photo: adidas via Getty Images)

Phillips Idowu - With his multicolored hair, many piercings and multiple babymamas, he's like the Dennis Rodman of the triple jump. But this Olympic silver medalist insists he's just a "clean cut Black guy" hiding in a baller body.  (Photo: adidas via Getty Images)

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Phillips Idowu - With his multicolored hair, many piercings and multiple babymamas, he's like the Dennis Rodman of the triple jump. But this Olympic silver medalist insists he's just a "clean cut Black guy" hiding in a baller body.  (Photo: adidas via Getty Images)

Daley Thompson - Bruce Jenner brought home the gold for Team USA in the decathalon, arguably the hardest Olympic sport of all time, but England can boast double gold medalist and four-time record-breaking Olympian Thompson as it's own. The Nigerian and Scottish Brit is regarded as the best all-around athlete England has ever produced, and one of the greatest sportsmen in history. (Photo: John Gichigi/Getty Images)

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Daley Thompson - Bruce Jenner brought home the gold for Team USA in the decathalon, arguably the hardest Olympic sport of all time, but England can boast double gold medalist and four-time record-breaking Olympian Thompson as it's own. The Nigerian and Scottish Brit is regarded as the best all-around athlete England has ever produced, and one of the greatest sportsmen in history. (Photo: John Gichigi/Getty Images)