Idris Elba has impressed President Barack Obama with his acting skills.

The 40-year-old star plays cop John Luther in TV drama 'Luther' and has found an unlikely fan in the US leader, who admitted he is addicted to the show because he can relate to the character.

Idris told The Sun newspaper: ''The Obamas invited me to the White House and I had fun, a good time. David Cameron and his wife [Samantha] were there - he is a 'Luther' fan and so is Barack Obama.

''When I saw the president I said, 'Mr. President, I hear I am not your favourite character in 'The Wire' ', and he said, 'Well, yeah, but Luther - that's me.' ''

The British star - who has 11-year-old daughter Isan with his ex-wife Dormowa Sherman - might have world leaders fawning all over him, but still doesn't consider himself a true star.

The actor's next project sees him take on the part originally earmarked for Tom Cruise in Guillermo Del Toro's action blockbuster 'Pacific Rim', and he lamented the fact there are no A-list stars in the movie.

He insisted: ''You pay £15 to see this movie and essentially there is not a star in it. I'm not [a star]. This is a worldwide market - when this opens in Japan they are not going to say, 'Oh, Idris Elba!' ''