LOS ANGELES - I'm not much of an actor -- a fact not lost on Idris Elba. The actor, recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on BBC America's "Luther," was telling me about his experience on a movie he shot in Rwanda called "Sometimes in April." I made the mistake of complimenting the film.

"You never saw it," he said.

When I insisted I had, he asked me to explain the plot.

"Um ... it was shot in Rwanda and, uh, it takes place in April?"

Elba, best known for playing Stringer Bell in "The Wire," was kind enough to laugh rather than toss me in the rooftop pool at The London, a swank hotel in West Hollywood with food by Gordon Ramsay. Shortly before Elba called me out, the pool was filled with synchronized swimmers who emulated Esther Williams and "Moulin Rouge."

The BBC America party closed a packed day that included visits with the cast of "Dr. Who," Harry Belafonte, Gloria Steinem, Common and Mark Wahlberg.