Idris Elba Felt That Actors Couldn’t Afford to Be Pompous About Film Roles
Actor Idris Elba has starred in intense dramas like Beasts of No Nation and action movies like Hobbs & Shaw. His range has shown that he’s not as particular about his film roles as other stars might be. This was intentional, as Elba felt being snobbish regarding certain films could often do more harm than good.
Idris Elba believed that audiences wanted to see actors be more than just great actors
As is the case with most stars, Elba caught the acting bug at a young age. An old teacher of his spotted his natural affinity for the craft, setting him on the path to movie stardom.
“My drama teacher, Miss McPhee, encouraged me to keep going,” Elba told Variety in 2019. “She told me that I seemed quite natural at acting and singing and directing, and she made me want to do those more and more. I would DJ at early ages. I got my creative bones in school.”
Elba didn’t achieve his goals overnight. He spent many years trying to build up his portfolio until The Wire came along. The popular crime drama would help launch Elba’s career, giving him an opportunity to star in a variety of movies. It was important for Elba to add some diversity to his filmography after spending three years playing drug kingpin Stringer Bell.
After The Wire, Elba did thrillers like Obsessed and action comedies such as The Losers. He felt his choices not only showed that he could act, but displayed his willingness to take moviegoers on a fun time. Elba believed some of his contemporaries might’ve lacked this kind of diversity to their own detriment.
“In this day and age, actors can’t afford to be pompous,” Elba once told The New York Times. “You can’t afford to turn your nose up at things. Audiences want to see you a bit more dynamic. We know you can act, Daniel Day-Lewis. That’s fantastic. Show us a bit more. We want to be entertained.”
Additionally, Elba wondered if his relatability played a part in his success. He may have been known for suave and cool characters like Stringer Bell and John Luther. But in real life, the actor felt he was more like the average Joe. He theorized audiences could sense this about him, which worked to his advantage.
“I think people like to see some genuine attributes in people they admire, you know a bit of relatability, I think I have that,” Elba once said in an interview with Irish Mirror. “And I think I’ve always managed to remain as Idris. It goes a long way in this business if people can relate to you. They believe in you more, they want to see you win more and they support you better.”
Idris Elba isn’t satisfied with just being an actor
At the time Elba discovered his passion for acting, he also had other passions to juggle. His first love was music, which he continued to flirt with even after devoting himself to a film career. It’s why Elba wouldn’t solely call himself an actor. He has other side hustles that contribute to his large net worth.
“Now I enjoy calling myself a creative. I don’t categorize things in the same way as I used to. I find myself more accepting that creativity is part of my expression, my language, who I am,” Elba said.
He reiterated this sentiment in an interview with The Times.
I’m not satisfied just being an actor,” he explained. “I’ve had that Hollywood moment . . . and I still feel like I’m a human being, so I might just go open another boxing gym somewhere in Africa. Why not?”
