Idris Elba Admits Having A Midlife Crisis: I just felt out of touch w/ reality.
Idris Elba Admits Having A Midlife Crisis
Idris Elba is one the busiest men in Hollywood. Elba is known for his roles on HBO’s The Wire and his Golden Globe winning performance in BBC’s Luther. The 44-year-old actor is currently gearing up for the August release of “The Dark Tower” with Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey. The Hackney, UK native recently opened up about life in the public eye, advice he’s received from his father and having a midlife crisis. Check out a few excerpts.
On his life in the public eye:
I think my life is pretty well documented, If you look me up, you’re going to find some sh*t. Like, how the f-ck do I approach this to get anything that no one else has read before?
On the best advice he got from his father that helped him with his career:
Look whoever you’re talking to in the eyes. Don’t look away. Two reasons: You can tell whether they are lying. Also, so that they can see whatever you’re saying you mean and you can connect to that person. That’s great advice for a young actor.
On not being afraid to leave the nest:
I was not afraid of this concept of flying from the nest. I thought, it’s a big jump, but f*ck it, I’m going to move to another country. That came from my dad. He made a journey.
On his role on The Wire:
I was like, ‘Great, great! But really, I was like, Whom? As initially sketched out in the pilot,
Bell came off as a shrewd Baltimore dealer, I thought, How the f*ck do I approach this to get anything that no one else has done before? Where I grew up, gangsters had to be smart, those whole flashy things—no, mate, and that’s how I’m going to make Stringer?
On having a mid-life crisis after the death of his father:
I got to a place where I wasn’t even living anymore. I was becoming a robot with my work. I have no fear of jumping out of burning cars or out of buildings on set, but in reality, I couldn’t run one hundred meters. I just felt out of touch with reality.