Idris Elba has finally reached his highly-deserved A-list status over the last couple of years. After breaking out on HBO’s landmark series “The Wire,” it’s taken a while for the British actor to really break through into the mainstream. But after a “World’s Sexiest Man” cover, some high-profile acting gigs, and his upcoming directorial debut, Elba is at the top of his game. But that doesn’t mean he wants to be James Bond, as has been heavily rumored. In fact, he does have a role he wants to occupy, but it’s not as a suave superspy.
According to a new interview with THR, Elba minces no words with who he’s modeling his eclectic career after.
“I want to be Donald Glover,” he says. “He’s the man. He literally does it all.”
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Elba is well on his way to reaching that coveted “Donald Glover Status.” Acclaimed acting roles? With “The Wire,” “Luther,” and “Beasts of No Nation,” just to name a few. Good mixture of roles in major films, TV series, and prestige projects? Elba has a ‘Fast & Furious’ spin-off later this year, a Netflix comedy series that’s hitting this week, and has plenty of those prestige roles. How about a stint behind the camera? Yep, the actor tests his mettle as a director in the upcoming “Yardie.” And finally, what about a music career? Believe it or not, Elba has his very own DJ-ing set at this year’s Coachella.
Basically, Donald Glover should look over his shoulder. Idris Elba is on his tail.
But it wasn’t always easy for Elba, as the actor describes how coming to Hollywood wasn’t a sure thing for him. “Back then, the U.K. black actors didn’t even go up for African-American roles,” says Elba. “The feeling was, why would they? You go to McDonald’s to get burgers. You don’t go into McDonald’s to get fish and chips.”
That all changed when he landed “The Wire,” created by acclaimed TV mastermind David Simon. After Elba’s incredible stint on the show, he impressed Simon so much that the writer still puts in “the Idris Elba part” in all of his scripts, on the off-chance the actor will sign on.
One role that doesn’t seem to be in Elba’s future is that James Bond franchise, which Daniel Craig is saying goodbye to with the next film. Rumors and speculation reached fever pitch last year when the actor teased the role on Twitter. But ultimately, Elba says it was all in good fun.
“I took the piss a little,” he says, “but I was also reminding people that I never got referred to as James Bond. So, I was like, hello, my name is Elba. Idris Elba. It was a joke. I swear to God.”
“Turn Up Charlie” hits Netflix Friday, as does Elba’s directorial debut “Yardie,” which arrives in theaters that same day.