Idris Elba Speaks

Idris Elba: “The Oscars Aren’t Designed For Us”
byThe Urban Daily in Entertainment News on Feb 25, 2011 at 3:50 pm
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As a fitting close to Black History Month, actor Idris Elba was the featured speaker for the Lens Project’s “Artist Spotlight” series. Held at the Paul Robeson Center of Rutgers University’s Newark campus this past Thursday evening, the lecture was moderated by Ms. Baraka Sele, the current Assistant Vice President of Programming of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).
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Idris stepped onto the stage to standing applause and an unmistakable spike in estrogen levels among the women in attendance, as they whipped out their cameras to document Hollywood’s sexiest chocolate boy wonder. Adopting an ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’ format, Ms. Sele and Mr. Elba discussed everything from his solid middle class beginnings in East London, his upcoming projects, to the current state of black cinema in Hollywood.
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On his most prolific role as Stringer Bell on HBO’s ‘The Wire’
“I was a huge fan of Stringer Bell being killed off right at the height of his popularity. I commend the writers for a realistic view of living a life of crime…as a drug dealer you either end up dead or in prison.”
On the Golden Globes and this year’s Oscar ‘white-out’
“Halle Berry and I were the only two black actors nominated for this year’s Golden Globes (Idris for Luther and Halle for Frankie & Alice). The Oscars aren’t designed for us…let’s focus on making more films.”
On the controversy surrounding his role as Heimdall, in the upcoming “Thor”
“It’s so ridiculous. We have a man (Thor) who has a flying hammer, and wears horns on his head and yet me being an actor of African descent playing a Norse god is unbelievable? I mean, Cleopatra was played by Elizabeth Taylor and Ghandi was played by Ben Kingsley”
Does he watch any of his films?
“I don’t watch myself. It’s excruciating”
On his decision to become an actor
“My parents were hard-working and believed in security, getting that paycheck. Paul Barber (another black British actor) came to speak at my school, and I realized ‘I could do that too.’ When I told my parents I wanted to be an actor, my father said to me (at this point Idris mimics a dead-on African accent) ‘Kuna, you know actors don’t make money.’ So I got a job working at the Ford factory and after 2 years, I was like, I gotta go back to acting.” (Idris would eventually win a place in the National Youth Music Theater, thanks to a Prince’s Trust grant).
On speaking to today’s youth
“I’m just a beacon… actors and people in the film industry should speak at schools to inspire students.” Idris is the anti-crime ambassador for the Prince’s Trust grant, a U.K. based youth charity that provides workplace skills and financial support.
On being an only child
“As an only child I had a vivid imagination. My imagination gets me in trouble, it gets me awards and it gets me paychecks”
On what role he finds most challenging
“While the U.K. is known for their drama schools, they are very expensive. I wasn’t classically trained in theater, so I have a natural fear of Shakespeare. But I’d like to tackle King Lear or Othello.”
On the Spike Lee vs. Tyler Perry debate
“Can I be candid?” he asks before turning to face the audience directly. “I don’t like all of Tyler Perry’s films. Yes, I did work with Tyler for “Daddy’s Little Girls” because it portrayed a positive image of a black father. I am happy for Tyler’s success…we need Tyler Perry…by going to support his movies, we need to show economic strength. But we are also responsible for elevating film. I’m not with buffoonish characters like Madea or Big Momma.”
By the end of the lecture, it was clear that Idris Elba hasn’t been coasting on just his good looks. Thoughtful, resourceful, and humble, Idris Elba continues the legacy of strong and positive depictions of black masculinity in Hollywood.
In other news, Idris has just been cast in the, not quite Alien prequel, Ridley Scott helmed Prometheus. He joins Noomi Rapace (Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), Michael Fassbender (X:Men First Class) and Charlize Theron (Hancock).

 

Interesting. Very interesting.

 

good find

 

I loved him in Luther. I can't wait for series two.

 

Now here's a good, proud Black man. It figures he's British. American blacks are far too eager to coon and cross-dress for money.

 

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I gained and lost respect for him after this scene. I was sooooo conflicted.

 

I was wondering when the next Sidney Poitier would show up.

 

it's always so refreshing when you find out someone is more than just a pretty face

 

Why did you loose respect for him after the toliet scene? I watched this movie Friday for the first time. If that was me I would of spanked Ali Larter's ass all day in that movie.

 

If you have no social network, or social capital, then you need street smarts to get to the top of the game. After you have gotten there, you need to elevate your game. Tyler Perry is not doing that he is creating buffoonish characters that permanently seals stereotypes.

Spike Lee opened the door for other black film makers, he treated controversial subjects many in Hollywood would not touch, and he gave many black actors and actresses opportunities, and did it by raising the pride of the black man and in your face kind of approach. He heralded in many other black film makers, who explored other themes, film makers like John Singleton who once cast , Tyra Banks in Higher Learning.

Tyler Perry man is one I haven't still figured out. I am not sure what his mission is in the film industry part from making money. Most of his films so far, for me, sucks.

 

Good point. Perry's mission is to get PAID, that's all!

 

Good post, exactly what I was thinking. I love love LOVE Idris. :heart: :smt050

 

Maybe he was a happily married man and didn't want to cheat on his wife, how can you lose respect for that.

So I take it that a married man has a right to cheat on his wife when a woman who looks like Ali Larter.

 

seriously

Spike Lee has and continues to address the issues no one has the balls to script about, from Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever, to Miracle at St Anna.

It took us all this time to get a WW2 film that features black companies in land battles.

 

As much as people would like to disagree, I think that almost every Spike Lee movie made in the past 20 years is a classic.

I feel as though his films have a certain emotion to them that only Af. Americans can truly understand. Not saying you have to be, but that it caters to and directly addresses the culture in a way that only those in the culture can truly understand.

 

his movies hit the issues that plagues people, in which no one wants to admit publicly

like the white cops in Do the Right Thing, and their frustrations of patrolling a black neighborhood..

or the italians in Jungle Fever, and how racist they were towards blacks

it's like he took what people were gossiping over, and aired the shit out

Tyler Perry needs to take notes

 

Agreed.


I don't get anything out of T.P's films. I always leave frustrated or annoyed.

 

John Singleton was my boy too

dont know what happened to him, but I had high hopes for his theatrical career

 

Very good article, always love to hear positive stuff about brothas who have their act together.