The London-born actor is taking Luther’s tweed coat to the big screen in The Fallen Sun, and dreams of kicking off a franchise to rival Mission Impossible. And he’s still finding time to write, direct, DJ and work for the UN
, an example of how social media can be a “conflict incubator”, he says. “Me saying I don’t like to call myself a Black actor is my prerogative. That’s me, not you. So for you to turn around and say to me, I’m ‘denying my Blackness’. On what grounds? Did you hear that? Where am I denying it? And what for? It’s just stupid. Whatever.”
Elba does not explain the decision in terms of race. “I wanted to play in an arena that had a much more diverse array of actors and cultures in film-making. And I wanted to be, quote, unquote, a movie star,” he says. “You can make sparkling wine in Portsmouth or you can make champagne in Champagne, and my ambition was to make champagne.”
There’s a strange symmetry in the fact that Elba had to go to the US and play American to find success, then when he came home and played British in Luther, it became a big hit in the US. Luther really did smash through that glass ceiling: it was the first primetime BBC drama led by a Black actor. The part was not even written for Elba originally , but when he auditioned for it, he made it his own, to the extent that the character was allegedly rewritten to play to his strengths.
How close did anything ever come to happening? “No, nowhere.” There weren’t even discussions? “Not that I’m going to tell you.” So therediscussions? He laughs and shakes his head. “I can’t speak for them, but from my perspective, there’s never been any sort of truth to any of it.” He appreciates the irony, at least, that his name has been more associated with James Bond than anyone apart from Daniel Craig. “ It’s a compliment and it’s an honour, but it’s not a truth.
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