“Working at BBC, at the head of one of the top dramas, is a tradition for great actors.” ActorsDramaTraditionGreat Actors Author:Idris Elba
“As much as it's nice to step into that massive world of Hollywood and be a big, famous actor, I prefer the career of actors that have really chosen smartly and done really amazing performances. Maybe they're not as known, but their careers are a bit more interesting.” WorldDoneBigsActorsBitsInterestingKnownStepsCareersNiceHollywoodPerformancesChosenMassiveReally AmazingFamous Actor Author:Idris Elba
“Being able to work with Ridley Scott on this film is like being able to play on the Olympic team for actors.” PlayAbleFilmActorsTeam Author:Idris Elba
“Actors tend to not know how their performances are going to actually be used. Even though the script says one thing, in the edit, it can be something else.” KnowsUsedActorsKnow HowOne ThingPerformancesScriptsEdits Author:Idris Elba
“I'm not a popular actor. I don't necessarily want to be famous. I want to be known for great work. I want to be known to surprise audiences.” WantActorsKnownAudienceSurpriseGreat Work Author:Idris Elba
“I come from an era, in my world, where you just had to define yourself as who you are and what you do. I happen to be an actor. I happen to be someone that loves to act, that also likes music, that also likes to speak, and that also has an opinion.” WorldHappensActorsSpeakOpinionWho You AreLikesErasDefine Yourself Author:Idris Elba
“Even when I went to America I didn't work for four years. It wasn't like I came to New York and it was the land of milk and honey. It was just as much of a hard graft. But there's a lot more opportunity nowadays across the board for actors, no matter what color you are, with the Internet and small productions.” YearsMatterHardAmericaActorsOpportunityFourLandNew YorkColorInternetNo Matter WhatProductionsBoardsHoneyMilkFour YearsMilk And Honey Author:Idris Elba
“I find that a lot of actors who are good and open to challenges have lived a full life. When you walk into an audition, you have more to say for yourself because you come from the real world. It's more enticing for directors, I think.” ThinkingWorldRealActorsChallengesWalksDirectorsReal WorldAuditionsFull LifeEnticing Author:Idris Elba
“Are there differences between black actors’ opportunities and white actors’ opportunities? Yes, there are. It’s been said.” SaidActorsOpportunityBlackDifferencesWhite Author:Idris Elba
“As an actor, you're trained to do the right thing, be politically correct, say your lines, say the right thing about the people you're working with...” PeopleActorsLinesRight ThingPolitically Correct Author:Idris Elba
“I love to play different roles. That's just the kind of actor I am.” KindDifferentPlayActorsRoles Author:Idris Elba
“Yeah, I know, any time you hear an actor say, 'I do music', you cringe. But I want to be gradual with my music. I want to earn my stripes.” KnowsWantActorsYeahStripesCringe Author:Idris Elba
“I was on a well-beaten path of actors - what we all call 'the Law and Order route'. I spent two years of auditioning for everything... and then 'The Wire' came up.” YearsWellsTwoLawOrderActorsPathTwo YearsBeatenRoutesWireLaw And OrderBeaten Path Author:Idris Elba
“White actors still get way more money in Hollywood. It's been that way for a very long time. I hope it'll change, but it's a matter of forcing that change.” WayLongStillsMatterActorsWhiteLong TimeHollywoodMore Money Author:Idris Elba
“You know, film is the ultimate goal in an actor's career. I mean, I still love TV. I have my feet firmly stamped in it. But my opportunities have been bigger and better.” KnowsMeanHas BeensStillsFilmActorsOpportunityGoalCareersFeetTvsUltimateBiggerUltimate GoalBigger And Better Author:Idris Elba
“I lived in America for a long time before I started working as an actor. Some actors show up on set and have never done an American accent before, so they rely on a slew of technical mechanisms. Part of what makes an accent is understanding why people speak that way - you have to understand the culture.” PeopleWayLongDoneShowsAmericaCultureActorsSpeakUnderstandingLong TimeRelyMechanismAccentsUnderstanding Why Author:Idris Elba
“I think there's a tendency for actors like myself, and I don't mean to generalize myself, but I've played 'men's men,' if you will, characters that are simmering rage and calculated. There's a trend not to play anything that is opposed to that.” IfsThinkingMenMeanPlayCharacterActorsRageTendenciesTrends Author:Idris Elba
“I'd rather a young black actor read about success as opposed to how tough it was. I get these roles because I can act and that's it. Hopefully that's it.” I CanYoungActorsBlackRolesToughHopefullyBecause I CanAbout Success Author:Idris Elba
