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. Idris Elba More Quotes by Idris Elba More Quotes From Idris Elba You watch yourself age and it's hard to feel like a sex symbol. Idris Elba age watches sex I wasn't bad at school, but I was never a bookworm. Idris Elba bookworms school Every single film I've done, it's about the character. Idris Elba film done character I would never be fearful of any character. Idris Elba fearful character Because I was big, I didn't have to listen to anyone doubting me. I was just considered good at football or whatever, there were no questions about it. Idris Elba bigs doubt football In some countries, no one knows who Idris Elba is. Idris Elba elba knows country Nobody likes a celebrity DJ for the sake of style, so I don't do that - I try to be good at what I do. It's all about resetting, it's my escape. It is work, it's a job, but I just love doing it. Idris Elba style trying jobs 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. Idris Elba character men mean It was deeply important for me to understand where Mandela came from. Because we know where he was going, and that's a famous story, but who was he? Where did he come from? What was his upbringing? Idris Elba important stories knows I love bikes. I used to own one, but I fell off it when I was younger and that was the end of my bike riding days until now. Idris Elba riding used ends There are things that I really find important, and that we need to remind ourselves of. When you think about disability, do you really think about it? Someone who's a full-time trainer or a boxer, someone who's got a major disability, but who doesn't let that get in his way, that's a really good message for someone who is able-bodied. It can make them think, 'Wow, I suppose I could be doing better for myself.' Idris Elba disability important thinking My definition of bad-ass is that I'm a force of nature and true spirit. I'm self-admitting that, and it sounds vain to say that, but I am. Idris Elba bad-ass self sound It's actually quite criminal how 'The Wire' was systematically ignored. Idris Elba wire ignored criminals It's weird because my parents don't really understand my business. I get fan mail all day long, but if a piece happens to get to their house, they're like, 'Oh, my God, you've got a fan! You have to write them back. You have to do it! Idris Elba house writing long Are there differences between black actors’ opportunities and white actors’ opportunities? Yes, there are. It’s been said. Idris Elba differences white opportunity I wanted to be on American TV so much. I didn't park DJ'ing; I just sort of ended up becoming more of a studio guy. I had a bit more money and I could buy every little piece of equipment and drum machine that had just come out - I've got quite a collection now - and I continued to collect music. Idris Elba machines pieces guy If you go to Africa and you're white, you're probably not going to get that much work either. But the fact is that there is a longer history of black integration in the U.S. I don't have any resentment about this: I did the maths, calculated it against my ambition and decided to leave England. Idris Elba ambition white math What really excites me in a project is when it goes in a way you haven't been before. Idris Elba projects havens way What kind of role do you play after someone like Stringer, you know what I mean? You play another gangster. What’s the point of that? I’ve played the gangster. I try to keep it really varied; it just makes for more of a fun and interesting career. Idris Elba play fun mean Working at BBC, at the head of one of the top dramas, is a tradition for great actors. Idris Elba tradition actors drama