Hollywood actor Idris Elba has opened up about his experiences with racism and profiling as an actor. Elba claimed in a recent interview that while racism is real, it is only as strong as it is allowed to be.
The “Beast of No Nation” star said she doesn’t refer to herself as a “black actor” anymore, explaining that it comes with many limitations and obstacles.
He also talked about why he took up acting as a profession, pointing out that he wasn’t trying to prove something but believed he could do a great job at it from the start.
Read on for more details.
Why Idris Elba No Longer Describes Himself as a ‘Black Actor’
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During a recent interview with EsquireElba discusses his background, his rise in the industry, and the profiling and racism he faces as an actor with African roots.
The “Luther” star insists that she has stopped describing herself as a “black actor” because of the many restrictions that come with it, saying it “puts me in a box.”
Elba, while pointing out that humans are too obsessed with race, explains that it is disempowering on its part because it inhibits human growth and aspirations.
The 50-year-old actor also acknowledged the presence of racism in the system and how important it is to discuss it but added that it is only as powerful as people allow it to be.
“We need to grow. We have to. Our skin is nothing more than that: It’s just skin,” says Elba. “If we spent half the time not talking about the differences but the similarities between us, the whole planet would experience a change in the way we deal with each other.”
He is a Victim of Racism
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According to Elba, one of the main topics people wanted to know about him was whether he had been a victim of racism in the past, which he revealed. He explained that when he encountered racism, he didn’t “go up to my black friends in conversation and ask them to tell me about racism.”
The actor said, “I’m no longer black because I’m in a white area, or blacker because I’m in a black area. I’m black.”
“And that skin stays with me no matter where I go, every day, through a black area with white people in it, or a white area with black people in it. I’m just as black,” he added.
The “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” star explained that, while he may be the first person to do something, he doesn’t want his legacy to be limited to black people but to show others that anything can be done regardless of one’s background.
Idris Elba Reveals Why He Chose An Acting Career
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Elsewhere in Esquire interview, the Golden Globe award-winning actor talks about why he decided to pursue a career as an actor, especially in Hollywood.
Elba said her intention from the start was not to be the frontline black person changing the narrative about representation in the industry but that she thinks it’s a “great profession.”
“I did it because I thought it was a great profession and I could do the job well. When you go up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first Black person to do this or that. Well, it’s the same as if I were white. This is the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first Black. I’m Idris the first.”
For him, coming to America to pursue his dream was a futile thing, regardless of the success he achieved before switching. He stated that the opportunities provided by the country, culture, music, etc. helped him make up his mind.
“…You just sensed an opportunity. You can start with one dollar, in New York, and go up. That is true. That’s why I left. Is that the same America we see today? Maybe not. Things have changed. But I see it through the eyes of a 50-year-old now,” he said.
Idris Elba Discusses His Fears And Insecurities
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During his conversation with Esquire, Elba shared that he has fears and insecurities just like everyone else. Referring to Stringer Bell, the character he played in “The Wire,” the actor pointed out that his life and the character’s life are quite similar.
“I know him a lot. He’s an unlikable person, isn’t he? I am the underdog. And the feeling that I’m not the man, I’m the man next to the man. Or, I’m not that man anymore, but I can be that man.”
He then explained that he was afraid that one day he might end up like Stringer Bell.
Elba said, “I always felt like, shit, this guy’s going everywhere, he’s smart, everybody likes him, and he’s thrown away. I always felt, that could have been me. I could have been hit, I could have been stabbed, I could have been shot. I can get disease. Nothing lasts forever.”
The “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” actor later revealed that his insecurities were impostor syndrome, explaining that it interfered with his personality. He shared that impostor syndrome causes someone to not stand up for themselves because “you feel like you shouldn’t be in the room.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
