British actor Idris Elba covers the GQ magazine UK March 2013 issue. Golden Globe winning actor Elba is currently promoting his new movie “Long walk to freedom” where he plays Nelson Mandela.
The movie will span Mandela’s life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
Elba is also being mentioned as the possible replacement for Daniel Craig as the new James Bond. We would certainly like that!
Here are the most interesting parts of the inside interview:
<<He’s tipped to be the first black Bond but Idris Elba just doesn’t see why the ladies fall at his feet.
‘The irony is I wake up every morning, look at myself in the mirror and think, “Woah, I look like a piece of s***”,’ said the Hackney lad turned Hollywood superstar. ‘You watch yourself age and it’s hard to feel like a sex symbol.’
The 40-year-old said while he did not take the label seriously, he knew how to use it to bag the big roles.
‘I’m not sure what it is they see, not to mention that, personally, I feel very awkward. There’s no way all those women would ever sleep with me and go, “I really liked him”. Some of them would go, “He was really boring or he was a bit aggressive or, urgh, actor.” But it’s a compliment and it’s a massive tool to use in sculpting a career, especially with what I do for a living because I work in the face business. So it’s a compliment and I use it accordingly.’
And bag the big roles he has after beating Tom Cruise, 50, to the role in new sci-fi flick Pacific Rim and being plucked to play Nelson Mandela in the forthcoming Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.
As for a life as 007, he told GQ magazine: ‘It’s a rumour. And, I have to tell you, if the producers of Bond thought that I was self-campaigning, it would be such a turn-off. I’m flattered, obviously but I’ve been advised to just pipe down about it.’
He blamed the incumbent spy for shaking and stirring.
‘Apparently, Daniel Craig said I’d be a great Bond. Daniel, why did you say that? Dropped me right in it! What an honour it would be, but also, what an indication of change. I know Ian Fleming lived in Jamaica for a long time, didn’t he? I think it’s interesting to think what he would have made of a black man playing Bond.’<<
Images&interview: gq-magazine-co.uk
