Idris Elba jokes People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive title was his ‘hardest role ever’
Idris Elba joked that his “hardest role ever” was being named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2018.
He made hearts beat faster with his own People cover, showing off his winning smile while modeling a white T-shirt that alluded to his muscular physique.
“I said to the photographer, ‘I don’t always shoot great in photos, this photo has to be great,’ the 50-year-old said. ET Canada.
However, the crew replied, ‘No, no, no. We’ve done this a million times, we know how to do it,” so Idris decided, “Okay, I’ll just be myself.”
Looking back on the experience, he said, “Then they do this kind of thing where they make your favorite camera angle work for the cover.”
Sizzling sensation: Idris Elba joked that his “hardest role ever” was being People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2018; photographed last week
Hello, beauty: He got the pulse racing with his People cover, flashed his winning smile as he modeled a white T-shirt that alluded to his toned physique
In 2018, Idris was a global sex symbol, with fans constantly bringing him up as a possible choice to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond.
“I don’t assume everyone knows who I am, even though I’ve been acting for a long time,” he said modestly in his new interview.
“When I look in the mirror, it’s just a guy trying to be an actor. So when I walk into a restaurant in the middle of Belgium, I don’t expect everyone to recognize me.’
Right now, he’s in the middle of a publicity blitz for a movie spin-off of his BBC show Luther, which helped elevate him to the stardom he enjoys today.
During his media rounds, he faced an outpouring of backlash for saying he no longer uses the “black actor” tag.
“I stopped describing myself as a black actor when I realized I was being pigeonholed by it,” the Beasts Of No Nation actor explains to Esquire.
“If half the time we didn’t talk about the differences but about the similarities between us, the whole planet would undergo a shift in the way we interact with each other.”
Idris argued, “As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth.”
He continued, “Racism, of course, should be a topic of discussion. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you let it be. We must grow. We have to. Our skin is just that: it’s just skin. Go berserk.’
Despite being raked over the coals online, he refused to back down, rolling his eyes for being “thrown into some sort of bull***, zeitgeisty social media argument.”
In an interview with the Guardian, he claimed, “I say I don’t like to call myself a black actor is my prerogative. That’s me, not you. So that you turn around and say to me, “I deny my blackness.” On what grounds? Did you hear that? Where do I deny it? And for what? It’s just stupid. Whatever.’
“There is not a soul on this earth that can question whether I consider myself a BLACK MAN or not,” he wrote on Twitter in defense of his beliefs.
About the City: Idris is pictured this Friday with wife Sabrina as he watches the Los Angeles Lakers play the Toronto Raptors at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles
As always: Right now he’s in the middle of a publicity blitz for a movie spin-off (pictured) of his BBC show Luther, which propelled him to the stardom he enjoys today
Being an ‘actor’ is a profession, just like being an ‘architect’, they are not defined by race. However, if YOU define your work by your race, that is your perogative. Ah lie?’
In 2018, he was part of the lineup of celebrity guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, even showing off his DJ skills at the reception.
Idris told ET Canada that the best dancer at the party, “the one who really let it loose,” was the bride herself.
The Hollywood hunk, who said he was “good friends” with the pair, recalled that “she was just having a lot of fun. It was her wedding. So she had the best time.’
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