*Idris Elba is not one to hold his tongue.
The British actor got real in a recent interview with Uptown Magazine about being a black actor. When asked about the shortage of roles for black actors, he frankly answered, “Next question.”
“I’m so bored of answering that. Are there differences between black actors’ opportunities and white actors’ opportunities? Yes, there are. It’s been said. 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. The less I talk about being black, the better.”
In other words, Elba wants to be an actor and respected for his work. Yes the differences are obvious, but it’s time to move passed that and appreciate the work.
Elba has certainly shined brightly among his peers, both black and white, showing his diversity and range as an actor.
Whether or not his comment will be accepted by anyone is up for debate. But the fact of the matter is, he’s tired of answering that question.
I wonder if he’ll have that same attitude once he stops getting work? In Hollywood…hot today…not tomorrow. I bet then he’ll be hollaring about he can’t get any work because they are giving all the jobs to white actors.
Co-sign, ez. He knows damn well what that question means. Guess he’s scared one of his white handlers is listening in and he doesn’t want to offend them by speaking the truth.
Negro you better keep that in the back of your mind. Talking about you get tired of that question. That’s how Hollywood looks at you.
Damn Brits!
I feel the same about Denzel or Samual because they never speak out about the shortage of roles for black actors in hollywood either. Could it be because they are always fortunate to keep working and if they voiced their opinions it could hurt their careers?
Don’t forget Will Smith. They are only comfortable throwing lifelines to non-Blacks…all the while observing others lifting up their ‘own’. This is why I’m ‘extremely’ selective when it comes to which artist I will support.
I wouldn’t dare put Will and Denzel in the same category as Sam…both Will and Denzel have produced and brought forth projects that have given jobs and opportunities to black actors. Denzel mentored and directed Derek Luke in HIS first film. I could be wrong about Sam, but he just appears to be a n@@ga who’ll do any movie for a buck. As for Idris, Lord KNOWS I love that hunk of chocolate, but it seems that his British roots sometimes make him appear a bit cold…I’m sure he’ll get a reality check when months go by without his phone ringing…
@ricki
Nah, I just think he’s seriously tired of getting asked that question, because he knows how the game is played, and if you go on YouTube and pull up an interview o a Brit TV program where he addressed this very issue (it was a couple of years ago) by saying that black actors all over the world experience this same issue—I mean his British series LUTHER, is apparently the first series in years to star a black actor (and frankly as someone who watched British shows, the last one I could think of is CHEF, and that’s going way back to the mid-’90′s, You also gotta look at the fact that he had to come across the pond and make a name for himself here in the U.S. before he was able to go back there and star in his own show. Plus he’s got this Internet series about black women (I ain’t seen it yet) Plus it took him at least 4 years to really break into the business when he first came to the U.S.(it was hard nailing down an American accent,but he did it.) Here’s that interview,BTW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKUj4tgpwm0
Anyway, he hot as hell, I love his British accent, and he’s co-starring or staring in this new sci-i summer blockbuster flick, PACIFIC RIM, so that’s real good!
Melody you probably should do some research and see what black people Will have given jobs to.
denzel and samu’ell always struck me as mealy-mouth sellouts