Can you imagine Idris Elba working a blue-collar job?
Like most celebrities, Elba didn’t become a star overnight. In a new interview with The New York Times Magazine, Elba recalls working the night shift at a Ford factory in England. the No Good Deed star believes tough work experience makes for a better actor.
“I find that a lot of actors who are good and open to challenges have lived a full life,” he said. “When you walk into an audition, you have more to say for yourself because you come from the real world. It’s more enticing for directors, I think.”
The 42-year-old is still all about gaining new experiences. Not only does he try to keep the roles he plays varied — “it just makes for more of a fun and interesting career,” he said — he also works as a D.J.
“Next year I’m going to start putting out some music as a D.J., which is a natural step,” he said, adding that he finds talk of him becoming the next James Bond, a “flattering rumor.”