Idris Elba Speaks Out Following Reports Of Him Quitting Acting

Idris Elba has addressed reports of him quitting acting.

The 49-year-old has established himself as one of the biggest actors in Britain, and indeed the world, having starred in a load of big and small screen hits, from American Gangster to the MCU, and The Wire to Luther.

But despite his success and popularity in the acting game, he recently revealed that he plans to 'lean away' from it in the coming years to focus on music.

Naturally, fans didn't like the sound of this, but he has clarified that he is by no means quitting the job that has made him a household name.

Speaking on Loose Women earlier today (Thursday 31 March), he said: "I make music a lot, and I have pretty much [throughout] my entire career as an actor, but the last few years we've all been at home a lot more haven't we?

"And we all sort of just reassessed our lives a little bit, I love music and it's my happy space."

He continued: "So, I've had a lot more chance to actually make music.

"I'm not giving up acting but I'm definitely going to put out more music and I just love the process of making music, I think that's what I'm going to do.

"I think people were a bit shocked like, 'Oh he's giving up acting,' but I've actually been doing it a while so, especially in the last couple of years."

Indeed, when he's not starring in blockbusters, Elba spends a lot of his time behind the decks, DJing at festivals such as Coachella and collaborating with the likes of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Of course, when you're so well known for something else, it can both help and hinder if you want to try something new. At this point in his career though, the dad-of-two is going to whatever he damn pleases.

Talking about his plans to 'lean away from the acting work' in an interview with Vanity Fair last month, he said: "Some may think, 'Well, it will be the death of your acting if your music's sh*t.'

"I've dealt with the internal struggle of that over the years. So now I'm at peace and I've chosen – this is what I'm doing, and I'm going to do it. Some will love it and some will hate it."

He added: "The thing about making music is it's a very consuming process.

"It's very difficult to shoot a movie and then go off into the studio or make a song. It's like trying to build a soufflé while making a brick wall."

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Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity, Idris Elba

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey