Actor Idris Elba reveals that he no longer describes himself as a 'Black actor' as he speaks on racism in Hollywood

     

 

Idris Elba has opened up on racism in Hollywood, revealing that he no longer describes himself as a Black actor but focuses on just being an actor.

Ahead of his highly-anticipated film Luther: The Fallen Sun which is set to be released in the coming weeks, the movie star, 50, shared that basing his career on his skin colour 'put me in a box', as he attempts to take the power away from racism.

Speaking in a new interview with Esquire, Idris explained: 'Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it?s only as powerful as you allow it to be.

'I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realised it put me in a box. We?ve got to grow. We?ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it?s just skin. Rant over.'

 

The star continued that while he is a member of the Black community, he doesn't put emphasis on this when it comes to his career.

'As you get up the ladder, you get asked what it?s like to be the first Black to do this or that,' He continued.

'Well, it?s the same as it would be if I were white. It?s the first time for me. I don?t want to be the first Black. I?m the first Idris.'

Back in 2020, Idris revealed that he experiences racism 'as often as breathing'.

 

Talking during live-streamed discussion about the Black Lives Matter movement, the actor said: 'Success has not negated racism for me.

 

Asking me about racism is like asking me about how long I have been breathing.'

His comments come after Netflix released the official trailer for Luther: The Fallen Sun, starring Idris Elba.