Idris Elba Says He’s Not ‘Mr. Cool’ & His Fame Makes Him ‘Paranoid’

 

(Kaiser) Idris Elba covers the new issue of Loaded Magazine. It’s not the best shot, especially considering the fact that the camera loves Idris and his photoshoots are usually pretty stellar. Maybe it’s just the poor quality of the cover (which was the best I could find, I’m sorry). Anyway, Idris isn’t promoting all that much these days. He’s made an album of music inspired by the life of Nelson Mandela. He’s probably going to produce (but not star in) an American remake of Luther. And he wasn’t invited to do reshoots for The Avengers: Age of Ultron. So, what does Big Dris have to talk about? Fame. Being adored. Shh… baby, don’t speak.

Idris Elba has revealed his fast road to fame has made him “paranoid” of people. The 42-year-old actor might be best known for starring roles in Luther, Thor and Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, but he has insisted he’s still just “Idris”. However the star thinks life in the limelight makes people question themselves more – admitting it has for him.
Speaking to Loaded magazine, he said: “You know The Truman Show? Sometimes you’re not sure what’s real or not, especially when it comes to relationships. If you’re adored by millions, sometimes even on your own front doorstep you can become paranoid and constantly question, ‘Who is he? Who is she? I know I’ve been guilty of it in the past.” 

Idris is considered by fans to be one of the coolest actors around and he has no shortage of female admirers. The hunky star – who has baby son Winston with girlfriend Naiyana Garth and daughter Isan with his ex-wife Kim Elba – doesn’t consider himself to be cool but thinks people gravitate towards him because he’s down-to-earth. 

He said: “Mr. Cool? Me? Well I wouldn’t go quite that far. You know what I think it is? I think people like to see some genuine attributes in people they admire, you know a bit of relatability, I think I have that. And I think I’ve always managed to remain as Idris. It goes a long way in this business if people can relate to you. They believe in you more, they want to see you win more and they support you better. I’ve been on both sides. I’ve gone to America as the new boy and come back to England as the old boy and I’ve watched American actors come here and realise immediately why they aren’t relatable – you just don’t want to go to the pub with them.”

[From The Daily Mirror]
I think he genuinely makes a good point about relatability, that if people feel like they know (or could get to know) a celebrity, there will be more support and love. This is the idea behind so many celebrities’ social media accounts too, and some celebrities are better than others at placating their fanbases on a personal level. And for what it’s worth, Idris does seem like the kind of guy that you could easily meet while he’s deejaying at some sleazy club in Ibiza. Is that relatable?
Here’s Big Dris being relatable with Naomi Campbell at the Fashion for Relief Pop-Up at Westfield London last night.

Photos courtesy of WENN, cover courtesy of Loaded.