When rumors started circulating about Idris Elba leaving the biz to further pursue his music career, fans were not happy. The Black Brit’s range has afforded him the opportunity to play every role imaginable, from Black cowboys, hood hustlers, superheroes, slick-talking gangstas, to-die-for love interests, don’t-catch-them-in-the alley villains, and even a misunderstood detective.
So the thought of him leaving television and film just made people sad. Luckily, the Sierra Leonean heartthrob has assured us he’s not going anywhere. He reveals he is only digging into other forms of artistic expression, and fans have the pandemic to thank for it.
During a “Loose Women” interview, Hello Magazine noted he was asked about his decision to focus on music and why he is doing it. Elba answered, “I make music a lot, and I have pretty much [throughout] my entire career as an actor.”
“The last few years we’ve all been at home a lot more haven’t we?” he continued. “And we all sort of just reassessed our lives a little bit, I love music and it’s my happy space.”
He told the panel about some exciting opportunities in music being presented to him, even extending past his deejaying, but that’s not going to take him away from the camera.
“I’ve had a lot more chances 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,” he said.
While he is passionate about his music, he also understands where the confusion about him doing music and leaving the craft came from. People didn’t know that he was a highly sought-after DJ for years.
“I think people were a bit shocked like, ‘Oh, he’s giving up acting,’ but I’ve actually been doing it awhile, so, especially in the last couple of years.”
Elba spins records under the name DJ Big Driis and is releasing a lot of music with all kinds of top international artists.
The “Wire” star also appeared on The Fanatix song “Vroom” that features Davido, Koffee, Moelogo, and Lil Tjay. Elba also has performed on tracks such as Wiley’s song “Boasty” with Sean Paul and Stefflon Don.
Elba is preparing for the movie incarnation of the hit BBC series on Netflix “Luther,” where he will share the screen with the Oscar-nominated actor Cynthia Erivo.
He believes viewers will love the new version of the popular show because it is bigger and better.
“If you like dark thrillers, this is it,” he said. “I love that character, and I have for a long time, so I think ‘Luther’ fans will love it and new fans will get into it.”
