166 Quotes by Idris Elba

Even when I went to America I didn't work for four years. It wasn't like I came to New York and it was the land of milk and honey. It was just as much of a hard graft. But there's a lot more opportunity nowadays across the board for actors, no matter what color you are, with the Internet and small productions.

There’s a fast-track if you can do the networking. For some personalities it works, but for mine it doesn’t.

You know, film is the ultimate goal in an actor’s career. I mean, I still love TV. I have my feet firmly stamped in it. But my opportunities have been bigger and better.

Because I was big, I didn’t have to listen to anyone doubting me. I was just considered good at football or whatever, there were no questions about it.

I love working. I’m a workaholic and I’m really privileged for some of the jobs I get offered and so I just want to keep going.

My definition of bad-ass is that I’m a force of nature and true spirit. I’m self-admitting that, and it sounds vain to say that, but I am.

As an actor, you’re trained to do the right thing, be politically correct, say your lines, say the right thing about the people you’re working with.

I’m an ambitious person. I never consider myself in competition with anyone, and I’m not saying that from an arrogant standpoint, it’s just that my journey started so, so long ago, and I’m still on it and I won’t stand still.

Every leading lady I work with, I’ll see if I can get a song out of them and put it on an album.