Idris Elba

He first came to my attention, as he did for many of us through the character he played in The Wire. I didn’t even know he was British, or a Londoner until well into the third series, so good was his accent, so authentic. But this was the hallmark of Idris Elba’s performances to come, they were marked out mainly by the authenticity which he brings to the roles he plays – from the simple, quiet gravity of John Luther to the strength and charisma of the criminal wishing to make it legitimate and get out of the game, Stringer Bell in The Wire.

I don’t know what you would call Idris Elba’s particular approach to acting. I’m almost frightened to google in case he confesses and professes a love for the Method, or he talks so poorly about his craft as many actors unfortunately do. What I will say is this, that for most of the time on the screen, I am awe-struck by how little he appears to be doing, and by how hard that makes me work as an audience member and how much effort I have to put in and how much pleasure I get out of it.

Very often I forget that I’m watching acting, occasionally I see a little bit too much work, an extended pause, a huff, a special significant ‘moment’ that wasn’t needed, but for the most part I’m left with a sense that I’m watching someone who is at ease with himself on camera. He recently tweeted that he was unsure what to tell the people at a Masterclass in London. I think that’s natural, not all actors – do-ers by trade can articulate their doing into something to tell other people. From other tweets about the event, it sounds like Mr Elba found his words.

I implore any of you to follow the career of actors like Idris Elba, we know that actors come and go, I for one very much hope that this guy will stay.