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IF YOU’VE BEEN online at all today, chances are you’ve been seeing a lot of mentions of this man’s name.
STR
STR
That’s British actor Idris Elba. Best known for his portrayal of Stringer Bell in the hit TV show The Wire.
He also plays Luther in the BBC series Luther, was Mandela in The Long Walk to Freedom, and appeared in Thor and Avengers with a role in the next Star Trek movie on the horizon. On top of that he’s come second in People’s annual Sexiest Man Alive List, and is a DJ (who pulled out of playing at Forbidden Fruit this year. We’ll have to find it our hearts to forgive him).
For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It’s not a colour issue. I think he is probably a bit too “street” for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.
Horowitz also said that there are other black actors who would do more justice to the role, and named Hustle’s Adrian Lester.
The comments have not gone down well, sparking commentary about racism and the idea that it is indeed about ‘a colour issue’.
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Is "street" the UK's version of "urban" in terms of coded racism? Idris Elba is a lot of things, but "street" ain't one of 'em.
Christopher Hooton, writing in The Independent, says that the role is beneath Elba and that he would be best to avoid “a character Daniel Craig himself has described as an out-of-date misogynist”.
Not everyone agrees
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Not everyone agrees with the ‘racist’ commentary either, though
2) I disagree with Anthony Horowitz about Idris Elba, but he specifically mentions other black actors he likes for the role--so chill?
If I were the Bond producers and everyone was pointing me toward one actor, what’s the surprise in that? Honestly, it’s one of those things that if it should happen, it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy; it would be the will of a nation.
Friday 27 December, 2024
Friday 27 December, 2024
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Here's why everyone's talking about Idris Elba, race and James Bond today
IF YOU’VE BEEN online at all today, chances are you’ve been seeing a lot of mentions of this man’s name.
That’s British actor Idris Elba. Best known for his portrayal of Stringer Bell in the hit TV show The Wire.
He also plays Luther in the BBC series Luther, was Mandela in The Long Walk to Freedom, and appeared in Thor and Avengers with a role in the next Star Trek movie on the horizon. On top of that he’s come second in People’s annual Sexiest Man Alive List, and is a DJ (who pulled out of playing at Forbidden Fruit this year. We’ll have to find it our hearts to forgive him).
Idris has also been long rumoured to be in consideration to play James Bond. However, this morning in an interview with The Daily Mail, the latest Bond author Anthony Horowitz said that Elba is “too street” for the role.
Horowitz also said that there are other black actors who would do more justice to the role, and named Hustle’s Adrian Lester.
The comments have not gone down well, sparking commentary about racism and the idea that it is indeed about ‘a colour issue’.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Others can’t quite cope with the idea that Idris Elba isn’t suave
While some feel he’s just too good for Bond
Christopher Hooton, writing in The Independent, says that the role is beneath Elba and that he would be best to avoid “a character Daniel Craig himself has described as an out-of-date misogynist”.
Not everyone agrees
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Not everyone agrees with the ‘racist’ commentary either, though
For his part, Elba told Maxim last month:
The will of the nation indeed.
Salon got itself into hot water for calling Nicki Minaj’s VMA speech ‘savage’
The Star Wars Facebook page responded wonderfully to this sexist comment
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007 Daily Mail double uh oh Idris Elba James Bond too street