Webchat with IDRIS ELBA: Thursday 19th December, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted to end 2013 by welcoming Golden Globe winner Idris Elba to Mumsnet HQ on Thursday 19th December between 1.00 and 2.00pm to answer your questions.

Idris is best known for his portrayal of Russell 'Stringer' Bell in The Wire and later as Detective John Luther in BBC One's Luther. On January 3rd Idris is back on the big screen playing Nelson Mandela in the highly anticipated MANDELA LONG WALK TO FREEDOM for which he is has recently been nominated as ‘Best Actor’ for his portrayal of Mandela at the 2014 Golden Globes.

MANDELA was made with the full support and endorsement of Mr Mandela, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. Mr Mandela entrusted his life story to South African producer Anant Singh in the face of fierce competition from the major international studios. Singh spent 16 years developing the film, teaming up with David Thompson and finally commencing principal photography of this UK-South African coproduction in May 2012.

Come and chat to Idris on Thursday at 1.00pm and to find out more about the new film and his other work. If you're unable to join us please post a question in advance to this thread.

@TensionWheelsCoolHeels

I'm seriously impressed with Idris' typing skills - he's flying through these questions!

Why thank you. It's funny because it's hard to type with a sandwich in my hand... Thanks for noticing.

Note from Sophie at MNHQ- yeah right.

Hope you're feeling better than you were on the radio this morning and that you get some sleep soon.

This is going to be the funniest webchat ever. It will just be a bunch of flushing, blushing, fanning, fawning, stuttering, gabbling, tongue-tied, heavy-breathing women all falling over themselves not to sound tooooo much like lovestruck 14 year olds.

I'm really pleased you like that review. That's a fascinating blog from a geeky point of view, he evidently knows his stuff, and to master an obscure accent like that of Baltimore when not American is pretty impressive. Assumed you would have seen that already so glad you're pleased.

Anyway can you come to Gloucester and teach the local male populace how to walk purposefully down the street with a winter coat on?

Have you read a book that you would really want to see as a film???

And how do you fake an American accent so well???

@Amrapaali

Idris, you grew up in east London. Do you often go back and revisit your childhood haunts? Do you think East ham or Hackney has changed for the better, especially after the Olympics? All I can see is a wealth gap widening...

Oh and ignore the hormonal pantings over the last two pages. We are a good bunch, honest we are.... now if I could just reach out and stroke that french beard

Yes it's funny because when I was a kid I got to know Hackney really well on a bike. I knew all the pavements, all the cracks, all the roads. I get on my moped every now and then and go round. My old school in Haggerston which was called Laburnam Primary School has been knocked down but I love riding around there and looking at the old buildings that are still there. It's amazing. I think the London Olympics was really good for London in many ways, East London took a cosmetic change which I think benefits it. I would have liked to see more post-Olympic business and enterprise stay there and continue to benefit East London. It's got a lot to offer. It's still a great place and I'm still attached to it.

Shit. didn't realise it was already happening.

Hi Idris

You are clearly a very talented actor and DJ/musician and you appear to love both of these talents but if push came to shove and you could only do one for the rest of your life, which would you pick, music or film/tv/stage?

Also you have produced quite a few music videos, do you have any more lined up?

Merry Christmas

@Crumblemum

I heard a rumour that you might be the first black James Bond. Sounds like a good idea to me (although my favourite James Bond was Roger Moore, so I might not be the best judge), what would you say if offered the part?

It is just a rumour and it's one that's caught fire around the world. Everywhere I go people ask me if I'm going to be James Bond. It's actually a good rumour because what a great character. Who doesn't want to drive around in fast cars with nice suits and loads of Bond mums!

@Blatherskite

Hope you're feeling better than you were on the radio this morning and that you get some sleep soon.

Thanks very much - me too!

((((((((( Bond Mum )))))))))))

Let the vortex draw you in Idris.

Oh God I would love it if you became James Bond!

Oooooh what about Dr Who? Would you ever take on that role?

Hi Idris

Great to have you on here! I loved the Wire and was gutted when Stringer was killed (but what an episode!!)

My question is have you ever had a truly awful job (prior to being a world famous actor that is!). Mine was a summer job, unpacking used vacuums in a factory during a Uni holiday - t'was hell on earth!

Thank you x

@JaquelineHyde

Hi Idris

You are clearly a very talented actor and DJ/musician and you appear to love both of these talents but if push came to shove and you could only do one for the rest of your life, which would you pick, music or film/tv/stage?

Also you have produced quite a few music videos, do you have any more lined up?

Merry Christmas

I would pick music, if push came to shove. Because through music you can paint pictures, I can do musicals and I'd get to act in musicals, and it would be on a stage, and they could film it and put it on TV. Job done. Seriously I do love music. I spent some time after filming Mandela recording an album about playing Mandela. I tried to express musically this journey, the feeling of South Africa welcoming me. The moment I was in jail I wrote a song with Maverick Saber about holding on to your mentality when you're in jail. I can't wait to put the album out. I'm calling the album, Mi Mandela and it should be available at some point next year.

sorry if this has already been asked, but are you going to make more Luther? It would be interesting given the last scene with the fab Alice!

Excellent, answer, good thinking about musicals

Will keep an eye out for that album.

What are you working on now in the way of new movies? And when will you release Mi Mandela?

Idris, it was my birthday two days ago - could I have a kiss please?

@TapirsCaperWithReindeers

If you could do a 'road trip', where would you go (and what would be your dream car)?

I'd probably drive across Africa and my dream car would be this thing called an Astrovan. It was my car when I lived in America and at one point I actually lived in it. I called it the Grizzly.

Best
Webchat
Ever.

Alastair Campbell? Who's he?

@MsGee

Idris, it was my birthday two days ago - could I have a kiss please?

Ok.

Squeaaak

:)

Oh utterbum, I'm late.

Idris, I've only one question for you, and I'm so being restrained here [wunk] but could you please cast the deciding vote iin the Christmas Name Change competition?
That'd be just loveky.

Cheers.

I think you're beyond glorious.