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.

Thank you for answering.

That Pie and Mash shop is actually very generous.

Order a portion of saag aloo from the K shop next door. Divine

Hello Driis, hope u get to feeling better! congrats and wtg on everything you are doing! 13th hour is coming with Mandela! Fingers crossed!! Was wondering, can you lead me to a person in your camp to get some more autographed pics for some of the members in my group? Thanks, love you so much and keep on doing it! ~T~

dialectblog.com/2011/01/29/top-10-american-accents-by-non-americans/

"1.) Idris Elba, The Wire. It was hard to pick number one, but at the end of the day, this British actor won out. He didn’t just do any American accent on the wire. He mastered, from top to bottom, the variety of African American Vernacular English spoken in West Baltimore. It is some of the most masterfully specific dialect work I’ve ever seen.

Hi Idris

What would be your dream role?

@dawntigga

Dear Edris,

I luff you and you're work, it worries me you don't wear socks, but that's a separate issue.

What role, if any, in the history of roles, characters and real people would you like to play (that you haven't already) and why?

PositivelySwooningTiggaxx

I would like to play Thelonious Monk just because he was an amazing jazz pianist that broke the mould of jazz and also battled for a long time with mental illness. I want to play the character because a) I'm a lover of music and it's an excuse for me to learn the piano b) I think it's important because so many people suffer from mental illness silently and I'd like to expose that. I'm always looking for something that marries my love of music and film that'd be great. Putting it out into the universe.

Another question (sorry)

Had you heard of/visited Mumsnet before this chat came up?

NORTY AmazingBouncingFerret making him choose! You should be kind and give me him both of them

ShouldBeWrappingPresentsTiggaxx

@HoHolepew

Ok. I'll compose myself.

Hi Idris, is there going to be a Luther film or is it a rumour? Is there definitely no more tv episodes?

It's a crying shame if there isn't. The last one scared the life out of me . I loved it .

Yes –we're really trying to make that happen. It's kind of complex because it's a big task trying to make a popular TV show into a film. It's taking a lot of time for us to understand what we should do. But we're getting really close. I've sent the writer off to a cave in New Zealand to write and I think he's close to coming up with something exciting. Watch this space - hopefully in the next year something might happen.

I luff Thelonious Monk!

YesThatWasMySqueeYouHeardTiggaxx

@thegraduand

Ok, should ask serious type question, but's Christmas and I'm high on lemsip, (quick tip lemsip and a can of coke, you'll feel fine). What's your christmas tree like, subtle and tasteful, or full on bauble and tinsel explosion extravaganza?

Yes Christmas tree! More tinsel explosion extravaganza. Short but wide with a massive star on it and there's about 6 presents underneath it at the moment. Stuffed in the corner of my living room. I think it's a real one...

Idris

You really do need to wear socks. The Mother in me is most concerned. My socks have badgers on them. I am so right on that even my socks are political #savethebadgers

Thanks for answering my question and good De Niro related anecdote.

@GetOrf

dialectblog.com/2011/01/29/top-10-american-accents-by-non-americans/

"1.) Idris Elba, The Wire. It was hard to pick number one, but at the end of the day, this British actor won out. He didn?t just do any American accent on the wire. He mastered, from top to bottom, the variety of African American Vernacular English spoken in West Baltimore. It is some of the most masterfully specific dialect work I?ve ever seen.

Wow. Wow... and wow again. Honestly whenever I listen to myself doing an accent I cringe because I'm very particular about what I do and I never feel completely satisfied, so that's a massive compliment to me because someone's paid attention to every detail - which makes me cringe! That's very flattering, thanks for letting me know.

My husband and I watched Pacific Rim a few nights ago. How much of it was acted in front of a Green Screen and how much had 'actual' settings?

Is there a difference in how you would be acting (I mean, it must feel different/harder)?

@Mignonette

Idris

You really do need to wear socks. The Mother in me is most concerned. My socks have badgers on them. I am so right on that even my socks are political #savethebadgers

Thanks for answering my question and good De Niro related anecdote.

Yes, you're right. Socks do keep the ankles warm. Hopefully this Christmas I'll get an array of great socks. I'm into colourful socks... I'm wearing black ones today though.

Mignonette I know about the socks right? Also, have been ill and will do the other thing tomorrow and pm you the link.

ThinksMrElbaWillBeGettingSocksFromSantaTiggaxx

Hi Idris,

I have no questions, but I just wanted to thank you for the hours of enjoyment you've brought me, just from watching you on screen in your various roles. You're an outstanding actor and it doesn't do any harm that you're pretty easy on the eyes too

Good luck on all your future endeavours, and congratulations on the imminent arrival of the latest addition to your family.

Last comment from me -

Greatly cheered to hear of your interest in promoting mental health and the plight of the mentally ill in an honest and balanced manner.

I am a mental health nurse and we are always looking for realistic relateable characters in film and literature.

Can i direct you to blogger and campaigner @nursewglasses as somebody who writes very well and would be a useful resource for research?

Awesome x-post there from me dontcha think?

ReallyShouldBeWrappingPresentsTiggaxx

@SnowBells

My husband and I watched Pacific Rim a few nights ago. How much of it was acted in front of a Green Screen and how much had 'actual' settings?

Is there a difference in how you would be acting (I mean, it must feel different/harder)?

Great question - Guillermo del Toro style of directing - he liked actuality even if the world is fantastical. A lot of the sets were real and so detailed. Every blinking light and peice of electronic equipment was there. The monsters and the robots weren't. For an actor who steps on to a set like that it helps you keep that character as real as possible which is great. In Promethius Ridley Scott created the front of the ship and when we looked out the window it was all green screen. It actually moved when we moved the controls - it gives you a sense of realism

Dd aged 10 wants me to ask you this....!

In Pacific rim, which she absolutely loved, you command one of the largest robots against the kijuu (no idea if I've spelt that right!). If there was an alien invasion what would you do?

:)

@OodKingWenceslas

Another question (sorry) Had you heard of/visited Mumsnet before this chat came up?

No! I'm embarassed to admit it. However, this will be my leading way from here on out to promote films. They treat me so nicely here - I love.

Rachel from MNHQ chips is - "have you got your fruit!?"

@Ledkr

Idris I feel I need to repeat my earlier question as it was posted amongst silliness. Who would win in a fight between Stringer Bell and Luther? I need to know.

In a physical fight Luther would win. In a battle of wits, Stringer would win.

Hi Idris, Bless! Just reading you'd like to do a piece as Thelonius Monk, that would be off the chain. Go for it!!

@HRHwheezing

Hello Idris!

Mine's more of a Mandela question

Did you " walk" in Mandela's shoes to become him? Meaning, did you go to Robben island? Talk to his friends etc
And being him, has it changed your life in any way?

Looking forward to the film, just reading the book!

You know, on my research for Mandela I spent a lot of time in South African understanding how people view Mandela. I wanted to understand from a third party point of view what Mandela meant to the country. When I got closer to seeing him I stepped closer to his past and more personal stories about him. Since playing Mandela and promoting the film, some things have happened that I feel like his legacy has to live on. And I feel that I can be a vessel for that by doing more work that highlights other peoples plights, by using this spotlight to help others. I've done a certain amount of work with young people and charities, but I now know I can do a lot more. It's re-fixed my focus on helping others. I've also understood what patience is. I can be so impatient. I think that's partly to do with being an actor, but now I'm understanding that patience is definitely a virtue and I'm trying to work on it more.

Hi Idris
When did you realise how fantastic The Wire was going to be? Was it obvious from reading the script? It was so exciting to watch it must have been amazing to perform in.

And which part of Hackney are you from? I grew up in Stamford Hill and went to school at St Ignatius Primary School. I remember we used to get the Hackney Gazette newspaper.