40 GQ.COM.AU FEBRUARY 2017N
ine in the
morning is
too early for
fluorescent
lighting. But
here we are,
levelfiveofasuburbanSydney
shopping centre, surrounded
by ‘social media influencers’
(urgh),awaitingthesloping
gait of Idris Elba.
The British actor, who we’re
notallowedtoaskaboutBond,
isusingaproductionbreak
onThor: Ragnarokto visit the
Harbour City, “eat some good
food,chill”andspruikthelatest
linehe’sdevelopedwithhigh-
street label Superdry. It’s why
he’s in store, before opening.
Elba smiles his way through
themediacalland‘influencer’
interviews(“AsIsaidman,
Idon’twanttotalkabout
Bond”),beforeweheadto
acornerinanearbyfoodcourt
to talk Brexit, hustling and
hisrolealongsideMatthew
McConaugheyinStephenKing
fantasy WesternTheDarkTower.
(At the time of writing, it was
aconfirmedFebruaryrelease.
Atthetimeofpublication,ithad
againbeenbumped,andisnow
setforanorthernhemisphere
summer debut.)
Despitehissize–muscular
and6ft3in–the44-year-old
hasavoidedtheattentionof
thesmatteringofmorning
diners.Thatis,however,
beyond 82-year-old Lynn.
“Oh, it’s Idris Elba. I’m
sorrytointerruptyourmeeting
but I just wanted to say thatG
&A Idris Elba
WORDS RICHARD CLUNEyou’re our favourite actor – my
girlfriendsandIloveLuther.”
Elba nods his appreciation
and calls her “sweetheart”.
Lynn eventually shuffles
offtodineoutonthemeeting
–andapossiblelamington.
She’s now replaced by
thirtysomething Danielle.
“Sorry,justwantedtoseeif
youcouldsignthisforme?”It’s
acopyofBastille Dayon DVD,
not the actor’s finest moment.
“Ha – yeah, OK! It’s nice
to meet you, too.”
We poke Elba about
the female attention – he’s
seemingly got all ages covered.
“Shut up, man. Cheeky
bastard. To be completely
honest, I still fuckin’ can’t
believe people out here
recognise me.”
Lynn returns: “I’m sorry
to interrupt again, but,
Idris,Iforgottosaythatmy
girlfriendsandIareveryexcited
aboutJamesBond.Havethey
made you James Bond yet?”GQ:Fuckit,let’stakeourcue
–JamesBond.We’renotmeant
tomentionit,butwhat
about the persistent media
referencing? When your name’s
broughtupinrelationtothe
role, it’s about being ‘the first
black 007’. Is that frustrating?
Idris Elba:Look, that’s a solid
attempt to get into it man, it
reallyis,butIjustdon’twantto
sayanythingaboutit.I’vehita
brickwall[withBond]andevery
time I mention that character it
just goes off, you know, ‘IdrisElba says...’ So I’m not going
tosayanymore.Sorry,man.
GQ:Don’tbe,wehadto
try.Let’sgettheplugout
of the way then and discuss
something you want to talk
about – Superdry. Why go
high street?
IE:Yeah, a lot of people are like,
‘Why Superdry, I don’t get it?’
Especially the high-end
fashionmagsandthat.And
my answer’s always the same
–IspeaktoeveryoneandIspeak
to the everyman. My everyday
wear isn’t a high-end suit.
Superdry’sagreatlittleBritish
company, founded by these
two lads. I suppose I could have
possiblycollaboratedwitha‘big’
designerandmadeabigdealout
ofit,butthatwouldbeabit
disingenuous of me because
I’m not trying to be Kanye
West. I love Kanye and I love
what he’s doing, but he wants
tobeadesignerandIlikethe
idea of being an influencer.
GQ: You appreciate fashion,
all said and done?
IE:I love fashion, and theopportunity was not to be
adesigner,butaninfluenceron
apremiumlinethatSuperdry
wanted to step into. It’s
affordable,good-qualitystuff,
andit’s‘me’.I’maboutcomfort
overstyle,butithastolooknice.
GQ:Talkusthroughthe
powerful address about
diversity that you gave to the
House of Commons last year.
IE:Oneofthescariestmoments
ofmylife,youmean?Man,for
metostandupintheHouseof
Commons and give MY opinion,
you know, ‘I’m an actor but
here’s what I t h in k ’... It’s craz y.
GQ: And necessary. And also
very well received.
IE:Thanks.Ihopeso.Itwas
about thinking outside the box
alittlebecauseourindustryis
thegatekeeperforimagination,
and our imaginations determine
howweseeeachotherinthe
world. In Britain, we’ve been
a multicultural melting pot for
so long, and it just needs to be
representedinthemediaandin
filmandtelevision.IhaveaTV
production company and my“I WAS NEVER THE LIFE
OFTHEPARTY.IHAVEA
BIG IMAGINATION THAT
JUST SWELLS AND COMES
OUTOFMYEYESAND
EARS. I CAN’T SIT STILL.”