Idris Elba explains why he no longer describes himself as a ‘Black actor’

Idris Elba said he stopped describing himself as a “Black actor” because it put him in a “box” in his career. He agreed that racism should be discussed, but added that it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be. He said he appreciates that “I might be the first to look like me to do a certain thing” and that other people, Black kids, but also White kids growing up in the circumstances he grew up in, are able to see there was a kid who came from Canning Town who ended up doing what he does.