Quotes from Idris Elba

I was really ambitious, so I was innovative. I was one of the first DJs to do live calls, 'cause I found this phone device that would pick up other people's voices.

I've always had ambition, and the acting was successful and put my name on the map, but it was never the plan to stop there.

There's a fast-track if you can do the networking. For some personalities it works, but for mine it doesn't.

Bond? It is a bit like saying, 'Do you want to play Superman?' Anyone would dream of it. It's one of the most coveted roles in film. I'd be honoured. But I don't know if it will actually happen. I'm just happy with the idea of being associated with it. It's nice there's a lot of good will.

There has been a big debate about it: can a black man play a Nordic character?

I'm a little sheepish about it. Whenever I meet fans and they're like, 'Oh, you're so sexy,' I just don't get that. There's no way one man can be universally sexy.

I was into Spider Man when I was a kid and that was the only comic I've ever read.

Apparently, Daniel Craig said I'd be a great Bond. Daniel, why did you say that? Dropped me right in it! What an honor it would be, but also, what an indication of change.

When I look at my body of work, I've played a lot of characters who are morally conflicted - 'I'm right, no I'm wrong, I don't know what to do!' I want to play more characters who don't care as much, and who aren't as measured. They are what they are, no apologies.

I did green screen for the first time! I wouldn't like to do a whole movie of green screen, though. You kind of forget the plot a little - like being in a Broadway play and doing it over and over and forgetting your line halfway through.

I tend to stay away from the comics.

You watch yourself age and it's hard to feel like a sex symbol.

I don't have a place that I call home at the moment because there's no point. I mean, I'm a traveling circus for a while. It's weird. Like, if I wanted to go home, there's nowhere to go. I just go to a hotel. But I've kind of gotten used to it.

It could be Grammy night, Oscar night, whatever - I don't feel the pressure to be there.

Are there differences between black actors' opportunities and white actors' opportunities? Yes, there are. It's been said.

My Father always told me that a fool at 40 is a fool for life.

I was always a real athletic kid. Then when I got older, I just figured it was part of life to keep training.

Because I was big, I didn't have to listen to anyone doubting me. I was just considered good at football or whatever, there were no questions about it.

I've been DJing mostly, and most DJs end up producing. That's just me.

I've never had to explain 'Prometheus' to people, ever. Most people get it.

It's really funny because the same people who loved me as Stringer Bell were the same people that were watching 'Daddy's Little Girls' literally in tears.

I'm not interested in making all-black films - I come from a very diverse culture; I want to work with every type of person. I work a lot with women executives because they seem to be a lot more open minded about that and a lot more progressive in that way.

What really excites me in a project is when it goes in a way you haven't been before.

I would never be fearful of any character.