Idris Elba has appeared in several films involving violence and guns, but a real-life experience with a man who thought the British actor was trying to hit on his girlfriend threatened him with a pistol left him thinking.
The Harder They Fall actor revealed in an interview with The Daily Mail that the confrontation occurred in the United States and that it nearly cost him his life.
“I nearly lost my f***ing life, after attempting to stop a man threatening his girlfriend outside a club,” the 50-year-old said. “A guy (was) whaling on his missus, screaming in her face, ‘I’ll f***ing kill you,’ and so on. I come round and I go ‘Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that?’”
Things, however, went south afterward as Elba said the man “pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face, and goes, ‘You talking about my girl?”’
“He thought I was trying to hit on her. I remember thinking, “Don’t play negotiations like that… Consequences, man,”’ he added.
Though Elba has had a successful Hollywood career, he had to do some unusual things to fund his acting career after migrating to the United States. In an interview with Sirius XM’s The Jess Cagle Show, the Luther star said that selling pot was one of his “odd jobs” at the time. He also mentioned veteran comic Dave Chappelle as a customer.
“I went to a performing arts college and did two years of everything –– scene painting, a little ballet, a little contemporary dance,” Elba recalled. “I came out and basically went straight into work.”
The actor also recalled how difficult his first few years in the United States were. “It all just fell flat on its face very quickly for about four years,” he said. “During that time, I did a lot of things I’m not proud of.” But I did a lot of them.”
The Suicide Squad actor then went ahead to reveal that he “used to sell weed” though “it wasn’t [legal] back then.” “I did that for a little bit just to pay the way,” he added.
Elba also said he took up jobs as a DJ and a doorman at a comedy club “which is fascinating now.” “When I meet the comedians you kind of remember the cool English guy with the funny accent and the little hair,” he added.
“Dave Chappelle remembers me ’cause he used to buy weed from me,” the 50-year-old revealed. “Anyway, moving on. But yeah, I did all kinds of things, to be honest.”