--- title: "10 Black Quotes By Idris Elba" description: "10 Black quotes by Idris Elba. Plus more from Idris Elba and more Black sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/idris-elba-3366_black_there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can_2357196.png" --- > [There has been a big debate about it: can a black man play a Nordic character?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can-a-black-man-play-a-nordic/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/idris-elba-3366_black_there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can_2357196.png) > [The less I talk about being black, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/the-less-i-talk-about-being-black-the-better/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/idris-elba-3366_better_the-less-i-talk-about-being-black-the-be_1229985.png) > [I get these roles because I can act and thats it. Hopefully thats it. The less I talk about being black, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-get-these-roles-because-i-can-act-and-thats-it-hopefully-thats-it/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/idris-elba-3366_black_i-get-these-roles-because-i-can-act-and_2657804.png) > [I'd rather a young black actor read about success as opposed to how tough it was. I get these roles because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-d-rather-a-young-black-actor-read-about-success-as-opposed-to-how/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/idris-elba-3366_actor_i-d-rather-a-young-black-actor-read-abou_1721084.png) > [Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/sean-connery-wasn-t-the-scottish-james-bond-and-daniel-craig-wasn-t/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/idris-elba-3366_black_sean-connery-wasn-t-the-scottish-james-b_948519.png) > [Are there differences between black actors' opportunities and white actors' opportunities? Yes, there are. It's been said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/are-there-differences-between-black-actors-opportunities-and-white/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/idris-elba-3366_actors_are-there-differences-between-black-acto_3091950.png) > [The only thing I change mainly is my sneakers. I love sneakers. But everything's sort of black or jeans. Jeans, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/the-only-thing-i-change-mainly-is-my-sneakers-i-love-sneakers-but/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/idris-elba-3366_black_the-only-thing-i-change-mainly-is-my-sne_2136005.png) > [If you are going to call a film a 'black film' then you have to make a film that represents everyone that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/if-you-are-going-to-call-a-film-a-black-film-then-you-have-to-make-a/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/idris-elba-3366_almost_if-you-are-going-to-call-a-film-a-black_1140415.jpg) > [Imagine a film such as Inception with an entire cast of black people – do you think it would be successful? Would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/imagine-a-film-such-as-inception-with-an-entire-cast-of-black-people/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/idris-elba-3366_being-successful_imagine-a-film-such-as-inception-with-an_1311587.png) > [If you go to Africa and you're white, you're probably not going to get that much work either. But the fact is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/if-you-go-to-africa-and-you-re-white-you-re-probably-not-going-to-get/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/idris-elba-3366_africa_if-you-go-to-africa-and-you-re-white-you_2966576.png) ## Other authors on Black ## More by Idris Elba > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/apparently-daniel-craig-said-i-d-be-a-great-bond-daniel-why-did-you/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [It's weird because my parents don't really understand my business. I get fan mail all day long, but if a piece happens to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/it-s-weird-because-my-parents-don-t-really-understand-my-business-i/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [As an actor, you're trained to do the right thing, be politically correct, say your lines, say the right thing about the people you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/as-an-actor-you-re-trained-to-do-the-right-thing-be-politically/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [There's the argument that you can relate to someone who's completely unrelatable. In the way that a director shows you his imagination on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/there-s-the-argument-that-you-can-relate-to-someone-who-s-completely/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [Why work so hard to have a life...But kill ourselves to earn a living?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/why-work-so-hard-to-have-a-life-but-kill-ourselves-to-earn-a-living/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [I just played indoor football for the first time since tearing my Achilles playing the same game...I'm HEELED!!! Get it!!??.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-just-played-indoor-football-for-the-first-time-since-tearing-my/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-was-really-ambitious-so-i-was-innovative-i-was-one-of-the-first-djs/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [If I was gonna go to jail, I don't want to go to jail for stealing a bottle of water. I'll steal that $20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/if-i-was-gonna-go-to-jail-i-don-t-want-to-go-to-jail-for-stealing-a/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [My Father always told me that a fool at 40 is a fool for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/my-father-always-told-me-that-a-fool-at-40-is-a-fool-for-life/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [I'm rebelling against being handed a career, like, 'You're the next this; you're the next that.' I'm not the next anything, I'm the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-m-rebelling-against-being-handed-a-career-like-you-re-the-next-this/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [The people that matter to me don't mind who I am and the people that mind, don't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/the-people-that-matter-to-me-don-t-mind-who-i-am-and-the-people-that/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [As much as it's nice to step into that massive world of Hollywood and be a big, famous actor, I prefer the career of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/as-much-as-it-s-nice-to-step-into-that-massive-world-of-hollywood-and/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-ve-always-had-ambition-and-the-acting-was-successful-and-put-my/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [It's actually quite criminal how 'The Wire' was systematically ignored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/it-s-actually-quite-criminal-how-the-wire-was-systematically-ignored/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [I have one of these bodies. When I was younger, I could never put weight on, and now that I'm a little older, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-have-one-of-these-bodies-when-i-was-younger-i-could-never-put/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/idris-elba/#itemlist", "name": "10 Black Quotes By Idris Elba", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There has been a big debate about it: can a black man play a Nordic character?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can-a-black-man-play-a-nordic/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/idris-elba-3366_black_there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can_2357196.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/idris-elba-3366_black_there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can_2357196.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/idris-elba-3366_black_there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can_2357196.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There has been a big debate about it: can a black man play a Nordic character?” — Idris Elba", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The less I talk about being black, the better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/the-less-i-talk-about-being-black-the-better/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/idris-elba-3366_better_the-less-i-talk-about-being-black-the-be_1229985.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/idris-elba-3366_better_the-less-i-talk-about-being-black-the-be_1229985.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/idris-elba-3366_better_the-less-i-talk-about-being-black-the-be_1229985.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The less I talk about being black, the better.” — Idris Elba", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I get these roles because I can act and thats it. 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So if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/sean-connery-wasn-t-the-scottish-james-bond-and-daniel-craig-wasn-t/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/idris-elba-3366_black_sean-connery-wasn-t-the-scottish-james-b_948519.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/idris-elba-3366_black_sean-connery-wasn-t-the-scottish-james-b_948519.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/idris-elba-3366_black_sean-connery-wasn-t-the-scottish-james-b_948519.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. 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It's been said.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/are-there-differences-between-black-actors-opportunities-and-white/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/idris-elba-3366_actors_are-there-differences-between-black-acto_3091950.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/idris-elba-3366_actors_are-there-differences-between-black-acto_3091950.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/idris-elba-3366_actors_are-there-differences-between-black-acto_3091950.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Are there differences between black actors' opportunities and white actors' opportunities? Yes, there are…” — Idris Elba", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing I change mainly is my sneakers. I love sneakers. But everything's sort of black or jeans. Jeans, always.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/the-only-thing-i-change-mainly-is-my-sneakers-i-love-sneakers-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/idris-elba-3366_black_the-only-thing-i-change-mainly-is-my-sne_2136005.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/idris-elba-3366_black_the-only-thing-i-change-mainly-is-my-sne_2136005.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/idris-elba-3366_black_the-only-thing-i-change-mainly-is-my-sne_2136005.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing I change mainly is my sneakers. I love sneakers. 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That is why white films are not called white films, they are just called 'films.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/if-you-are-going-to-call-a-film-a-black-film-then-you-have-to-make-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/idris-elba-3366_almost_if-you-are-going-to-call-a-film-a-black_1140415.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/idris-elba-3366_almost_if-you-are-going-to-call-a-film-a-black_1140415.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/idris-elba-3366_almost_if-you-are-going-to-call-a-film-a-black_1140415.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are going to call a film a 'black film' then you have to make a film that represents everyone that's…” — Idris Elba", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagine a film such as Inception with an entire cast of black people – do you think it would be successful? Would people watch it? But no one questions the fact that everyone’s white. That’s what we have to change", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/imagine-a-film-such-as-inception-with-an-entire-cast-of-black-people/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/idris-elba-3366_being-successful_imagine-a-film-such-as-inception-with-an_1311587.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/idris-elba-3366_being-successful_imagine-a-film-such-as-inception-with-an_1311587.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/idris-elba-3366_being-successful_imagine-a-film-such-as-inception-with-an_1311587.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Imagine a film such as Inception with an entire cast of black people – do you think it would be successful?…” — Idris Elba", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you go to Africa and you're white, you're probably not going to get that much work either. But the fact is that there is a longer history of black integration in the U.S. I don't have any resentment about this: I did the maths, calculated it against my ambition and decided to leave England.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Idris Elba" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/if-you-go-to-africa-and-you-re-white-you-re-probably-not-going-to-get/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/idris-elba-3366_africa_if-you-go-to-africa-and-you-re-white-you_2966576.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/idris-elba-3366_africa_if-you-go-to-africa-and-you-re-white-you_2966576.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e6/idris-elba-3366_africa_if-you-go-to-africa-and-you-re-white-you_2966576.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you go to Africa and you're white, you're probably not going to get that much work either. But the fact…” — Idris Elba", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/idris-elba/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/idris-elba/", "name": "Black Quotes by Idris Elba", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/idris-elba/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b0/idris-elba-3366_black_there-has-been-a-big-debate-about-it-can_2357196.png" }, "description": "10 Black quotes by Idris Elba. Plus more from Idris Elba and more Black sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/idris-elba/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/idris-elba/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Black", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Idris Elba", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/idris-elba/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```