Idris Elba urges greater diversity in British media

The Hollywood star is proud that Britain is ‘the most successful, diverse, multicultural country on Earth’ but ‘you wouldn’t know it if you turned on the TV’.

Ryan Ramgobin
Tuesday 19 January 2016 13:36 GMT
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Idris Elba talks diversity

Idris Elba called for greater diversity on both sides of the camera in an address to MPs in Parliament yesterday.

The Hollywood star was invited to speak at a meeting organised by Channel 4, attended by over 100 MPs, including culture minister, Ed Vaizey, and industry executives.

Elba started his address off by redefining what diversity means for him in 2016.

“Diversity in the modern word is more than just a skin colour, it’s a gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, social background and most importantly in my opinion, diversity of thought.”

“If you have genuine diversity of thought among people that make television and film then you accidentally won’t shut out some of the groups I mentioned just now.”

Idris Elba in 'Beasts of No Nation'

The 43-year-old Hollywood star urged industry executives to change their outlook to these groups.

“Too often commissioners look at diverse talent, and all they see is risk. Black actors are seen as a commercial risk. Women directors are seen as a commercial risk. Disabled directors aren’t even seen at all.”

“Are black people often playing petty criminals? Are women always playing the love interest or talking about men? Are gay people always stereotyped? Are disabled people hardly ever seen?”

Elba quipped about the fact it is not just an issue in media.

“I’m not just a black man and you’re not just a politician, unless you’re both - shout out to those in the room.”

“When Mo Farah is wrapped in a British flag. Somalian born, raised in Newham. And when the entire British nation cheers on him fanatically, the world intuitively learns about diversity and tolerance.”

Flying the flag: Mo Farah celebrates his victory in the 5,000m in Beijing

Elba moved to America to get his big break after becoming tired of being offered “one dimensional roles”.

He landed a part in the popular series, The Wire, which gave him the exposure to be casted as the title character in hit BBC show, Luther.

“I knew I wasn’t going to land a lead role. I knew there wasn’t enough imagination in the industry for me to be seen as a lead. In other words, if I wanted to star in a British drama like Luther, then I’d have to go to a country like America.”

Idris Elba in 'Luther'

That said, in the last week, there has been uproar in America over the lack of diversity amongst Oscar nominees.

The Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs is now taking action to “alter the make-up” of their membership, following Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith’s refusal to attend the ceremony.

"In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond."

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