Latest news with #StringerBell
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Idris Elba says he has never watched ‘The Wire' and never will
Idris Elba has revealed that he's never watched 'The Wire' and he never will. The hunky actor and sought-after DJ confessed that he hasn't seen a single episode of the HBO hit that made him a household name, in which he played debonair yet dastardly drug dealer Stringer Bell. 'If I'm really honest, I didn't watch 'The Wire,'' he shared on this week's episode of the 'Good Hang with Amy Poehler' podcast. 'I didn't watch it. And I feel bad. It's not that I'm not a fan of it — I was there.' The London native made a career breakout on the David Simon-created drama, hailed as one of the best shows in television history. He appeared in the first three seasons of the series, which also propelled the careers of Michael K. Williams, Andre Royo, Dominic West, Sonja Sohn, Tristan 'Mack' Wilds, Wood Harris and Tony Award-winner Wendell Pierce. Despite understanding now 'the importance of the show,' Elba admits that he's never 'participate[d] in its celebration as a viewer, as a fan' so he feels 'a little bit outside of the club.' And while he does 'feel proud' of his time on 'The Wire,' the Golden Globe and SAG Award winner has no desire to ever watch his work. 'It [would be] weird for me to go back and watch it,' Elba told Poehler. 'I don't like being overly conscious about what my performance is like, because it makes me conscious about doing it. I like being in it rather than watching it.' Still, Elba acknowledges the lasting effect the show has had and continues to have on viewers, even 20 years later. 'At least once a day, someone says, 'Bro, Stringer Bell, The Wire,' … It really does, it surprises me how much impact that show had,' he said. 'In a good way, it surprises me continuously that, you know, multi-generationally, it's still being talked [about by] people that weren't even born then.'
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Idris Elba explains why he cannot watch his breakthrough role in The Wire: 'A part of me died with that character'
It may have been the breakthrough role that made him a household name, but British actor Idris Elba has never actually watched The Wire. Appearing as the sharp and calculated Stringer Bell for three seasons, the 52-year-old became a standout presence in the acclaimed HBO drama, but he recently revealed on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast that he's never seen the show that helped launch his career. Idris Elba played the role of Stringer Bell in The Wire for three seasons 'If I'm really honest, I didn't watch The Wire. I didn't watch it. And I feel bad. It's not that I'm not a fan of it — I was there. I made a show that was, you know, so intense and so real, so important, even though we didn't realize it. I didn't realize the importance of the show while making it,' Idris said. Despite playing one of television's most iconic antiheroes, Idris admitted to feeling distant from the show's lasting cultural impact. 'I didn't participate in its celebration as a viewer, as a fan. And so I feel a little bit outside of the club,' he said. Amy, a longtime admirer, responded by calling The Wire 'a series that changed my life' and shared that she has watched it 'all the way through at least three times.' When she encouraged Idris to watch it now, he shut the idea down: 'No, man.' 'You can't watch it now?' she asked. 'But I bet, Idris, I bet you have a feeling about it that you might be kinder to yourself and [the show], watching it now,' Amy added. However, Idris went on to explain that it's not just about seeing himself onscreen. 'It's more that I feel the presence of it all, my life since The Wire in terms of its impact,' he said. 'So to me, it was almost a bit like I was Stringer Bell. I'm not Stringer Bell, but I also feel like when Stringer Bell died, there was a part of me that died with that character. It's weird for me to go back and watch it,' he added. He added that he generally avoids revisiting his performances: 'I like being in it rather than watching it,' and said he dislikes becoming 'overly conscious' of his acting. Even years after the show ended, Idris remains closely tied to the role. 'At least once a day, someone says, 'Bro, Stringer Bell, The Wire,' whatever it is. And, you know, it really does, it surprises me how much impact that show had,' he shared. 'In a good way, it surprises me continuously that, you know, multi-generationally, it's still being talked to [by] people that weren't even born then. I feel proud. I feel a sense of pride,' he said.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Idris Elba reveals why he's never watched The Wire and never will
Idris Elba has insisted he will never watch The Wire. The 52-year-old actor had his breakout US role was criminal Russell 'Stringer' Bell on the first three seasons of the hit HBO drama from 2002 to 2004, but he has admitted he never took the time to tune in "as a fan". He told Amy Poehler on her Good Hang podcast: "If I'm really honest, like, I didn't watch The Wire. 'And I feel bad. It's not that I'm not a fan of it. I was there. I made a show that was, you know, was so intense and so real, so important. 'And even though we didn't realise — I didn't realise the importance of the show while making it. "I didn't participate in its celebration as a viewer, as a fan. And so I feel a little bit outside of the club." Amy asked if he could start watching now, two decades, later, but he replied: "No, man." The Heads of State actor admitted that after his character was killed off, he wasn't able to see the show in the same way. He explained: 'It's more that I feel the presence of it all, my life since The Wire… In terms of its impact. "So to me, it was almost a bit like I was Stringer Bell. I'm not Stringer Bell, but I also feel like when Stringer Bell died, there was a part of me that died with that character. "It's weird for me to go back and watch it." He also pointed out that, generally as an actor, he doesn't enjoy "watching" himself back. He added: "I don't like being overly conscious of what my performance is like or whatever because it makes me conscious about doing it. "I like being in it rather than watching it.' Amy had apologised for bringing up the show, which she predicted he has spoken about "over and over again". However, he said: "The truth is that I actually don't speak about The Wire as much as people might think, even though I am definitely, at least once a day, someone says, 'Bro, Stringer Bell! The Wire!' Whatever it is. "And, you know, it really does, it surprises me how much impact that show had. "In a good way, it surprises me continuously that, you know, multi-generationally, it's still being talked to [by] people that weren't even born then."
