Dad’s death showed me we’ve one life.. that’s why I have my tattoo
Idris tells of inking inspired by father
The Luther star, 46, said: “That’s it. That’s all we’ve got. I watched my dad die, and he and I had big plans.
“I never got to show him the fruits of my labour. We talked about things he could have if I made it, then he got sick.
“It was heartbreaking, but it also grounded the f*** out of me.”
The need to make the most of his life hit home with the death of Ford Dagenham worker Winston, 76, in 2013.
Winston was also Elba’s role model for playing Nelson Mandela in the film of his life, Long Walk to Freedom.
He said: “So when someone tells me, ‘You’re doing a bit too much,’ I’m like, I’m going to die one day, I’m going to take that last breath. You know what I don’t want to be thinking when I do? ‘I should’ve done that’.”
The actor certainly lives up to his motto. His new Netflix comedy, Turn Up Charlie, was released last week, and gangland movie Yardie – his debut as a film director – hit Idris with Sabrina Actor with late father Winston cinemas last year. He’s finished filming Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, and he sings opposite Taylor Swift in the upcoming movie of musical Cats.
In 2016 Elba did a year’s training as a kick-boxer for a documentary, winning his only professional fight. The dad of two also has his own music
label, production Star trains at boxing gym in Cuba Baby tattoo is among personal inkings on star’s arms company, fashion star. He explained: “I’m half-ghanaian line and a London bar and half-sierra Leonean. In Ghana they – and makes his debut in have a black star on their flag, in Sierra April as a DJ at California’s Leone they have a lion.” prestigious Coachella music festival. He has lyrics from reggae song This And as well as being a contender as Train, by Culture, and a tattoo of a tree. the new James Bond, next month he Elba added: “I hug trees. There are weds model fiancée Sabrina Dhowre, 29. philosophies of songs I love. Refusing to be labelled only as an “They’re all personal. Body art for me actor, Elba told magazine The is a form of expression of the highest Hollywood Reporter: “I just want to order. This is our canvas – I just want to encourage people to stay away from decorate it and be proud of it. those who tell you to ‘stay in your lane’. “I’ve got a sh** memory, I can only “You’ve got one life to live. If you want remember lines. But I look at this and I to try something different, go for it.” won’t forget.” His One Life tattoo joins eight others He now plans to mark his directorial that adorn his chest and arms – each debut with yet another inking, his 10th. with deeply personal meanings. He said: “There are a couple of things On one arm is the name of his in the film that I love the image of and I daughter Isan, 16, on the other is that think might look good on my skin. of his late grandad, Moses. “But not big – because when I have to On the back of his right hand is a work I have to cover them all up.” lion’s face set inside a large black scoops@sundaymirror.co.uk