Dark & dreary
Idris Elba is a shining light in the depths and despair that makes his detective thriller Luther simply unmissable.
There’s not much that Idris Elba can’t do. He’s an actor, a musician, a DJ, a producer and now The Sexiest Man Alive in 2018 – and he does it all with unashamed modesty that drags you into his nonchalant, charming persona. But when it comes to his work, the 46-year- old British actor is all business, all the time… which adds depth to his dark, brooding, twisted and damaged character DCI John Luther in crime thriller Luther (2010- current, seasons 1- 4 can be streamed online from Showmax’s catalogue).
Like his character, Idris can’t say no to his job despite how taxing it is. “Luther goes back [to London], he can’t stay away for too long. Ultimately as a protector, he wants to fix what he can see that other people won’t be able to,” explains London-born Idris. Unlike most shows that have a new season every year, Luther averages two years between instalments, with season 4 being broadcast in 2015 and scriptwork only beginning on season 5 now. “He goes back because being away is very challenging for him, very taxing.”
MAKING THE MAN
So what goes into bringing a character like John Luther to life onscreen? It is not as simple as saying “he can do this, he can do that and arrest the bad guys. He is a broken man and that takes a lot of research to build up,” says Idris.
BROKEN BACKGROUND
Luther isn’t a dedicated detective; he’s obsessively involved and when he works on a case, he dives in 100%, whether it’s hunting a thief or a psychopath killer. That takes its toll on him, explains Idris. “The character is dark. He has a lot of demons. You do end up taking some of that home with you. That isn’t necessarily fun. Luther, he isn’t a fragile man, but he might end up becoming fragile after what he goes through.”
UNDER PRESSURE
What would a great detective be without a nemesis? In Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson, Alison in drama series The Affair, 2014- current), Luther might’ve met his match. She is a brilliant serial killer who toys with Luther, wrapping him around her finger through seasons 1 to 3. “Alice is so much fun to play,” says Ruth. “She’s crazy and mad – I find her really funny but other people don’t. She has no conscience and that pushes Luther to places he does not want to be.”
LOOKING GOOD
You could dress Idris in a potato sack and he’d still look like a god chiselled from ebony. Luckily for the character, the wardrobe team have given Luther stylish threads, but that in itself is a character, says Idris: “When John puts his coat on, it definitely feels good. That’s when you’re re-imprinting the DNA of the show. When he slips that on, he’s ready to go to the ends of the Earth to solve his crime. That adds to his walk, his stride that he takes to get to the bullpen [crime scene]. He is back. Back in the mood to work, back in the mood to solve crimes – even though it’s going to get heavy.”
SALVATION
Swapping the city life for a remote house on a cliff at the end of season 3 is more than just getting away from the rat race. “Given that he was on the edge of a cliff [literally and figuratively] and living a secluded life, it felt pretty good and natural,” explains Idris. “He has gone through a lot of trauma; each time you go through anything bad in your life, it makes you a bit more reflective and it definitely scars you in some way. This series, he’s looking for peace. He is very much in love with a woman he meets and is in a different kind of relationship. This series is very much about Luther trying to get to the finish line and trying to change his life.”
PS: If Idris ever plays British super spy James Bond (there have been rumours for years already), his Luther co-star Ruth Wilson has already volunteered to play his nemesis in the movie too.
WHAT IS SHOWMAX?
Streaming service Showmax is the largest online TV provider in Africa with over 35 000 show episodes, doccies and movies for just R99 a month, R49 for DStv Compact subscribers or free on your DStv premium account*. Go to showmax.com, sign up for your free two-week trial and get access to exclusive shows like Luther, Westworld, The Last Post and thousands more!