Elba credits ‘good old Prince’ for big break
IDRIS Elba has said “good old Prince Charles” helped him get his big break as he made a speech in Parliament about diversity in television.
The star, known for his roles in Luther and The Wire, spoke about the importance of the creative industries to the British economy and called for “imagination” and “diversity of thought”.
He touched upon skin colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and social background in a speech that lasted about 30 minutes and was full of witty remarks that drew laughs from the packed committee room in Westminster.
“The Britain I come from is the most successful, diverse, multicultural country on the earth.
“But here’s my point: you wouldn’t know it if you turned on the TV. So many of our creative decisionmakers share the same background,” he said.
Speaking about his own path to stardom, the 43-yearold actor said: “I’m a product of my imagination.
“Made in Hackney. Made in Newham. Made in Dagenham. But above all, I was made in my mind: I’m seeing it, thinking it, doing it.
“I got my first break in the creative industries from the Prince’s Trust. Yes, good old Prince Charles came in.”
“The Prince’s Trust subsidised one of my first jobs with the National Music Youth Theatre. They gave me £1,500, because my parents didn’t have enough money.
“And although I didn’t get to meet Prince Charles, we had one thing in common. We both fell into the same line of work as our parents did.”