The Daily Show: Ears Edition - From the Archives: Idris Elba - September 11, 2017

Episode Date: July 4, 2018

Actor Idris Elba describes how he approached the movie "Yardie" as a first-time director and chats about his film role in "The Mountain Between Us." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I am here to tell you about my new podcast, the weekly show.. It it it. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. to to the. to to to to to to to to to the. the. to to to to the, the, the th, th, th, th, the th, the th, the the th, the th, the the the the the the the th. th. the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the the the the the the the the t ti ti ti ti. ti. ti. the the the the the the the the the the the smartest way to hire. Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, The Weekly Show. It's going to be coming out every Thursday. So exciting. You'll be saying to yourself, TGID. Thank God it's Thursday. We're going to be talking about. All the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me. The election. Economics. Earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking

about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. And I know that I listed that fourth, but in importance it's probably second. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? I mean, talk about innovative. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart, wherever you get your podcast. Please welcome. It's Resalba!

Welcome back to the show. Thanks, man. So nice to see you. Good to see you. Good to see you again. It's just occurred to me that the answer to that question is obviously your cookie. Sorry, I'm going to get fired now. The, um, let's start with the most important thing. Happy belated birthday. Oh, thank you.

A week ago, celebrate his birthday. Thanks. Did you do anything special? No, I didn't do anything special. I was working all a a a a tha a tha a tha. tha. tha. tha. tha. tha. tha. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. that. thatea. tho. thoing. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. to. to. to. toea. toea. toea. toea. toean. to. toea. thia. thi. thi. thi, no I didn't do anything special. No, um, I was working all day, I mean, pretty boring. Nothing? Nothing? No one does a birthday for you? Listen, when you turned 21, you know, you know, you know, you know, you're working, you you know, you know, yeah, man.

You're working all all day, you know, yeah, man. you, I'm the, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I'm like you early and then it's just like yeah man so so where's the booze and I was like I was like I was like I told you I was gonna do that right drunk and you that's like no I told you I was gonna do that right drunk and the drunk a thing I'm working on a scare it's new you know listen I oh i you you i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i you you you you you you you you you you th th you th you you t t t t t t t t t t t t t tell tell tell tell tol tol tell tell tell tell tell you tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell tell t. t. t. t. t. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th tol the tol tol th the tole th tole tole the the tole the tole the the tole tole tole tole tole tole tole tole tole tole to to that right drunk and man thing I'm working on a scare it's new well you know trouble look you know these guys you said it give me more love you could you could you could be anything you know that I could be anything before we before we talk about the mountain between us let's let's talk about some of the other work you're doing you just completed your directorial debut yeah directing your first film. Congratulations on that. Yeah. I did.

I did it. What's that like? Because I mean, you're an esteemed actor. What's it like when you have no control in the scene, but you have control over the scene, but you have control over the scene? Yeah, mate, it was amazing. It was amazing. I mean, you know, I've been working for a to a to work for a to work for a to work for a to work for a to work to work to work to work to work the to work the the ley Scott, Gere with the Torres, some really fantastic directors,

but I never got to use the language they use, which is, you know, the 360 language of making film. Like, cut and action. Like, cut and action. Yeah, you know, I today. You know what I mean? And actually, what's weird is that I never got to say cut or action? Oh wait, on this film? No, because the First AD would say it. So I'd be like, and action, shut up! Sorry, and it was like constantly, he did it, but anyway, I got used to that.

But just the idea of being able to sort of construct film. Right. And all this stuff that I'd learned as an actor, I could use it and directing a film was incredible. I loved it. It's a story based in Jamaica th, I th, I th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th. And, th. And, th. And, th, th, th, th, th, th, th. And, th, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. And, thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. And, thi, really loved it. It's a story based in London, I mean, inspired from Jamaica. It's a film called Yadi. You said you enjoyed making it because it touched on your two passions and that is film and music. What's the story of the film and why is it film and music?

Okay, so it's based on a book Jamaica who ends up in London in the mid-early 80s and in the early 80s back then you know there was a real sort of war between you know Jamaican immigrants and police right I mean you know they just didn't get along so basically this story is about this kid who follows his passion to be a DJ comes to London and ends up becoming a gangster and you know it spans from 191st a to the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I I I I I I I I. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the th. the the the the the the th. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. the, it spans from 1972 to 1983, which is when I was born in my first 10 years of life. So I kind of really relate to it. And you, and you're a DJ as well. So I mean, that's part of your vibe.

How many gigs do you play? This year, 10 year, 10 year. That's a long game. That's a long game. I know we love you, Idrish, Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Id Idl-a, I, I'm, I'm, I'a, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, the, the, the the the the the th, th, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, th-a, th-a, thin, th-a, thin, th-a, th-in, th-a, th-in, th-a, th. th. ris but this is too long. I did like a 10 date tour this year. Right. Next year I'm doing a longer tour. I love DJ. Is there anybody who only knows you as a DJ and has no clue that you're acting? Is it like one guy was like, I love this guy?

It's like, yeah, he was good in that movie. No, I can get that all the time, like really, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the, the, the, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. th. thi. t t t t together, together, together, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. th. the the th. th. that all the time, man, like really young kids that, you know, like, young, and they go, oh, I've just seen this thing, string a bell, what's that? And you're like, the greatest series of all time? No, not really. The wire. It is. It is. Arguably. You are.

We will argue that right now. Let's talk about the the the the. I don't want to give away much in the film, but it is a story that is set. We see it in the trailer, so I'm not giving too much away. It's a plane crash. Yerself and Kate Winslet play these two people who are flying on a tiny little plane that crashes, and then you begin the journey of survival. Yeah, yeah, I mean it's a simple story. It really is about survival and it's about trust. And it's about two people that are very, very different who discover themselves. They're very different approaches to survival.

And then they discover themselves. And then, you know, eventually, they make whoophup. And then, um, they make a, they make a musical instrument that you play. No, no spoilers, but it's a love story. Yeah, I think actually in this day and age in film making. You know, films are a great way to, you know, no, no spoilers, but it's, it is a love story.

Right. I think actually in this day and age in filmmaking, you know, films are a great way to, you know, express an idea and I think we need films that express love. I think we really do right at this point and this movie is about that. It's about the perilous journey to towards trust when you don't know someone. And of course, you know, you put a man, a black man in minus 38, you know, there's some drama going to happen. You know. This is just a movie about a black man fighting snow? That's essentially all it is.

Oh man. But I really enjoyed making it. Hani Abu Assad, who directed Paradise Lost and Omar, who's a phenomenal Palestinian director. You know, he just brought a simplicity to it. We shot it in Canada, in Invermere, in minus 38. And you know, there was no green screen. I mean, it was real. And I, Kate Winslet, she's a pro, a really, a goddess of an actor. And we had a great time.

You used the word simplicity over and over again and it in many ways is a simple story but I found that it was what added to the complexity of the journey. These are two people and it's not a journey about a crash, it's not just a journey about two people stranded. It felt like it was the ultimate journey of which side of humanity we use. You know is it the logical side? Or is the heart? Because you have two people who are stranded going, what's the logic of being free or like finding help, rescue, and what is the heart side of it? Which do you think you're more of in real life? Are you Idris the thinker or are you Idris the heart?

I think a lot. But I think when I move, I move with my heart and guts. You know what I mean? It turns out that you have half as many neurons, I don't even know what I'm talking about, half as many neurons in your stomach in the lining of your intestines as you do in your brain. So that feeling that you call the gut instinct is really the synapses happening. And is it's an emotional reaction when you feel something you feel it in your stomach and then your brain does the thinking based on logic and memory and all of that but your gut tells you whether it

feels good or not that's a true story guys you know I'm true it's true no I don't know no no I don't know. Trust me. Now I don't know. I, you know, I, I will say this. I have seen you act in many different roles. We've seen Idris, the gangster. We've seen Idris, the guard, you know, in Thor. We've seen Idris, the policeman, and Luther. We haven't really seen a lot of Idris, just the dashing, leading man, just very handsome, not punching

anything or anyone. And like, can I tell you, so like, I went to watch the movie with a woman, and then, I didn't appreciate you being as sexy as you were. Because it's not like nice to sit next to someone who the whole time in the movie is just like, mmm. And I'm just like, I hope you will choke on this popcorn. And then Idris will have to come and save you. Was it different for you playing like this type of?

Because it's subtle and it's really beautiful and you are mad sexy in this story. Thanks. In like ways we've never seen you before. Oh, thanks, man. Um... Man, that's a compliment, thank you very much. I mean, you know, the truth of the matter is the film wasn't designed for me to be sexy or anything, in it, you know, I think, though, there's something, there's something beautiful, thi thup, thi thi thi that, that, th, th, th, and it, and it, and it, th, and it, and it, and it, that, and it, and it, and it, and it, that, and it, and it, and it, and it, and it, and it, and it, and it, and it, that, that, and it, and it, and it, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, tha, th, tha, tha, tha, tha, tha, tha, tha, tha, tha, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, that's a compliment, thank you very much. I mean, you know, the truth of the matter is the film wasn't designed for me to be sexier or anything, you know, I think though, there's something beautiful about two people that

fall in love in the face of adversity in the cold and all that, you know? And, and boning. And, um... But no, there is something beautiful about the, you know, the simplicity of it. And listen, you're right, I play extreme characters. This isn't an extreme character. He's a brain surgeon, actually. Right. See?

See? I do know I'm talking about. He's a brain surgeon, and, you know, he's no survivalist. Right, right. You know, she's the survivalist in the movie. But his logic gets them to a certain point and her heart gets them to a certain point. Before I let you go, what are you excited about coming up in the future? You're directing, you're acting, you're fighting all over the world?

What are you fighting anymore. Honestly, rest. I'm going to do sleep. I'm actually really truly I'm doing some comedy man. I'm going to do some comedy. Are you serious? Yeah. No, I mean like I mean like I just say like, because you're not. I'm looking forward to it, Idris. No, I'm like, I was like, wow, like you're coming to my house. That's what you were like. No, I didn't mean it like. th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I to. I to. I to. I'm. I'm. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. th. th. to. th. th. tr. tr. tr. th. tr. tr. tr. tr. tr. to. to. to. to. to. to. I. to. I. I. mean it like that at all. No, no, um, actually, yeah, no, next year I'm, uh, I shouldn't really say it, but I'm doing a show that's, uh, surrounded, uh, my DJ and. Right. And it's a comedy. Well, this is exciting.

I'm super excited. I'm super excited. I'm looking forward to go watch this movie. It's yourself, everybody. The Daily Show with Cover Noa, Ears Edition. Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central and the Comedy Central app. Watch full episodes and videos at the Daily Show.

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