Idris Elba Quotes

Film's hard when you don't have any relationship with the director at all and you just show up. Then you really are just a gun for hire.

When you work with a great director, you can have a great partnership.

I did short film with Damian Lewis from Homeland, that was a really incredible experience. He's one of the best actors I've ever worked with. Even though that's a short film for Jaguar that's really, in essence, a commercial, it didn't feel like it, at all.

When I got the invitation to be part of 'The Ghost' or 'The Ghost Writer,' as it's now known, from Mr. Roman Polanski, my interest level was very piqued. I was very excited and pleased to get such an offer from Mr. Roman Polanski.

One of the things I love about working with my brother is that there's a commitment there - an unwavering commitment. From our basement in Illinois when I was three years old to Iceland on a frozen glacier with Matthew McConaughey and Matt Damon in spacesuits - there's a commitment to the pure spectacle, the pure cinema of it.

I have a strong and strange character, and I've rarely met directors who knew what to do with this character. One of the few who did was my father, and in the theatre, Arthur Nauzyciel.

I produced six movies with Amy Robinson since the very early '80s.

What goes on between the actor and director is sacred.

In a collaborative environment directors hire actors because they want their input, not just their bodies.

As far as an actor-director connection, I think those can develop, and when they do, they're really great, and you just cultivate it like you would any relationship or friendship. If you find that something special, it helps down the line when you want to do more projects with each other.

I had a really good time working with Jim Cameron. A lot of people didn't, but I did as I got on with him really quite well. For a director who spends most of his time looking down a lens or in the digitisation studio or working out some graphics, he is actually very good with actors.

I've definitely become more aware and conscious of what directors I'm working with because it's so important. The director is really more than half the battle of the film. You really rely on that. That's become really, really important to me, for sure.

I'd like to work with David Lynch again.

Whenever you have the creator pulling your card and saying they want you to be a part of it, you're in a pretty good position.

If I'm going to produce something, it's going to be with somebody I think is special. Once I go beyond a handful of directors, like Scorsese, there are very few I want to work with.

Very often, it's the director that I'm attracted to. If it's a really good director, I don't even have to read the script to say yes.

I care a lot about who I'm working with as directors and other actors.

My collaboration with Sally Potter on a small movie, 'Yes,' was very special to me. It helped my growth as an actor.

I've never worked hands-on with a producer. I've been on my own writing, just taking beats and doing what I have to do. I've been on my own. To have Timbaland invite me in and say that 'I want to work with you' is amazing. He's a legend.

But, as an actor, the role that I enjoyed, in terms of really understanding and appreciating this profession, was Anoop Singh's 'Qissa'.

It feels good to be able to work with a director and actors I've admired.

I didn't discover how music and film could work together until Jim Jarmusch had me do 'Ghost Dog.'

Music has been more a solitary, creative thing. The acting side of things and working in movies has helped me collaboratively with music in terms of helping me get ideas across to other people and making it more of a team efforts.

A director like Ram Gopal Varma brings out a different dimension in your performance.

I've done two movies with Jim Mickle. He's somebody that I'd love to do another movie with.