News | Entertainment
14 Jan 2026 15:58
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Idris Elba is determined to "make a difference for young people"

    The 53-year-old actor was recently awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list "for services to young people", following his campaign against knife crime in the UK, and Idris is thrilled that his efforts have been recognised.


    The London-born star told Extra: "I've worked, you know, trying to raise as much awareness about what young people are going through, especially in the UK and other parts of the world.

    "It's a real honour to be recognised for that. Not for my acting work, but, you know, for trying to make a difference for young people."

    Idris has already achieved a lot in his career, but he still has ambitions that he wants to fulfil.

    Asked if he's thinking about retirement, Idris replied: "You naturally retire ... There are things that I've done I don't need to do again and the things I'd like to progress towards; directing is one of them."

    Meanwhile, Idris previously confessed to feeling uncomfortable in the spotlight.

    The actor told Esquire UK magazine: "My public persona is exactly that - it's a public persona.

    "In my personal life, there are things that I'm not great at. Not successful at. That I don't have a grasp of in a way I'd like to. If I like being by myself all the time, what happens when I open the door and loads of people come in? That is a challenge, and that is something I am not very good at.

    "I prefer my own company. I function better on my own. I'm more at ease."

    Idris also explained that he's always "catastrophe-ready".

    The actor admitted that he's always conscious of a "worst-case scenario" whenever he's working.

    He explained: "I'm catastrophe-ready.

    "In the film industry, you always think: worst-case scenario, what would happen if there were an explosion? What would I do? What would happen if this guy walks in and he's kicking off? I'd have to f****** knock him out.

    "They're kind of dark thoughts. But depending on how you decipher what I'm saying, I think there might be readers who will go, 'Yeah, man. I kind of relate.'"

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     14 Jan: Mark Ruffalo could enter politics
     14 Jan: Lucy Liu was "so embarrassed" to tell C. Thomas Howell she had a crush on him as a teenager
     14 Jan: Will Arnett thinks he will lose a Golden Globe to his ex-wife Amy Poehler
     14 Jan: Iman has honoured her late husband David Bowie with a new tattoo
     14 Jan: Isaac Mizrahi dec lares Gwyneth Paltrow "has the best a** in show business"
     14 Jan: Gwyneth Paltrow's son "wanted to die" after watching her raunchy sex scenes with Timothee Chalamet in Marty Supreme
     14 Jan: The Thing star T.K. Carter has died at the age of 69
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Pressure mounting on NZ Rugby to instigate major changes to All Blacks coaching team More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Could our skilled worker shortage hold back our economic recovery? More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Clarkson has shared an update on how her children are coping following the death of their father 15:53

    Rugby:
    Pressure mounting on NZ Rugby to instigate major changes to All Blacks coaching team 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Mark Ruffalo could enter politics 15:23

    Tennis:
    Job done for top seed Ben Shelton in his second round match on a gloomy and humid day three at the ASB tennis Classic in Auckland 15:07

    Law and Order:
    Locals describe Waitarere Beach as a not so-cohesive little town - after a fatal shooting overnight 14:57

    Business:
    Could our skilled worker shortage hold back our economic recovery? 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Lucy Liu was "so embarrassed" to tell C. Thomas Howell she had a crush on him as a teenager 14:53

    Entertainment:
    Will Arnett thinks he will lose a Golden Globe to his ex-wife Amy Poehler 14:23

    National:
    This is the playbook the Iranian regime uses to crack down on protests – but will it work this time? 14:17

    Law and Order:
    A man's been charged - accused of pushing a store owner at Whananaki - in coastal Northland 14:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd