Washington DC [US], July 2: Actor and musician Idris Elba recently opened up about the realities of ageing, personal growth, and the evolving influences that come with time. Speaking on the latest episode of the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast, the Heads of State star discussed the mixed experiences of being in his 50s, according to People.
“I don’t love that, at this age, the age of having wellness and consciousness, is so upon us, yet our bodies fail us,” Elba shared candidly.
Host Amy Poehler empathized with Elba, calling it “the biggest bummer,” and joked, “I mean, the fact that you can get hurt just getting out of bed.”
Elba, now 52, also reflected on the cultural and emotional milestones that shaped his generation. “Some of the coolest things — art, music, culture, some of the craziest world politics that set the dynamics for where we are right now — all happened when our emotions were blossoming, and our adolescence was growing,” he said.
On a more introspective note, Elba spoke about how aging has brought him greater clarity. “Your influences change,” he noted. “In my 30s and 40s, I was blowing with the wind a little bit with what was influencing me, what my goals were. And in the 50s, I’m like, ‘Nah. That wind has to pass around me.’ I’m not getting as easily influenced.”
He also embraced the challenges that come with age, stating he’s no longer afraid of discomfort. “To choose your own discomfort is like a privilege at our age,” Poehler chimed in. “It’s gonna be uncomfortable, but I’m gonna be in charge of it.”
Discussing technology and the future, Elba added, “We talk about AI and all that stuff. I refer to it as like, ‘Wow. That’s the future that we talked about as kids that was just in our imaginations, and here it is.’”
Elba currently stars in Heads of State, now streaming on Prime Video.