He may well have ruled himself out of the running to play James Bond, but Idris Elba looked suave enough to impress the fictional secret agent as he starred in his first ever campaign for Calvin Klein on Tuesday.
The actor, 51, wore a smart black suit before changing into a corduroy jacket and jeans in a series of photos taken by Mert Alas.
In the second instalment of the brands spring 2024 menswear campaign, Idris follows The Bear star Jeremy Allen White after he showed off his toned abs in the brand’s classic briefs.
He topped off his first outfit with a classic white T-shirt and a pair of patent brogues while posing on a chair in the middle of the street.
Another outfit change saw him model a thin knit sweater and jeans for a clean, everyday look.
Earlier this week, Idris has praised the UK government’s crackdown on zombie knives, but said that it doesn’t go far enough.
The actor has been a fierce proponent against knife crime in Britain, which has surged in recent years with many of the victims being teenage boys.
He has launched a new campaign called Don’t Stop Your Future, and is demanding an immediate ban on machetes and so-called ‘zombie knives’.
It was announced on Wednesday, that fresh legislation is set to be introduced to Parliament, which Home Secretary James Cleverly said seeks to ‘close that loophole’ on outlawing the weapons.
Zombie-style knives were first banned in 2016 but ministers hope these tighter measures will stop some retailers being able to sell dangerous knives and machetes without breaking the law.
However, Labour said the changes had already been promised by six Conservative home secretaries and ‘loopholes’ mean they do not go far enough to be a ‘comprehensive ban’.
Idris appeared on BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning to discuss the new measures, saying while they are welcome progress but there is still so much more to be done.
He said: ‘This is a symbolic step in the right direction. It is only a step in the right direction because there is such a long road to go.’
Idris continued: ‘There’s so many facets to this issue that need to be addressed but banning them outright – the sale, the manufacture of them in our country – is a step in the right direction and I feel that’s a good step.
‘It’s a small win for the families, for the victims, that are sitting there wondering why our government hasn’t done something like this earlier.
‘Even though they have done it before, they left so many loopholes it allowed the sales to continue. So this feels a lot more robust, a lot more thinking has been put into the banning of it and hopefully there aren’t any loopholes.’
However, he pointed out that not all knives are banned, including swords, and explained why this still represented a ‘big issue’.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
