'I'd get eggs thrown at me for being black': Idris Elba reveals he felt the 'full whack of racism' as a schoolboy... as Oscar winning writer lets slip actor is set to be first black James Bond
Guerrilla director John Ridley appeared to confirm Idris Elba is going to be the first black 007 last week after rumours have been swirling for months.
And ahead of his new series Guerrilla airing on Thursday, the 44-year-old actor has recalled how his race meant he was targeted when he got on the school bus outside his east London school Trinity.
Idris was 'shielded from racial tension' when he lived in Hackney, London before he moved with his parents Eve and Winston to the Canning Town area of the capital.
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'I'd get eggs thrown at me for being black': Idris Elba has revealed he felt the 'full whack of racism' as a boy growing up in London
After the move to a 'non-black area', the Luther actor revealed he was pelted with eggs.
Describing the assault, he told The Telegraph: 'I'd been shielded from racial tension, but when we moved I felt it full whack.
'Mate, if you were Indian or black you were getting it.
Revealed: Idris (pictured in Luther) was 'shielded from racial tension' when he lived in Hackney, London before he moved with his parents Eve and Winston to Canning Town area of the capital
'Eggs thrown at you, the whole thing.'
Elba reflected on how he felt the 'full whack of racism' after slipping into the lead role of Guerrilla.
The political drama tells the story of the black power movement in Britain in the early 70s.
Targeted: But after the move to a 'non-black area', the Luther actor revealed he was pelted with eggs as a schoolboy
The American director Ridley, 51, appeared to drop the bombshell Elba is set for Bond when he was at the premiere of their new Sky Atlantic series last week.
He told BBC Radio One: 'Idris is pretty much becoming a national treasure for every country. We couldn't have done it without him.
'It was a pleasure, he's a gentleman. I can't wait to see him as James Bond quite frankly.'
But the British actor dismissed the comments as merely sparking rumours.
'Full whack of racism': The 44-year-old reflected on how he was victimised after taking on lead role in Guerrilla, a drama about the rise of racial movement
He insisted on the red carpet: 'Oh my god, I have no idea why he said that. That's another six months of the rumour, oh well.'
In his personal life, Elba raises his only daughter Isan with his ex wife make-up artist Hanne Norgaard.
He got hitched for the second time in 2006 to Sonya Nicole Hamlin but their union only lasted six weeks.
The star has since been dating Naiyana Garth, who gave birth to their two-year-old son Winston.
They silenced split rumours when they were spotted hand-in-hand at the BAFTA Awards last year.
In his personal life: Elba raises his only daughter Isan (pictured in West Hollywood in January 2016) with his ex wife make-up artist Hanne Norgaard
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