Idris Elba says there’s a "line to be drawn" when it comes to violence against women on television.
The 42-year-old actor stars as troubled detective John Luther in the BBC crime drama ‘Luther’, but he’s confessed he puts a lot of thought into taking on certain roles as he doesn’t want to cross the line.
He said: "There is a line to be drawn about violence on TV, especially against women, and I am definitely sensitive to it.
"Deciding on a role takes careful consideration from me.
"The rules for me are that I want to entertain and I want to keep the audience guessing but I always consider the impact of storylines, too."
The ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ star feels especially committed to ensuring ‘Luther’ doesn’t become too offensive as he’s also the associate producer.
He told The Sun newspaper: "As a producer you fear that you are sending a message out there. That said, we have to remind ourselves we are making escapism TV based on a thrill ride."
And Idris has admitted he’s feeling the pressure ahead of filming for the upcoming two-part mini-series – which promises to be as brutal as the past three series – in the New Year.
He added: "I’m a bit nervous about going back to do it. And we’ve just announced there is going to be an American ‘Luther’ – the pressure is on to get that right."
Idris Elba: There must be limits to violence on TV
