Idris Elba | Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Hi everyone, welcome to another episode. of Good Hang. I'm very excited about our. guest today. It is Idris Elba. Idris is. in studio and we're going to talk about. a lot of great stuff. We're going to. talk about growing up in the 80s. We're. going to talk about Stringer Bell, of. course. We're going to talk about um. cringe comedy. He's going to try to. convince me to go to aa. Um so, uh. there's going to be a lot of fun to be. had. And uh we always start our podcasts. uh the same way. We ask somebody who.

knows our guest to zoom in and give us a. question so um they can kind of help me. get to know them. And we have a real big. star zooming in today. It is John Cena. John, look at your suit. You look so nice. Can. you hear me? This episode of Good Hang is presented. by Walmart uh school supplies. We all. remember getting them. I remember. Trapper Keepers and so many colored. pens, but now I'm sure there's a million.

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[Music]. Oh, you got the your beautiful. background. You guys have spent so much. money on this production. I want to be. able to see it. It was just a dollar. that cornered. I want you to be able to. see my fake plants and my fake food. They're great. And it's so good to see. you. What's in the fake mug? This mug? You know what's in in this in this real. mug is real berries tea. A wonderful. Irish tea. My favorite tea to drink. Awesome. Excellent. Not even a sponsor.

What do you have? Drinking my own. drinking my own urine. John's drinking a a yellowy liquid. What. do you got? What do you got in there? What are you drinking? No, it's my own. urine. I'm going through Howard Hughes. phase. Okay. All right. How are you? How's it. going? It's great to see you. We haven't. seen each other in person since we did a. movie together. Well, we No, we bumped. into each other. We did. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Some some conversations. among friends about wine and and good.

stories and sunsets and all that, which. I'm very grateful for. I loved working. with you. I would love to do it again. You're constantly working and doing such. great stuff. And I like I've I think of. our time together very very fondly. That. was a really good time on the movie. Sisters. That was a great where you were. busy and I was kind of just playing. Pizuzu in the background. So I had a lot. of time to hang out and it was really. really fun. So and that was a actually. the first time I'd been in a location. because of course Sisters was a massive. ensemble piece. So like you're in you're.

doing work and I'm like in a lot of the. shots just fully tatted up. But a lot of. my days weren't a lot of heavy lifting. So you kind of gave me my first vacation. in like 15 years. So I really I'm. grateful for that. I know cuz no one. works harder than you. You are you work. hard. Well, you're about to talk to. somebody who I think wins that argument. Really? He he beats you in the hard work. category. Idris is a robot. Period. And. stop. Like I every hard, you know, there's always somebody at the next.

level. Idris is crazy. Like he he goes. he goes. Yeah. That's amazing to hear. from you because I know how you approach. your work. It's very professional, very. serious. You love it. You have fun and. everybody feels fun when they work with. you, but you work really hard. So, you're telling me that Idris is even. more of a machine. Yeah. He just like I. need to shut down like when I'm when. it's time to go. All right, cool. And. I'm like a a nineto-five person. Idris.

will work a full day and then fly to. Vegas to DJ for the whole night and then. fly back to work the next morning and. then fly go to the studio and make new. music. like he just uh I'm like I need. to be put in my lane and be like, "Okay, this is the day's work. Go out and get. it." He's everywhere all at once. I. don't know how he does what he does. That's one of my questions is literally. how do you stay awake? Honestly, he does. live an AM and PM life. Like an AM PM. life, you know? Like he's doing his last.

set at 4:00 a.m. and then he's on on set. and insane when the camera turns on. Like he's he's and he's a he's a great. human being. I I I can't say enough good. things about it. Your movie Heads of. State is coming out on Amazon and um. thank you very much for that. I. appreciate it. You're so welcome. Hope everybody watches and enjoys it. It. looks so great. And you play um a. fictional president of the United States. and he plays the prime minister of the. UK. Yes. Um never know if I should say.

England, the UK or Britain. So that's. why I hesitated. We got all three. So. you're covered. Great. Covered. Um, and. I have to say it's so it's it's looks. like such a satisfying. um timely and fun and juicy film because. I would like you to be president. Will. you be president? And I'm putting you on the spot. Uh, they they don't let folks who wear coats. like this have a chance. That's true. That's true. You did ruin your chances. myself out of the position. Yes, indeed.

You're wearing a very striped coat and. they're not going to let you in. Um, but. um, yeah, that was your first time. working together. We worked together on. a movie called The Suicide Squad, of. course, where we played superheroes that. were like uh a buddy comedy almost like. he's got he's the head down guy. I'm the. aloof ignorant guy. And Peter Saffron, the producer of that movie, was like, "This is good. We need to do this. again." And the thing about heads of. state that's very fun. And you said, you. know, you play a fictional president, he. plays a fictional prime minister. You. being a writer would know that is the.

sooner you can define those characters. and what they stand for, the more fun. you can have. So basically what we have. in Heads of State is a buddy comedy. It. looks so fun. And and also I I mean the. Can Can Idris I'm gonna ask him about. accents, but can he do a Boston accent? Cuz you're a Boston boy. Yeah, but my. Boston accent sucks. It does. I need to. have like Yeah, I need What? You lost. it, John? What? You think you're better. than us? What you. Yes, I do. I do think I.

It's gone away. It's been I I don't. know. Uh what? You haven't watched the. Karen Reed trial and gotten and brushed. up on that. My family was My phone would. not stop with that. You have no idea. I've taken the shape. I saw him. Uh I I maybe I knew if I stopped. drinking my own urine and start drinking. some some uh some Sam Adams. It doesn't. come back to you. The Boston doesn't. come back. 100% comes back. Every time I. go to West Newbury to see my family, uh.

my wife is literally like, "What. happened? You talk different." And it's. you go back and you just get into the. vortex. There's just some friends who. you can't say their name without having. the accent. You cannot. Yeah, I try but. you cannot. Um, okay. So, what question. do you want me to ask Idris today? Is. there anything you want to know about. Idris that you didn't get a chance to. ask him or something you think I should. ask him? So, that great question. Idris. is somebody I respect and admire and the. re a lot of the driving force there is. because he's still so motivated. M.

somebody who's been an on-screen. performer and a great one for decades. and literally has so many achievements. It would be the same question if you if. you gave me a question to ask you like. what keeps you going and uh in the. stories that Idris has shared with me. He comes from very humble beginnings. This is a former automotive assembly. line worker uh who you know he was just. talking the other day about how he moved. to New York and work the door at a club. and then we go after hours with all the. club folks to a special place that they.

just lock the door and leave at 7 in the. morning like he's everybody in life has. such an interesting story and Idris is. no different. But to be where he's at. and to still. go like he does. I just want to know. I. don't I don't want to know the secret. because everybody's story is different. But I really want to know what keeps him. so driven. You know what I love about. you, John? And by the way, I hope. someday you come do this. You say this. houndstooth jacket. I agree. It's this. houndstoothoth jacket that you're. wearing and the urine that you're. drinking. No. Um, no. What I love about.

you is you love people. You are a curious person about people. you care and see like in my experience. with you, you're very interested in how. all different types of people approach. life. Everybody truly does have a story. and you can learn from everybody, you. know. Um, thank you so much for doing. this. It really means a lot that you. gave the time and um, I can't wait to. see your movie and um, see you in. person. Let's like have a decant some.

wine somewhere. This is the soft open to. an actual good hang. All right. Thanks. so much, John. It's so good to see you, Amy. Thanks so much. Thanks, buddy. Talk. to you soon. Bye. This episode is brought to you by Degree. Cool Rush Deodorant. I'm a big fan of. people owning their mistakes. Like how. last year Degree changed their Cool Rush. formula, and man, we're mad. One guy. even started a petition. So, Degree. listened, admitted they messed up, and. they're now bringing the OG Cool Rush. scent back. It's clean, crisp, and.

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You know, there is a part of me that. always tries to think about what the. guest would wear. And I do try a little. bit unconsciously to just dress for my. guests. Oh, no way. You're joking. You. did it. Look at us. We did. I I could. take this off and do the t-shirt. No, I. feel like we got We have to stay. We. have to stay in this now. I'm so. thrilled to talk to you today. Well, thank you. And I You know, we are the. same age. I think I'm older than you. No. 1972, babe. 1971. Oh. And we're ver.

we're both Virgos. And when's your. birthday? September 16th. I'm September. 6th. And I saw that and I want to ask. and start asking you a question which is. what does it feel like to be a Virgo? What does it feel like? Do you do you. identify as a Virgo? Do you see do you. see qualities in Virgo that you feel are. yours? Okay. So if I'm really honest, I. have this weird statistic thing, right? Let's just get this straight. That's. what I understand. Okay. There's like. how many billion people on the earth, right? Yeah. Are we suggesting that.

everyone this is very Virgo of you? I. know but everyone that was born in that. particular time period around that time. has similar traits. I mean this is the. logic that I. find myself wrestling with. I understand. you're a challenger. You're a Virgo. It. makes sense. Or is it that everyone you've met that. says, "Hey, are you Virgo? I'm a Virgo. Do you do I do?" And then that becomes. the myth. Would this make you feel. better? Beyonce is a Virgo. Do you want. to be in the club now? Uh, yep. That's.

what I thought. No, I knew she was a. Virgo, actually. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Virgos see each other. They recognize. each other. Yeah, it is. Okay. We don't. have to get into it. No, we can. But, but you are in your 50s. I want to ask. you, what is it like being in your 50s? What do you think of this decade? Um, really interesting, right? Because, you. know, we were born uh when we were 10, 11, the 80s happened. Our consciousness. was born at the same time on one of the. coolest decades generationally ever. Yeah. And we were born into that. 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 we. were sort of like our emotions were. blossoming and our adolescence were. growing. I mean, we're a very unique. generation. Okay. I I agree. I love. being Gen X. I feel proud of it. Do you. feel I feel like I exactly what you. said. I feel like we straddled these two. different worlds. Like our young world. was like our parents and now we're in.

future robot times. That's true. Which, you know, partly we invented because. it's like robots, toys, 2001. What was. that going to be like? And we're to see. it. We got it. Yeah. I know. We We. watched movies about flying cars and. it's going to happen. And it's. happening. robots that talk and aliens. Don't know. Do you believe in aliens? Yeah, of course. Oh, but not astrology. Well, uh, astrology is based on some.

weird alien science. Okay. That has left. us left behind. Aliens left behind. Yeah. Yeah. like you know did you know. that these anyway um I was going to say. that the other part about being 50 is. that I don't love that at this age the. age of being wellness and consciousness. is so upon us yet our bodies fail us the. biggest bummer I mean the fact that you. can get hurt just getting out of bed. that is the part that just feels like. well I mean what you have to do you have.

to use your body still a lot you use it. a lot in this movie that we're talking. about, head of state. How do you stay Do. you have to do like what do you do to. stay flexible? That's what we have to do. is stay flexible. Do you do yoga? Do you. do um what do you do for your. stretching? Cuz I'm trying to get my. more stretching going. I'm quite. I'm I'm not very I'm not very flexible. Like, do you have tight hamstrings? Yeah. Uh tight uh hip flexors. Hip. flexors. Yeah. So, mine are my.

hamstrings, which is embarrassing. because I'm so short. There's it's like. to not be able to touch your toes. Same height, same idea. Same age. Yeah. So, do you do pigeon? The pigeon pose. No. What does that look like? It's the. yoga pose where you get your like where. you get you stretch your hips basically. Do you know that pose? So, you're. sitting on your bum and you got your. legs like that. Put your knee up and you. kind of lean over your knee. I don't do. that. Okay, good. I do uh Well, it's the.

squat. Just squatting. Yeah. You know, like the. like be before we were homo sapiens. squat. You know, you do you can squat. That's that's impressive. It is actually. your knees can handle that. No. Yeah. Getting down's easy. That's the thing. Getting up. You got you got a guy who. helps you get up because you can't get. once you get down, you're stuck. No. My. pride is too There's no guy helping me. get up. I'm like, I'm okay. And everyone's like, uh, we're.

ready to shoot. We're just waiting for. Idris to get out of his squat. Get out. of his squat. Good thing about squatting. though, not to be graphic, it's good for. the pooping. I was going to say number. two, but we can go. It's really good. A. lot of people know that. But I mean, I. feel I feel like my 50s to your point. age-wise like or like emotionally, mentally, spiritually, I feel great. Feel good. Yeah. Right. I feel finally. like I'm figuring myself out in a way.

that's very real. I have a lot um a lot. enough wisdom and enough ahead of me and. you're kind of the oldest youngest. person and the youngest oldest person. That's right. That's so true. And you. know your influences change. You know. what I'm saying? I think in my 30s and. 40s like I was sort of like blown with. the wind a little bit with what was. influencing me, what my goals were. And. in the 50s I'm like no that wind have to. pass around me. I'm not getting as in. easily influenced. Yes, you Yes. Exactly. right. You're like a steadier tree. But.

it does hurt to get out of a car after a. long. You know what though? I uh Wellness. Yeah. So I found people were like really. that doesn't work. It's like astrology. But grounding mats. I love a grounding. mat. I have a biomat. Do you have a. biomat? Uh no. Grounding. Oh. Is that. the same thing? What's a biomat? Well, it's like a heated mat. Oh no, this is. not heated. This is just grounded. So. okay, talk talk to me about this. So. basically, you know, the earth's.

frequency, electromagnetic frequency is. a thing and it vibrates at a certain. thing. You know, when you have a radio. and it hasn't been grounded into the. earth, it will have static the moment. you ground it. It stops that static and. our bodies work in a similar way. And. the information suggests that. inflammation and blood circulation works. better when you sleep. on a grounding. mat or if you're under a desk bare foot. or and by the way, you can do the same. thing if you just stand in your garden.

in the grass for 20 minutes. Well, have. you heard the young people say touch. grass? It's like a term basically which. is like get off your phones, get off the. internet and go outside and touch grass. I I didn't think it meant that grass. I. thought it was different. It's a real. grass. Yeah. I was like that's the JX in. there. Touch. grass. Yeah. You go touch it. Pot touch. pot. That's what they're saying. Don't. touch that. Okay. That whole touch grass. thing, I was like, "Dude, this is a. little much. My algorithm is all messed.

up. I didn't realize." Yeah, that's. exactly what it is. Is the idea of just. like actually getting your feet on the. ground. But it works. And it works for. our age because inflammation is a real. thing. That stiffness you're feeling. Do. you cold plunge? You've got to get into that, dude. I do. it all the time. How often? I try to do. 11 minutes a week. What? Not all at. once. Why do you do that? It's really. helps with inflammation. It is a huge It. is I don't It's really helped with.

anxiety, any anxiety, depression, and. inflammation cuz you're like flooded. with a seroton, you know, you are like. it's like natural. Yes. I'm not going to. run. I can't run. I'm not going to run. I've got to get some kind of feeling. that I've like had this, you know, like. big burst and the cold plunge does it. for me. And like I don't like to do it. It's not like you I don't like to do it. All right then. You know it works with. you talk about shrinkage. [Music]. It's like Wait, what? Oh, no. This is.

not only very uncomfortable, but really. killing my ego. What? Just do it on your own. Just do it. on your own time. Yeah, I'm not doing it. like naked at the gym. Hell no. I'm. telling you, it will change your life. I'm telling you, you're you know what? You're going to look back at this. interview and you're going to be like, "Remember when I was in my 50s and Amy. told me to call a plunge?" And I said, "What?" And now it's changed. It's going. to change your life. Okay, I you know. what? I'll listen to you because I think. we have a lot in common and there's some.

observations that you are making that is. really making me think. So, also I. imagine something about you and I'm tell. you kind of like a forced austerity like. you you don't you're not afraid of. difficult things, right? Yes. No, I am. not afraid of um difficult things or. challenges that make me uncomfortable. Yeah. And to choose your own discomfort. is like a privilege at our age. You're going to be uncomfortable. So, but I'm going to be in charge of it. Yeah. I agree. I agree with that. I.

agree. I actually um what I also enjoy. about my 50s, I'm 52, 53 this year, is. that I really want to learn more. Yeah. I I want to learn. And it's about, oh, that's new, but how is it connected to. what I already know? You know what I. mean? And how that that cusp is really. interesting to me. You know, like 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. Well, I want to stay in the present. and I want to talk about the future. But.

if you will indulge me, a little bit of. past because and I promise I'll make it. fast. But I'm such a huge fan of The. Wire and I know you talk about it all. the time. It is many years ago, 20 plus. years ago. You you've talked about it. over and over again, and I won't make. you talk about it too much, but I it's a. series that changed my life. I watched. it three times, the series three times. Um I could talk to you about it forever. And also I feel like not to keep making.

comparisons, uh, we are dressed the. same. We are dressed the same. But, um, I was on a show that meant something to. a lot of people still and like, you. know, almost 20 years later, they come. up and they keep engaging in it. And so, you must get that too. You must all the. time have people say to you what I'm. saying to you. What is that like? Um, I mean the truth is that I actually. don't speak about the wire as much as. people might think, even though I am. definitely at least once a day someone.

says, "Bro, string a bell, the wire, whatever it is." Yeah. Um, and it, you. know, it really does, it surprises me how much impact that. show had. Um, in a good way. It. surprises me continuously. um that you. know multigenerationally it's still. being talked as people that are weren't. even born then. watching the wire and be like yo I saw. that that's incredible um I feel proud I.

bring a sense of pride I feel a little. bit though if I'm really honest like I. didn't watch the wire I've heard this. that you didn't watch it I didn't watch. it and I feel bad it's not that I'm not. a fan of it I was there I made a show. that was you know was so intense and so. real and so important and even though we. didn't realize I didn't realize the. importance of the show while making it. Yeah. Rarely do we right uh but um. I didn't participate in its celebration.

as a viewer as a fan and so I feel a. little bit like Well, could you start. celebrating it now? No, man. Why? I. mean, you can't watch it now. No. I but. I bet Idris I bet you have I bet you. have a feeling about it that might you. might be kinder to yourself and it. watching it now it's not that okay so. why why can't you watch it it's more. that um again like I felt the presence.

of it all my you know life since the. wire right in terms of its impact in. terms of what and I also was there. making it so to me it was almost a bit. like I was stringer belt I'm Stringer. Bell. But I also feel like when Stringer. Bell No spoilers. Well, look at this. point. Okay, let's get ready. If you're. listening, spoiler, Stringer Bell dies. Yikes. Watching it. Well, they got to catch up. It's been But when uh Stringer Bell.

died, there was a part of me and that. died with that character. And it's weird. for me to go back and watch it. I don't. like being overly conscious of what my. performance is like or whatever because. it makes me conscious about doing it. I. like being in it rather than watching. it. I hear you. That is that makes me. sad that you can't you can't enjoy how. good you are in the wire. You're so. good. Idris.

Okay. I know. Okay. I'm going to turn. into like from my twin. I'm taking this. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Because Okay. just a few few questions which is. Stringer Bells. Can you just tell me for. the super fans that are listening and. again if you haven't watched the wire. skip through this part and how dare you. but um that final scene when you are uh. when you were killed by Omar and brother. Mazone and you just have this moment. where you have it's a beautiful acting. moment where you have to decide where. you have to realize that Avon has given.

you up like it's just your brother. I. mean, it's so Shakespearean this this. entire show, but that relationship in in. in um specifically and you have the. tiniest moment that flashes across your. face where you you know, you're resigned. to the fact that not only are you going. to die, but you're going to die, you. know, by the hands of someone who you. really love. And the acting with you and. Wood Harris in that scene previously. when you're on the rooftop and you're.

is such good acting and and I just want. to I have no question here. No, but I. guess the last line I think about on the. crafty table is what you wanted to know. Yeah. But I think about Stringer's last. line because it's such a it's such a. testament to David Simon and the writers. of that show. The writing was so. incredible when Stringer says like, "I. guess there's nothing I can say to. change your mind. Get on with it then.". Mhm. Mhm. You know, paraphrasing, but.

it's his entire arc as a character. He. spent the entire show trying to convince. people to like that there's another way. of doing things. It's Can you just tell. me about that scene and shooting it with. rest in peace, Michael K. Williams? Yeah, man. I mean it was a really. interesting time. I mean, yes, testament. to the writing, David Simon and the. poetry of of what um we're saying about. beheading the man, the character that is.

offering a slightly different. perspective on this chaotic town, chaotic situation for, you know, um. the residents, the people of Baltimore, but also the the the towns across. America in this sort of um I would say. what's the word you know not culture but. that lifestyle that this is a perpetual. thing that keeps going and then along.

comes a spider where he's like hey let's. try something different let's turn this. into this and crawl out of this hole but. we kill that character that's why the. wire is so good because the system is. the the machine. people keep trying to get up out of the. machine and the system keeps pushing. them down, but the system is also using. puppets to do it to each other. Right. Right. So, the system isn't really. prevalent. It's the the the strings, no.

pun, are holding Brother who, you know, has his reasons. You've got Omar who has. his reasons. But the system has made. everyone. blindfolded and Stringer was like, "No, no, no, no. Take them off." I know, right? Um, I know Stringer had a plan. and what do you ever think about or did. you guys ever talk about if Stringer. stayed on lived as a character what he. would go on to do like Yeah, we did.

don't mean a lot because Stringer is a. real person who is still alive and. Stringer went on to become a very. successful businessman who you know will. remain anonymous forever but. successfully built a lot of businesses. and um you know crawled out of this the. hole. So in dramatic terms on the wire. you know it wouldn't have made sense. right for Stringer to get out although. in reality Stringer did get out. Wow. Okay. But that's not dramatic enough,

you know? I mean, that. that's not the story. No. And it was. like a season three gut punch. And it. also I mean, good shows do that is they. sacrifice. They sacrifice. Yeah. And I. was for it. I I I had I've told the. story. I had reservations about how. Stringer was dying. Yeah. I mean, you. know, that, you know, there was various. ways that David Simon wanted to depict. that and I was a little bit against some. of that, but the actual beheading of the. of Stringer was an important move, I.

think, you know, just to illustrate to. the world that, hey man, take the. blinkers off. You know what I'm saying? And um yeah. Okay, last question. the. character of Bod that played by JD and. your like mentorship with him. uh is one of the of the many incredible. relationships on that show like that is. a heartbreaker. It's a heartbreaker what. happens to Stringer and it's eventually. a heartbreaker what happens to JD's. character Bod. What was it like working. with him like a young actor like that? Amazing man. Like you know we he was a.

he's a fly dude and he was a fly dude. He was the fly young kid on the set. Um. him and Michael B. Jordan actually. Um. and um you know. cuz he was a little bit younger than us, you know what I mean? He was like fresh. and green and he would hang out with his. big brothers and uh I remember one time. he challenged me. He was like, "Yo, man, I could drink you under the table." I'm. like, "Jay, leave it, man." He's like, "No, I'll drink you under the table.". And literally I drunk him under the.

table. Like he sat under the table. He. was like, "No, I can't I can't [ __ ] with. you no more." Like did you hear my. accent? Like do you know where I'm from? Like drinking is I'm from London, man. Uh but um no, but actually just in real. life, we had that real dynamic. You know. what I'm saying? Like again, he was a. young he lived in um New Jersey as well. So we would travel up sometimes together. on a train and whatnot. Okay. So. mentoring is important to you like. you've done it a lot now. And before we. move on to um Head of State, the movie.

that comes out on Prime. Thank you. Heads of State with the great John Cena. Priyanka. Um uh but uh you can you talk. a little bit about the stuff you're. doing with the King's Trust? Love I love. the work that you're doing there and. that was an important thing to you when. you were young. Yeah. Yeah. I mean. basically I'm paying it forward you know. like the King's Trust at the time. Prince's Trust gave me an opportunity. via a check and some resources. What did. you do? What you how old and what and. they scholarship? 14 15 years old. I.

auditioned to get into the National. Theaters youth program which is called. the National Youth Music Theater. Uh and. they were doing a production of Guys and. Dolls and I got in I my drama teacher. encouraged me to go for it. I went in I. got the audition but I didn't realize. you had to subsidize your your uh board. because they flew around the world. We. were going to Japan. We went to. Greenland. I mean we Wow. taking this. production. It was a semi-professional. production but you had to pay for it. M. my parents couldn't afford it and my.

drama teacher said, "Hey, you know the. prince's trust?" I'm like, "Sorry, you. talking about Prince Charles? Well, you. want me to audition for Prince Charles?". "No, no, not for Prince Charles, but he. has a trust where he helps young. people." And I was like, "He's never. going to help me. Why would I'm a kid. from East London, blah blah blah.". Anyway, I auditioned. I got the gig and. I got the the money that he helped me. with and the resources to help, you. know, get me into this theater thing. And ever since you know I mean without a. doubt that really structured how I.

thought my sort of myself as an actor. you know it was a professional theater I. was singing around the world and this. was what I wanted to do just at that. point in my age where I I wasn't sure I. liked what made you think it like for. what what was the thing did you were you. watching movies and like what what made. you know you wanted to be an actor two. things really it was my teacher Miss McI. and I went to a boys school. Okay. She. was a lovely. blonde, blue-eyed teacher. Interesting.

See what's going on. Um, but she was. this really lovely nurturing figure in. my life at the time at in boy school. where no one really took drama. seriously. It was sometimes it just. takes one teacher to change your life. Real focus. And she was like, "You can. go for it." It was mentorship, right? And um and also there was an actor. called Paul Barber who was in a film. called The Full Monty. Oh yeah. Yeah. And uh he's a black actor in that film. and he came to this school just to sit. amongst the boys and say, "Hey, what do.

you think about acting?" And we were. like, "Aren't you the guy that takes. your clothes off in the full monty?" Da. d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d. d d But I was just like gassed. I was so. moved by his storytelling and the fact. that he came, he's famous, he's on TV, he came to our school to talk about. acting. So those were the two real like. if I can remember junctions where I was. like, "Okay, acting might be a thing.". Crystallization of that. And ever since, you know, I realized that, you know, I. can do exactly the same. It's an. intervention moment of just a young. person who isn't sure. Yeah. Having a.

conversation and being like, let's. examine what you want to do. I mean, sometimes it kind of scares me. Uh uh. well, not sometimes. It's it what is. scary is that the slightest change um. changes the direction of your life, especially around that age. And the. positive version of that is what you. talk about, right? which is like you see. someone that you want to emulate and you. just realize like this is the way my. life's going to be and then in the same. way like the tiniest bit of nudge the. wrong way and you're off on a track and. then you're that's so true it's you know.

in our generation right you know human. empathy we got a lot of our sort of. magic from TV and those are unilateral. moments where we all sat watch the same. shows whatever they were and those were. our influences right all at the same. time whether it's America Europe we were. all watching the same sort of thing the. fawns, happy days, you know, whatever it. was right now. Uh, and and if a hu if if. an uncle or an auntie spoke to you about. what you want to do, you know, that. conversation meant something because you.

weren't getting a phone. You weren't. staring at a phone, which has all these. different influences. Now, right, young. kids are influenced by so much. They're. just over stimulated. And a lot of it is. negative. A lot of is pitting themselves. against things they'll never be able to. afford or have. Uh this elevated sense. of self where you know in our day I. think I hate to say in our day. Well, we're really feel we're really sounding. really old right now. If we're going to. talk about phones, we're screwed. We. are. I mean, my phone is my best friend.

Yeah. Yeah. Right. I mean, I don't want. to talk about my best friend like that. I've got an AI voice as my best friend. Yeah. So, you know, we're you know, we're we're sucked in, too. Yeah, we. are. But the truth is though, we at. least had the benefit of the monoculture. and we had human intervention that. actually could have that ripple. butterfly effect. But the monoculture. different in the UK and the US and I'm. constantly surprised by how com how. comedy when we were growing up we were. not watching the same things really.

There were so you weren't watching the. funds. Okay. I was watching Happy Days, but there must have been there must be. American shows that you comedy shows. that you hear about that didn't make it. over there because I know when we were. watching British comedy, it was like. contraband. Like it was given to us on. VHS tapes like Benny Hill. Well, Benny. Hill. Oh my god. That was what we got. We got Benny Hill non-stop, which is. like I guess it was it was Monty Python, Benny Hill, and But there were like so.

many shows like um Mash. Okay. I loved. Mash. You watched Mash? Did you watch. the Norman Leer shows like uh All in the. Family? Um see All in the Family. Yeah. Which was based off of the um British. show. Um huh. Yeah. That that famous. British show. famous British show called. Family. Um something I'll get it. But. but there was like all these like um. famous like the Jeffersons um Good. Times. Do you know them? We I No. Later.

on in life they weren't Yeah. Did you. get Desmond's? No. Desmond's. Wait, I. don't even know what Desmond's. Desmonds. is the barberhop show, man. It was a. black show. It was comedy. It was like I. don't want to say the Cosby's, but it. was a family that run a barber shop. It. was hilarious. Yeah. So we there were. versions of each other's comedy at the. time that we didn't know about each. other, which I think is so interesting. cuz we're so aligned, but there was. something specific about UK and US. comedy at the time in the 70s and ' 80s.

where you like found out about people's. stuff and it felt like you were seeing. it for the first time. I mean, I can. remember like learning about Yeah. Steve. Kugan, for example, and no one knowing. who he was or like um I remember coming. to New York. New York City. Yeah. In the. early '9s. Mhm. And speaking with my. accent and black folk, black people were. saying to me, "Wait, what? Why are you. speaking like that? Yo, listen to this. dude." They didn't know. No idea. They.

didn't think that they were black. British people. Yep. Wow. America. continuing to really represent. No, but to your point about monoculture, like our shows, you know, our culture. did not, you know, ABC was not picking. up Desmonds. You know what I'm saying? It wasn't We did not know. We We We had. really flat versions of each other. It. felt like like Americans were like, you. know, confident and loud and taking up. too much space and the Brits were. reserved and polite, artistic, secretly.

better than us. I mean, and I do think. that the accent gets you the accent gets. you People think people with British. accents are very smart. This is this is. a this is true. Actually, you're right. We somehow give a sense of that the way. we speak is makes us more intelligent. You're right. I've dined off this for a. long time. I would too. I'm not that. smart. I was going to say the growing up. is realizing that British people are not. any smarter than you. Whoa, whoa, whoa. That's not what I What it How do we get.

there? That's That's being an adult. Being. adult. You're right. You're right. Facing the truth. It is because it's so. hard to get tucked in. But you have the. I want to talk about your comedy your. your like what you were watching as a. young person and getting into comedy. because you've done quite a bit of. comedy and you know you're doing more of. it now which I think is so cool. But for. a second about accents you have had to. do a lot of accents a lot of different. accents where you're playing Nelson. Mandela or you're playing like you know.

an African warlord and you're playing. all and you do them really well. Is. there one that you can't do like. American? That is not true. Your American accent. is no one knew you were British. Well, you know, when we watch the wire, no one. Idris, this is, you know what it is. The. truth is when I was doing the wire that. I was not British. I was like, uh, living in Brooklyn, then New Jersey and. in the depths of New Jersey near Newark.

And at that junction, you know, I'd. lived in America for 4 or 5 years. Like. my accent shifted and Alexa Fogle, uh, the casting director of the wire, she. was like, "By the way, don't come in. here with that British accent." Now I. see why you don't watch. Now I get it. You don't watch The Wire because you're. thinking about your accent. Of course. But also, I'm here to tell you it's And. I I have a thing about Brits and their. accents. You do? Yes. Okay. because they. win a lot they win a lot of awards and. their their accents are like let me tell.

you something sir like they you're like. you don't everyone knows and it's like. well I like how you say HBO you've said. HBO. H H HBO HBO that's good um thank you I. haven't done any sort of regional. English or um English accents like um. you know Wales. Oh, or you know, liver puddle or any of. those. I'd love to. Yeah, but boy, if I.

get them wrong. Let's try it right now. No, I'll go. You go first. Okay. Puddle. I. want to think about Paul McCartney. Just think about the Beatles, right? That's all you need to do. Okay. Liverpool. Liverpool. Hey, Liverpool. Hey. Hey, lad. What's going on? No. Oh. my days. See, you're too hard on. yourself. No, cuz I'm going to get me. I'm asking you to do it. Anyone. listening, no one's going to meme you.

Okay, do Welsh. Can you do Welsh? Tom. Tom Jones. Oh. Oh, yeah. Um, well, I'm Welsh. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Hello. Boy, boy from. Wales. Boy, that is so they I can't go. back to Wales now ever. Okay. So, talk about comedy, your. relationship to it, because I think.

people probably. think you're very serious. Yes. And I've learned that you're not. So, I bet people assume you're mad, you're serious, you're tough. I'm an. actor. Yeah. and they come up to you and. they and they take you and you probably. were like, I like to have fun like every. day. I'm a little goofy. I'm very goofy. You are. You're a little You're a. goofball. Yeah, a little bit. But, you. know, I like playing dramatic roles. I. do. I just also when it comes to comedy,

most of the comedy I've done has been. the straight guy that isn't meant to be. funny. So, when I did The Office, Yeah. Tell us about that. Uh, how'd you get. that job? I mean, I got that job because. I think John Kazinski, he was a big wire. fan. And he was like, "We need that guy. We need that guy." Uh Paul Fig. Yes. Paul Fig, great director, guy. Great. director. He um uh but it was part of. that casting process for me. And you. know, it was described as this guy who's. like stringer bell. He's real serious as.

a businessman, but you know, you don't. laugh at anyone. You don't suffer fools. and and I was like, okay. But first of. all, the UK office incredible. Oh, hu. the biggest fan. better than the. American office? No. What? Different. Not better, but but in in many ways like. I like I I've talked about this with. Mike Sher who created Parks and Wreck. and who went on to who started working. on the American Office and and did Parks. and Wreck and many other shows. And I.

remember when he was going to do the. American Office, I thought this is a. terrible idea. Like cuz the the British. Office was so good. It was a complete. specific POV and we thought no way. But. then we heard that Steve Carell was. hired and I knew Carell from Chicago and. I was like he's funny. He's really good. and suddenly it was like oh this is just. going to be a different version. So I. would say I can't I can't compare the. two, but I do have a special place in my. heart for the British version because it.

was the first one I saw. Me too. And the. cringe humor. This is what is cringe. humor. And I think the Brits do cringe. humor better. Not better but do it well. because we're so repressed. Totally. Because anything is like embarrassing, we're like, "Oh my days." And in America. where it's like our larger person is. embarrassing. Well, us again. No, America's embarrassing. There, I said. it. Well, no, no. What I mean is is that. Americans are okay with big. personalities coming in. That's that's. part of the comedy, you know, fabric. However, I really.

loved working on The Office because I. did get to be in a comedy, right? And I. the the guys working on the show. basically tried to make me laugh all the. time. And the joke was that I you're not. going to get me. And the more silly they. got, the more I stayed straight. And. that was became the the comedy. It was. amazing. It was a lot of fun. So you're. good at keeping a straight face. No, I'm. I'm a proper I want to be in the stupid. side. I want to be doing stupid [ __ ].

But the gig was that I. I stayed really serious. Mhm. Even just. now you got very serious. It was a lot of fun. It was amazing. It. was amazing. And then since then, some. of the com comedy stuff I've done is. really playing a straight guy. Yeah. Um. in Heads of State. You get to you get to. get in. But we're still playing on the. trope of repressed British prime. minister, right? Doesn't like this big. American personality. And we still play.

with that. So, but yeah. But but but. like do you want to do more comedic. stuff? Do you like it? Isn't it fun? It. is fun. Because I got to say like your. job a lot of the stuff you do it. combines a lot of things I I don't want. to do. Running. shooting nights like Yes. So many night. shoots on the wire. Like I watched and I. was like crying. Crying um like jumping. But you've said that you like all this. action stuff. You like doing stunts. I.

do. I do. What do you like about it? Um, it's a choreography. It's a dance. You. know, I love learning a new fight and I. like I'm always convinced that I can. make it look realer, you know? You know, you see someone that's like kicking. butt, but I want to make it look a. little bit more real. Um, I love it. though. I love the the, you know, the. technicalities of it. Yeah. Yeah. I like. fighting. Do you Well, I mean, I like to. fight. That's mainly it. I mean, I I mean, I. think about like I I I I do I do.

sometimes have fantasies about doing an. action film that requires very little. talking because that's the one thing I. like about action films is like your day. is just walking like the foreign. identity like the like a shooting day is. just him walking from one train station. to the other wearing a leather jacket. What a dream. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um so in. this movie you're working with John. Cena, the great John Cena. The great. John Cena. Tell me about uh you and John. worked together first in Suicide Squad. Yeah. Yeah. How do you guys get along?

What do what do you think about John? Uh. you know, I think everyone had a bit of. a crush on John Cena, right? The. wrestler. You know, he's like this big. personality, cool big wrestling type. And then, you know, I watched him. transition into acting and thought, "Wow, like yeah, you know, the wrestlers. tend to be great at performance. regardless. So they end up transitioning. to acting in really cool ways and I felt. John was one of those transitions that. did really good. I liked him. Then when.

I got to work with him in Suicide Squad, I mean first of all when you ever met. John Cena I did. He was in a movie that. me and Tina Fey were in called Sisters. and we spent like a couple weeks. together. He's a Renaissance man dude. He loves wine and art and classical. piano. He's a very sweet like artistic. tender guy. I find him to be very. emotional and sweet. I agree. And it. turns out that, you know, when I met. him, I thought he was going to be this. goofy, big character, and he's like, "Hey, Idris, how are you? Nice to meet. you. I'm a really big fan of your work.".

And I'm like, "What's going on? We acting." I'm more. goofy than John is. You You did the. thing that happens to you where people. are like, "Idris is very serious." You. were like, "John is so funny." And Tom. was like, "I'm kind of serious." Yeah, he's very serious. And you were like, "I'm a goofball." Yeah. When I first. when we when I walked into his trailer. one time, we're going to just run some. lines and then I was like, "Oh, there's. a there's a grand piano in here. What is. that?" He's like, "Oh, yeah. I'm. teaching myself to uh learn classical. piano." Anyway, so about these lines.

I'm looking at him like, "What? What. now?" First of all, he has fingers the. size of like, you know, like one of. John's fingers, you know. So, playing. the piano. Yeah. I was like, Anyway, I. was fascinated. Giant finger piano. He's. a really. lovely guy. Um, I think he and I knew. that, you know, working together, we. could play into the dynamic of, you. know, I'm I'm not naturally comically. funny, but I can play against someone. that is really trying to, you know, is. really funny in that way. What is. naturally comically funny? I mean, like.

it's kind of um but but it's an you. bring up something very interesting, which is like I think sometimes people. don't realize that playing the scene is. like pretty much the same if you're. doing a comedy or a drama. Like just got. to play it real. Yeah, that's true. Have. you hosted SNL? Yes. And how was that. experience? It was a classic. Everyone. talks about it. Yeah. Sorry. No. Who was. the musical guest? Uh, Khaled. Oh, yeah. Khaled. Yes. And how what year was that? Sorry. What year was that? It was the. year that I did that very famous film I.

was promoting. Yes. What year was that? Because we'll never be able to find out. I have a laptop here. We can never find. it out. What year did I host? Can we. find out? And what is the name of the. British show that all in the family was. based on? You're going to come back. Jenna, please tell me. Um, okay. That's. what happens in We can't let things go. I know. Forget the memory is it's done. because we have too much stuff to think. about. This is true. The storage is.

full. Sometimes I like to think about. dragging files in my brain to trash. Like, I'm not going to need to know that. anymore. I don't Wow. Because I mean the. dragon files, dragging it to trash to to. make some room. Don't you feel like all. the lines you had to learn as an actor? Like sometimes I'm like it just has. taken up too much space in my head. I. No, I don't. No. No. That's Are you good. at learning lines? Uh I'm good at. learning the sense of things and then. the lines will follow. Yeah. I hate when.

like it's like, "Okay, you have to go to. this address at 5:00 to pick up that. person." I'm like, "What?" But if if I. understand that you and I having a. debate about something, I'll remember. the lines based on that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But SNL which was the classic. not that far not that long ago. So in 2019 when you hosted SNL. Yes. What was that like? Was it fun doing it? Like you had good you had a good time. man. I had a most amazing time. It was. really hard work but I had the most.

amazing time and I was a comedy giants. you know. But see, SNL growing up was. not big in the UK when you were growing. up, right? That's right. It's It's. really true. It's really true. And now. they're I think they're starting one. over there. Yes. Yeah. I'm trying to be. a main Really character. You want to be. in the cast? Yeah. Is that weird? You. know, no. Just go in there and say, you. know what? If you showed up and said I'm. in the cast, everyone would be like, okay, I assume he is. I'm doing it. And. they all see how goofy I am, how the.

writer sessions, how really funny I am. come up with the wackiest [ __ ] Well, that was always the toughest thing, Idris, is when a when a host would come. in and be like, "I'm really funny." And. be like, "Okay.". Like, dude, be like, "Okay." They'd be. like, "I I know I'm usually pretty. serious, but I love to do characters.". And I was like, dude, let me tell you, I. was that guy. I I remember the first. writing meeting. I walked in and. everyone was like, "Hey, I just man, we. love you, man. What's going on?". Drinking their coffee. Do you want to.

you guys? What are you into? What are. you thinking? They're, you know, half of. them are hanging. They're like, "Okay, what do you do? What do you want to do?". I was like, "Yo, man. I got this idea. about these football presenters.". And they're like, "Mhm. You mean. football as in. what kind of football? I'm losing.". Yeah, man. But they were kind. Yeah. They were like, "Idris, thank you so. much for your ideas. You know what? There's so much here to work with. We're. going to regrit. We're going to come. back. You take a break." Yeah. Do you. know what? Do less. They were like, "You.

know what? Take a break this week. Have. fun." I had a great meeting with Pete. though in his office. Walked in. [Music]. What's up here? What's up, man? What you. want? Yo, I love that [ __ ] that you was. talking about, man. I love football. And. it was actually a really good week. I. had the most People don't know that you. walk around from office to office and. you just kind of go into everybody's. office. Yes. And um you're just like. meeting it's like speed dating or. something and you're just like getting.

people's ideas and I'm sure you got. pitched a lot of like I have an idea. where you're a guy who uh you know Yeah. You're a bouncer and you throw people. out of a club. Okay. I have another idea. where you're a boxer and you beat me up. I have another idea. I bet you got a lot. of like I got I got a lot of um what do. we do? Like a a James Bond. Bond. I'm really trying to stay away. from that. Like come on, man. It's James. Bond. like, "No, I want to stay away. from that." You're like, "I just want to. play g I just want to play like little. giggly characters who are real.

goofballs. I want to be really. unrecognizable." Mhm. And everyone's. like, "Oh, [ __ ] This guy doesn't want. to do his he doesn't want to pitch his. fast ball. We want to do some stringer. bell [ __ ] you know, where you're like. Stringer Bell in the hood, whatever.". But before we wrap it up, I want to talk. a little bit about your relationship to. music because. um I feel like we've been talking a. little bit about it today, but you know, like there's this musicality to the. stuff that you do and it's obviously.

influenced by your your actual love of. music. You talk about it a lot and how. it, you know, talk about acting coming. at a certain time like music came to you. at at a young point in your life. When. did you start like what what speak to. how important music is to you and when. you especially when you were a young. person in growing up in East London. Yeah, I mean definitely music um was my. first love first love. My dad I have. this record a picture of me holding a.

Marvin Gay album. I'm four years old and. I'm about to put it on the turntable. That was like my earliest memory of. music and listening and being able to. put the record on. Um, by the time I was. like 14, I was convinced I wanted to be. a radio host. That was what I wanted to. do. I wanted to talk on the radio and. play music. And at the same time, I was. getting introduced to acting and what. and the first show I did was a musical. I was singing. All right. I wasn't. musical. I didn't play learn to play the. guitar. I could play the drums, but I.

could I wasn't really a musical guy in. the sense of, you know, making music. Okay. I just loved music. And at the. same time I was doing uh acting, I. became a radio host on pirate radio. And. I was on pirate radio around 15 16 years. old. Shouldn't say that, but yeah. And. um it was the ' 80s. Nobody cared. We. had jobs at 12. You could go to jail. though back in the day for being on. pirate radio. Oh yeah, man. The mean. streets. That'd be pretty funny if they were.

like, "What are you in jail for?" And. you were like, "Being on the radio." And. everyone was like, "Oh, drive time 6 to. 8." What? Yeah, they got me. They got. me, man. Hard times. But no, you could. go to jail for pirate radio. And but the. truth is, you know, I think the music um. because I really leaned into playing. music and then I started buying. equipment, drum machines. This is the '. 80s. This is where the drum machines. were growing and that electronic sound, you know, music and acting was like.

doing this at the same time. So music. became my sort of uh my guilty pleasure. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. And like for just for. you just for me. Yeah. And and when I. would DJ, I would love it. I I you know. actually coming to New York because the. vinyl shops that's when I started to. really come to New York late 80s early. 90s. A lot of time you talk about the. spirituality of house m like house music. is really important to you. Yeah. Yeah. really like it's that what is it about. it that hooks you and what do you think.

it how how does it hook people? It's uh. it's the mono moment, that mono moment, that you know, and everyone feeling that new instrument. coming. It's a bit like being at church. I don't know if you're religious. I'm. not, but that spiritual vibe of adding. layers of a mono moment everyone can. join into is like magic. When I'm on a. DJ, well, I, you know, I just played. Coachella with Cascade. Shout out to. Cascade's amazing DJ. I think we have. 15,000 people. Wow. And we're doing a.

back to back. And it's it's a spiritual. moment to have that many people going, "Let's go." I mean, it's just And how do. you stay up so late? Yes. Because you. have to stay up so late. Yes. Yes. That's what DJs do. I know. It's such a. nighttime activity. No. Come on, Amy. You got to come out with me one time, man. Let's go. I mean, I would have to. go to bed at 700 p.m. and wake up at. 4:00 a.m. and meet you out. Like there's. no way I could get to the other side at. 4 a.m. Have you Have you been to IA?

No. Ah, that is seems okay. Life begins. at 50. All right. I be okay. First of. all, I I would only want to go with. someone who knew I well, but I I'm. already stressed thinking about how late. I would have to stay up. Like I'm. already like even thinking about I would. have to take the longest power nap. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it's incredible. Do you think uh that whole power nap. thing really works? No, I can barely. nap. I mean, I I truly I would have to.

go to bed at 700 p.m. and then be like, I'll see you at the club at 4:00 because. But it is it but the I mean I' I've I. love to dance. I love music, but I just. I can't do the I can't do the hours. It's not easy to be an actor and a DJ. Like it is not. No, but I I think. there's a cell there's a energy cell. that gets awakened with the the. naughtiness. Yeah. You know what I'm. saying? Okay. Abisa. Yeah. Sound Aisa. sounds very sounds very.

sounds very stressful. No, you'd love. it. Trust me. You know, flipflop. sunshine all day. You can have a ice ice bucket thing. An. ice bucket thing. Why do I? No, you. know, like the plunging thing. Oh, yeah. I could do You know what? If I could pl. if I could cold plunge in a bea, I would. be You can do anything in a believe me. That's what stresses me out, Andress. Okay, so we're going to finish with um.

two questions because we always start. our um our podcast with asking somebody. to speak about our guest. I I always. talk to somebody who knows our guest to. give me a question, ask them. And so, we. talked to John Cena before this. Yeah. and we just talked we just zoomed with. him and um he wanted me to ask you and. it's such a John question I think and. it's so indicative of what you talk. about like both of you have such an. incredible work ethic you really you. know you work hard you're very. professional both of you are um like for.

for lack of a better term like going for. it you really have a a a lust for life. and learning like you said and his. question was kind of like basically you. work really hard What motivates you? It's such a it's such a what question. What motivates you? Um, okay. I mean, look, I don't want to, you know, end on a low note, right? But. I became, you know, successful around. the age of 35 years old, okay? And up.

until that point, you know, life wasn't. always great. There was some very tough. times. you know, I've spoken publicly. about some of the times I've gone. through. Um, both my parents, you know, working class, didn't have much at all. All right? So, I've been, you know, reasonably, I would say poor or just. reasonably, you know, um, living a life. that is very opposed to where I'm living. for longer than I have been famous or.

successful. And there's part of it which. is like, I don't want to let this go, so. I just keep chucking for it. But the. second thing is really and truly is that. I used to work nights on the night shift. at Ford Motor Company in Dagenham East. London. Okay, that is grim. It's a grim job. All. right. Nothing compares to doing that. So when I get an opportunity to come and. work with you, to come and work on a. set, it doesn't even feel like work. Yeah. Now to everyone else, it's like. you guys are working really hard. But.

actually, yeah. It's not that hard. It's. not that hard. I mean the stuff we did. compared to real real hard jobs. Exactly. It's not we I agree. And. obviously we get to do very different. things, you know, in a job like that. I. did the same thing every night. Every. night for two straight years. My dad did. the same job for 25 years. So I consider. this a privilege. This ain't work. Yeah. So what motivates you is a is gratitude. basically. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And what is. making you laugh these days? How do you.

go? What do you watch, read, you know, listen to that? Like, like where do you. where are you finding your comedy? Uh, the studio was really funny to me. Self-reerential, but I loved it. I. thought it was really good writing. Um, I'm laughing at myself letting go of. some of my tough man [ __ ] and being a. bit goofy. I I I actually enjoy when. people go, "What?" Yeah. I enjoy doing. that. I've seen you do like you're doing.

some really like I have a really fun Tik. Tok idea I want us to do later. Oh wow. Um I have to talk to your team about it. I didn't you no shy. No. Yeah I do. And. and and listeners if you don't know this. as we wrap up but but Idris and I are. wearing the exact same thing right now. We're wearing what what how would you. describe this color? Petrol blue. Yep. It's a I was thinking you know um do you. watch football soccer? Is right at the end of a really great. game. There's a tradition where the.

greatest players against each other. trade. Okay, let's trade shirts. We're. going to trade. We're going to trade. shirts. Let's do it, buddy. All right. Trade. Okay. This is. exciting. This is exciting. And I have a. feeling this is going to this is not. going to fit. No, I get this. You're. Let's see how far you can get into my. dress. Tech Technically, you don't have. to wear it because usually it's full of. sweat. By the way, the shirt smells. great. Listeners, if you wanted to know, the shirt smells great. Oh, wow. Okay, hold on a minute. Oh, I like this look. I was just trying to get one sleeve.

Just one sleeve. This one's good. Just. tiny jacket. But tiny jackets are funny. Tiny jackets are so funny. Look, we did. it. We traded. Okay, this is funny. Good. comedy where like Yes, but I don't. laugh, right? Okay. Very straight. I. just want to get this. Yeah, play it very straight where you're. we're in some kind of shrinking machine. or you know what it is? It's a body. switch comedy is really what it is.

Okay, we should be Let's go away, buddy. Let's go. It was uh. So, the wire. Well, um I enjoyed uh working for H. because you know I watched it nine. times. Well, I don't watch it. I and I. have to say Stringer when he did that. scene. I'm just going to show you. Oh my god. Okay, sign us up. We're.

ready. We're ready. Thank you so much for this time. together. Good times. This was so good. My jacket is completely ripped. Literally can't even get it over his. wrist. I can't get it over his wrist. It's cuz I'm tired. He's just his his No, I really can't get. up. Okay, you're going to hear from my. lawyer because a very expensive jacket. Thank you. That was so fun. Thank you so. much for doing this. I really, really. appreciate it. And congrats on your.

movie. Thank you. Okay, today's Polar Plunge is brought to. you by Wayfair. Here to help you make. your home your happy place. So, that was. a great interview. Idris is so much fun. Um, I hope I wasn't too much of a wire. geek when I was interviewing him, but I. could have asked a million more. questions and made the entire episode. about that, but I tried to, um, restrain. myself. But we did talk about a lot of. other things and we talked about British. comedies. And so, uh, I thought I could.

use this polar plunge, um, to talk about. shows that maybe you didn't know about. that you should try to find somewhere on. your TV or your phone. Um, Brass Eye, The Day Today, Allan Partridge, Look. Around You, French and Saunders. We also um realized that the show that. All in the Family was um based on was. Till Death Do Us Part. It took us the. entire episode to get it and it's.

because we're in our 50s. So, um but uh. yeah, there's a lot of British comedy. Oh, and um and Desmond's. I'm going to. check out Desmond's now that um Idris. has uh has brought it to my attention. So um a lot of good comedy in the UK, especially in the 80s and 90s that we. that didn't always come over here. So. check it out. Uh but you know what you. really should check out is Wayfair. because it makes you turn your home into. a happy place. Express your style, create a space you love. Cozy sofas,

smart essentials, free shipping, easy. setup. Head over to wayfair.com. Find. something that's just your style today. That's w a yf air.com. Wayfair. Every style, every home. Okay. Thanks for listening. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The. executive producers for this show are. Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and. me, Amy Polar. The show is produced by. The Ringer and Paperkite. For The. Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Cat. Spalain, Kaia McMullen, and Aia Xenerys.

For Paperkite production by Sam Green, Joel Levelvel, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles. Really good. Hey.