Idris Elba gets interviewed on “Hot Ones”: Talks Roles on The Wire, Reveals He Pretended to Be American to Get His Role

During the most recent episode of First We Feast’s Hot Ones, Idris Elba spoke to host Sean Evans about getting his role as Stringer Bell on The Wire.

Elba revealed that he pretended to be American for the role because series creator David Simon didn’t want non-American actors cast. He explained, “Alexa Fogel was a casting director that was really into seeing new talent. She said ‘I love you, I gotta bring you into this audition, but you have to promise that you can’t tell him you’re from East London.'”