By Delinda Lombardo on
Before Idris Elba became a household name for his role as drug dealer Russell “Stringer” Bell in hit TV series The Wire, his acting career received a kick start from a UK-based charity – and now Elba is giving back to the British charity by filming a motivational documentary for the organization.
"I grew up around people who have gone through hardship and crime and I knew people who were criminals," said Elba, “My character in The Wire harvests kids who have come out of school and into crime. But there are a lot of talented kids out there who just need a foot in the door.”
The London-born actor is an anti-crime ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a UK charity set up by British royal Charles, Prince of Wales. The company gave him a $2,400 (£1,500) grant as a teenager, which paid for his place at the National Youth Music Theatre.
And now, Elba has stepped in front of the camera to film the short documentary which highlights the troubles facing the youths of modern Britain and to launch the ’Prince’s Trust Undiscovered’ campaign, which aims to help young people caught in the recession.
“A lot of the young people I see through my work with the Prince’s Trust have no money or support,” commented Elba “But there is something out there for them, and people willing to help.”
The Princes Trust organization gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation to 14 to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. They have helped more than 600,000 young people since 1976 and support 100 more each working day. More than three in four young people Princes Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training.
To find out more about the film, click here.
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