Idris Elba once had a man pull out a gun on him.
The star is used to facing trouble as detective Luther in the popular British TV show of the same name. But he's also had his fair share of real-life drama.
"Yes, a couple of times," he answered Esquire when asked if he's ever cheated death.
"One time this geezer was having a barney with his wife and I said, ‘Ah mate, leave it alone,’ and then he pulled out a gun. So I sort of let him calm down, and he did calm down. But he definitely would have popped me in the face I think. This was in America."
He'll be returning to his crime-fighting best as John Luther for a two-hour special of the show, which originally ended in its third series in 2013.
But Idris is no one-trick pony, which he proved by taking on the role of Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. He's also a DJ and says taking photographs is another of his talents.
The 42-year-old has enjoyed his mid-30s and early 40s best and has some sage advice he'd give his 20-year-old self.
"I’d say, 'Take time to know her.' Just ‘cause you save yourself a lot of heartache. Just take time to know her," he said.
Idris also shared everything from his favourite food and drink - steak and eggs with spinach on the side and a "nice beer" - to what he would save if his house was burning down.
"Hard drives with all my music on, and probably my laptop and my DJ equipment," he admitted.
