Entertainment News

Idris Elba reveals he’s in therapy to tackle ‘unhealthy habits’

New York Premiere Of 'luther: The Fallen Sun'
Idris Elba

Idris Elba has revealed that he is in therapy to work through his “unhealthy habits”.

During an appearance on the Changes with Annie Macmanus podcast, the 51-year-old actor, who has labelled himself a “workaholic”, opened up about seeking therapy after developing some “unhealthy habits”.

“In my therapy, I’ve been thinking a lot about changing, almost to the point of neuropaths being changed and shifting (sic),” Idris told the podcast host. “It’s not because I don’t like myself or anything like that, it’s just because I have some unhealthy habits that have just really formed.”

The Emmy Award winner explained that the film industry promotes an unhealthy work-life balance.

“I work in an industry that I am rewarded for those unhealthy habits,” Idris stated. “I’m a workaholic. I’m an absolute workaholic. And that isn’t great for life, generally. Nothing that’s too extreme is good. Everything needs balance.”

The British actor added, “But I am rewarded massively to be a workaholic, to someone that can go, ‘I’m not going to see my family for six months.’ And I’m in there grinding and making a new family and then leave them.”

Idris noted that he has considered whether his struggles with work-life balance are linked to his childhood.

“Those are pathways that I had to be like, ‘I’ve got to adjust,'” he said. “So I’ve been thinking about this a lot and oddly enough a lot of our childhood is really at the root of it.”

– Cover Media