Idris Elba has spoken candidly about the ‘traumatic’ psychological impact of coronavirus.
Alongside his wife Sabrina Dhowre, the 47-year-old actor was among the first few famous faces to be tested positive for the deadly disease.
However, the star has since made a full recovery, adding he was “lucky to be alive and thankful for being able to kick” coronavirus.
Describing his experience with the disease, Elba explained that is was coronavirus’s unknown nature which had an effect on his mental well-being.
“I was asymptomatic so I didn’t get the major symptoms everyone else got,” he told Radio Times.
“Mentally, it hit me very bad, because a lot was unknown about it.
“I felt very compelled to speak about it, just because it was such an unknown.
“So the mental impact of that on both myself and my wife was pretty traumatic.”
He added that the worldwide lockdown, that was implemented by many countries throughout March, helped him come to terms with the illness and recover.
“I needed the lockdown to try to get over it,” Elba said. “And it turns out the world actually probably needed the lockdown, too.”
Top politicians, sportspeople and entertainers of all ages have all been affected by the virus, with singer Pink, magician Dynamo and actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson all describing their experiences with Covid-19.
Celebrities reacting to coronavirus – In pictures
1/26
Gigi Hadid with boyfriend Zayn Malik and sister Bella during her quarantined 25th birthday celebration
Instagram / @gigihadid
2/26
Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content
TikTok
3/26
Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok
TikTok
4/26
Gigi Hadid celebrated her 25th birthday with family while in quarantine
Instagram / @gigihadid
5/26
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been able to enjoy time with their kids
Instagram / @chrissyteigen
6/26
Katy Perry recorded herself for American Idol in a life sized hand sanitizer bottle
Instagram / @katyperry
7/26
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the first celebrities to have a confirmed case and kept us updated on their recovery journey on Twitter and Instagram
Instagram / @tomhanks
8/26
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis in matching pajamas with their daughter and her boyfriend
Instagram / @buuski
9/26
Kaia Gerber adopted a puppy to keep her company
Instagram / @kaiagerber
10/26
Helena Christensen has been having her son take glam Instagram photos for her
11/26
Brooklyn Beckham in quarantine with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz
12/26
Matthew McConaughey played virtual bingo with seniors
The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living/Facebook
13/26
Kim Kardashian on a flight wearing a face mask and gloves
@kimkardashian
14/26
Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight
@naomi
15/26
Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a facemask during a plane ride
@gwynethpaltrow
16/26
Bella Hadid wearing a face mask on a plane
@bellahadid
17/26
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas
@sophiet
18/26
Sebastian Stan on a plane in protective gear
@sebastianstan
19/26
Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight
@naomi
20/26
Nicole Scherzinger with Thom Evans
@nicolescherzinger
21/26
Idris Elba announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for coronavirus
@idriselba
22/26
Robbie Williams greets fans with elbow bumps
Getty Images
23/26
Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok
TikTok
24/26
Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok
TikTok
25/26
Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content
TikTok
26/26
Katy Perry has taken to dressing up in outlandish costumes
Instagram / @katyperry
1/26
Gigi Hadid with boyfriend Zayn Malik and sister Bella during her quarantined 25th birthday celebration
Instagram / @gigihadid
2/26
Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content
TikTok
3/26
Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok
TikTok
4/26
Gigi Hadid celebrated her 25th birthday with family while in quarantine
Instagram / @gigihadid
5/26
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been able to enjoy time with their kids
Instagram / @chrissyteigen
6/26
Katy Perry recorded herself for American Idol in a life sized hand sanitizer bottle
Instagram / @katyperry
7/26
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the first celebrities to have a confirmed case and kept us updated on their recovery journey on Twitter and Instagram
Instagram / @tomhanks
8/26
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis in matching pajamas with their daughter and her boyfriend
Instagram / @buuski
9/26
Kaia Gerber adopted a puppy to keep her company
Instagram / @kaiagerber
10/26
Helena Christensen has been having her son take glam Instagram photos for her
11/26
Brooklyn Beckham in quarantine with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz
12/26
Matthew McConaughey played virtual bingo with seniors
The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living/Facebook
13/26
Kim Kardashian on a flight wearing a face mask and gloves
@kimkardashian
14/26
Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight
@naomi
15/26
Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a facemask during a plane ride
@gwynethpaltrow
16/26
Bella Hadid wearing a face mask on a plane
@bellahadid
17/26
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas
@sophiet
18/26
Sebastian Stan on a plane in protective gear
@sebastianstan
19/26
Naomi Campbell preparing for a flight
@naomi
20/26
Nicole Scherzinger with Thom Evans
@nicolescherzinger
21/26
Idris Elba announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for coronavirus
@idriselba
22/26
Robbie Williams greets fans with elbow bumps
Getty Images
23/26
Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok
TikTok
24/26
Kylie Jenner and best friend Stassie have been very active on TikTok
TikTok
25/26
Joe Jonas and Sophia Turner have turned their isolation boredom into hilarious TikTok content
TikTok
26/26
Katy Perry has taken to dressing up in outlandish costumes
Instagram / @katyperry
Elba also spoke out about the need for more black artists, actors, writers and producers in television, and was one of the actors who signed an open letter which called upon the entertainment industry to invest more in black talent.
However, he added he opposed the censorship of past productions, with his comments coming after a number of comedy shows including Little Britain, The Mighty Boosh and The League of Gentlemen being pulled from streaming platforms for their use of blackface.
“I’m very much a believer in freedom of speech,” he said. “To mock the truth, you have to know the truth. But to censor racist themes within a show, to pull it … I think viewers should know that people made shows like this.”
Elba continued: “Commissioners and archive-holders pulling things they think are exceptionally tone-deaf at this time – fair enough and good for you.
“But I think, moving forward, people should know that freedom of speech is accepted, but the audience should know what they’re getting into.
“I don’t believe in censorship. I believe that we should be allowed to say what we want to say. Because, after all, we’re story-makers.”
The Turn Up Charlie actor added that while financial investment would aid to better diversity on screen, a fundamental change in attitude is what was vital in order to make that happen.
“It’s a shift in attitude, in perspective, in tolerance,” Elba said. “And you can’t put an amount on that.”
Read the full interview in Radio Times magazine, out now
Additional reporting by PA