Idris Elba admits boxing helped 'anchor his life' ahead of new BBC show

ok.co.uk:

He’s one of the world’s most recognisable actors, thanks to his acclaimed roles in The Wire and Luther, but Idris Elba says things could have turned out very differently for him.

The 49-year-old has praised the boxing school at York Hall in London’s Bethnal Green for keeping him on the straight and narrow as a young man. “At 22 years old, I could have gone many different ways,” the actor has explained. “I chose to be an actor, but I chose sports to keep me focused.

Fighting was it. I needed it to help me anchor my life and re-adjust.” Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.

Now, Idris is hoping to help other youngsters better their futures, too.The star has teamed up with some of the country’s leading boxing coaches to open a fight school, where he hopes an intensive training programme will arm his recruits with discipline, ambition and mental resilience in order to help them transform their lives.