Idris Elba says he finally understands and embraces who he is.
|||The 43-year-old actor - who has children Isan, 14, and Winston, 23 months, from past relationships - had a good time when he was younger but lacked direction in his life, and now he is secure in himself, he is having "real fun".
He said: "I had a lot of fun in my 20s but I didn't really know what I was doing in my life back then. I started to grow into myself in my 30s. Now in my 40s, I have a really good grasp of who I am. It's more interesting when you feel things are falling into place. That's where the real fun comes from."
The 'Jungle Book' actor credits his parents for helping him stay out of trouble while growing up in a deprived part of London.
He said: "I had parents who were very protective and looked out for me. They knew what was going on in the streets and I wasn't allowed to hang out with any of those people.
"I always had a lot of respect for how hard they worked to provide for our family.
"I may have been a very big, strong kid but it was being mentally tough that really helped me succeed."
Bang Showbiz