Always keep smiling: Idris Elba on 'too street' comment

Los Angeles: Actor Idris Elba, responding to new "James Bond" author's comment that he is too street to play the famous British spy, said he has learnt from the "street" to keep smiling.

The 42-year-old actor alongside his response uploaded a screengrab of the article in which Anthony Horowitz, author of "Trigger Mortis", apologised for having described Elba as being "too street" to play the famous British spy onscreen.

"Always Keep Smiling!! It takes no energy and never hurts! Learned that from the Street!!" he wrote.

Elba made no official comment on the matter aside from the upbeat text posted on Instagram. He has long been considered one of the top candidates to succeed Daniel Craig as the new 007.

In the same interview, Horowitz said that he preferred another black actor, Adrian Lester of the BBC series Hustle, to play the new Bond. After significant backlash, Horowitz apologised for his comments, saying the "too street" comment was clumsy and "a poor choice of word."