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12 Feb 2026 2:36
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Idris Elba feels like he "dodged a bullet" after recovering from Covid-19

    Both the 47-year-old actor and his wife Sabrina Dhowre, 31, contracted the virus in April and Idris says they are thankful to be alive


    In an interview with BAFTA, he said: "I do feel like I dodged a bullet – I’m very thankful to be alive."

    Meanwhile, Idris previously admitted the "mental impact" of Covid-19 was "pretty traumatic" on him and Sabrina.

    He explained: "I was asymptomatic so I didn't get the major symptoms everyone else got. 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."

    The former star of 'The Wire' added that he was grateful for lockdown because it gave him the time to recover from the virus.

    He admitted: "I needed the lockdown to try to get over it. And it turns out the world actually probably needed the lockdown, too."

    Idris has said it felt the right thing to do to share his diagnosis as it "opened up a lot of conversation around it".

    He said: "My wife and I felt like it was the right thing to do, to share it with you guys. Right now though, I am feeling okay. Woke up this morning, didn't have any symptoms. My voice is a little tired ... checking my fever twice a day. Feel good, feel okay. Been doing a lot of reading about it. You know, asymptomatic is what comes up."

    Several celebrities were struck down with Covid-19, including Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, pop star Pink and Britain's Prince Charles.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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     Today's News

    Rugby:
    The selections of two young guns plucked out of wider training groups headline the first Super Rugby Wednesday team lists of 2026 21:57

    Entertainment:
    KyIie Kelce is relieved that she has "no skin" in the Super Bowl this year 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Colman feels as though she is non-binary 21:21

    Politics:
    Area school teachers are heading back into pay talks - due to a disagreement between unions 21:17

    Law and Order:
    How the search for Nancy Guthrie played out as police detain a person for questioning 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Lindsey Vonn is in a "stable condition" after her frightening crash at the Winter Olympics 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Chase Infiniti is still coming to terms with fame 20:21

    Entertainment:
    ‘New Zealanders are inventive by necessity’: how the master clown Philippe Gaulier shaped NZ theatre 20:07

    Entertainment:
    Blac Chyna is taking a break from dating 19:51

    Entertainment:
    Melissa Joan Hart appreciates how being a child star set her up for life at a young age 19:21


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