News | Entertainment
25 Feb 2026 7:39
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   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

     Other Entertainment News
     25 Feb: Rebecca Gayheart has thanked those who have offered financial support to her family
     25 Feb: Savannah Guthrie's family offers $1.42m reward to bring home missing mother Nancy
     25 Feb: Matt Bellamy and Elle Evans have reportedly split
     25 Feb: Jerry O'Connell got hypnotised to quit smoking
     24 Feb: Hailee Steinfeld feels "more prepared for a newborn" as time goes on
     24 Feb: Leigh-Anne Pinnock wants her twin daughters to "choose if they want to be famous or not"
     24 Feb: Judy Garland once tried to boot her daughter Liza Minnelli off stage during a joint performance
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Crusaders captain David Havili insists his side can dig a way out of their early Super Rugby hole More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Government support for regional air routes is taking flight More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    Warriors assistant coach Slade Griffin is highlighting Mitch Barnett's impact on the club's younger forwards 7:37

    Health & Safety:
    New treatment options for melanoma are being described as the global gold standard 7:27

    Entertainment:
    Rebecca Gayheart has thanked those who have offered financial support to her family 7:21

    Business:
    Government support for regional air routes is taking flight 7:17

    Entertainment:
    Savannah Guthrie's family offers $1.42m reward to bring home missing mother Nancy 7:07

    Christchurch:
    Two separate emergencies on State Highway One north of Christchurch are causing significant delays 7:07

    Entertainment:
    Matt Bellamy and Elle Evans have reportedly split 6:51

    Health & Safety:
    Melanoma advocates hope a new Pharmac proposal will take the pressure off patients 6:27

    Entertainment:
    Jerry O'Connell got hypnotised to quit smoking 6:21

    Motoring:
    A car driver's died after a crash between a truck and a car about 11am on Waikato's State Highway 2 - near Mangatawhiri 21:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd