There have long been rumours that British actor Idris Elba is in the running to play James Bond.In a wide-ranging interview with British GQ, Elba, who also has Sierra Leone citizenship, quickly shut down such talk. "It was never legit," Elba told GQ "It was always just a rumour."Journalist Hayley Campbell even said Elba playfully rolled his eyes and slid down in his seat when she brought up the prospect of this happening.The rumour has been going for almost two decades and took flight when actor Daniel Craig said at the Italian premiere of Quantum of Solace in 2008 that it was time for a black Bond.The premiere was held a day after Barack Obama was voted in as US president.But Elba, 53, who was knighted in the 2026 New Year Honours list for his services to young people, said he had never been on board with the idea."I've always felt that it's not a realistic thing," Elba said.He said while he considered the conversation around him being cast in the role a compliment, he had never taken it seriously."I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don't go for that," Elba said."Bond is big all over the world