From prestige TV to tentpole franchises to the Coachella DJ tent, the British actor is a poster boy for 21st-century fame: multidisciplinary, omnipresent, engaging.

Vanity Fair covers the iconic actor in their August 2019 cover - and ask the quintessential question - how does he do it? And how does he keep his reputation so stellar?

We picked out the best quotes from the man himself that encapsulates his cool factor - and how he handles his rep and brand.

“You’re throwing yourself out there for people to pick at you, or steer you, or tell you their opinion, or laugh at you, or celebrate you,” Elba says. “Whatever those are, you’re definitely amplifying that.”

“Everything’s a balance in life. I have to do the work, because it’s a popular time for me, and it’s best to have that. But also: I’m madly in love with my wife and my children.”

“At home, I’m not famous: I’m me. And to my team and my family and the people that I work with every day when we build what we build, we’re not famous. You know what I mean? It’s day one every day.”

For the full story, mosey on to VF.