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Maxim is known for itsscantily clad Hollywood starlets on the cover, which is why the world was a bitsurprised to see actor Idris Elba on the cover of the September fashion issue.Wearing a black leopard-print coat, the handsome British actor is the first solo male in history to gracethe front of the magazine.
The magazine, known for scantily-clad beauties, picked hunky Idris to be their first-ever male cover star Photo: Maxim
Maxim editor-in-chief Kate Lanphear told Racked: "This is the very first time, andthere was no one else in the world more bad-ass than Idris."
In the feature, Idris talks about life, sex,movies and his passions: auto-racing and DJing. He also addresses those rumors that he's going to play the next James Bond after Daniel Craig – something he somewhat put to rest.
"If I were the Bond producersand everyone was pointing me toward one actor, what's the surprise inthat?" he told the magazine. "Honestly, it's one of those things thatif it should happen, it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy; it would be thewill of a nation."
Real-life action man Idris played down talk of being the next James Bond Photo: Getty Images
Though he may not be taking on the role of the secret agent, the43-year-old's history-making cover comes after several Bond Girls have beenfeatured on the cover. OlgaKurylenko, Bérénice Marlohe and Denise Richards are just some of the beautieswho have posed for the magazine over the years.
Multifaceted Idris has a number of passions – he's an actor, race car driver and a star DJ Photo: Getty Images
Prior to 007 rumors, the London-born starmade a name for himself on The Wire and also starred as NelsonMandela in Mandela:Long Walk to Freedom. He is set to take on a role in thenext Star Trek movie.
Next month, he'll be seen as an Africanchild army leader in Cary Fukunaga’sBeastsof No Nation, a performance that’s already gaining awardbuzz.
Get more from Idris in the video below: