Idris Elba: 'I nearly died in on-set slip up'

Actor Idris Elba almost died when he slipped next to a waterfall on the set of his latest movie.

The British star, 43, almost didn't live to see Beasts of No Nation after an accident on set put his life in danger.

"I nearly died," he confessed to British chat show host Jonathan Ross. "I was doing this scene - we decided to do this waterfall scene where all these child soldiers were walking behind this massive waterfall. Cary Fukunaga, the director, decided to shoot it for real. We went to this waterfall and in this scene my character is standing there watching all the child soldiers go past.

"Now in the setup of that, the stunt co-ordinator says, 'Listen everyone, this is a waterfall, that's a 90, 100 foot drop down there and the ground is very slippery, just be careful!' I put my foot on this rock just to hang out and chill out while they were setting up and as I'm doing that it's slippery, obviously. I slip... I put my hand on this tree - it's not a tree, it's a branch. It snaps and I go literally about six feet before I go bang over and I got caught by the security guy!"

Thankfully Idris made it through production in one piece and is thrilled with the finished result, although he admits it was one of the most harrowing films to shoot in his entire career.

While the star is known as a bit of a hard man thanks to his roles in hit TV shows The Wire and Luther, Idris revealed on the show that he's a big softie at heart.

"I watch Toy Story and I start crying so let alone Beasts Of No Nation!" he laughed.

Idris is father to daughter Isan, 13, from his first marriage as well as son Winston, 19 months, with partner Naiyana Garth.

His busy schedule means he doesn't get to spend as much time with his family as he would like, but he adores both his children.

"He's a good boy with me, really bad boy with his mom because she spoils him, I don't," he said of Winston. "I am actually a doting father. I pick him up a bit but for some reason he just takes the (mickey) with his mom."