200317 idris elba
British actor Idris Elba Image Credit: Reuters

British star Idris Elba, who was one of the first celebrities to share about battling COVID-19, says he is fortunate to be alive and that every day he is thankful.

“The COVID was mild, compared with how others have gone. I’m very fortunate to be alive, and every day I’m thankful,” he told The Guardian newspaper.

The ‘Luther’ actor had earlier talked about having the virus and the struggles he faced. “Facing my mortality, being diagnosed with Covid and not knowing what it was at the time — going through that was very sobering,” he said.

The actor had also shared that he was subjected to “stupid” conspiracy theories that they were being paid to lie about the virus and Elba and shared it only made their recovery harder.

Both Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre tested positive for the virus in March 2020. The couple battled only mild symptoms and became advocates for social distancing, washing hands and wearing masks in the aftermath. — With Gulf News staff inputs