British actor Idris Elba secretly bought and illegally drove a car when he was aged just 14.

The Wire star obtained a Mini Clubman behind his parents' backs and was able to get away with being underage at the wheel because he grew stubble in his early teens.

The Oscar-tipped actor made the revelation while filming Bbc documentary, Idris Elba: King Of Speed, saying, "By the time I was 14 I had an obsession with speed. I saved up and bought a car and drove it to school every day. My parent didn't know I bought it. When you have facial hair at 14, people don't question your age."

He adds, "I'm not proud of my early exploits but for me it was where it all began."

U.K. citizens must be aged 17 or over to legally drive a car.