Damson Idris is a British-Nigerian actor best known for starring in John Singleton’s crime drama, Snowfall. Before getting into acting, he was a football player and later, a rugby player. As a rugby player, Idris shook the hand of Queen Elizabeth II when his team took part in her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
As an actor, Idris is one of the fastest-rising stars in Hollywood. He has earned nominations and award recognitions for his outstanding performances in some of the movies he has starred in.
So, who is this British star who is making waves in the United States of America?
Damson Idris biography
Damson Alade-Bo Idris was born on September 2, 1991, in Peckham, South East London, United Kingdom. After completing his elementary and secondary school, Idris attended Brunel University London where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre, Film and Television Studies. He also enrolled in the Identity School of Acting in London, where he studied alongside other budding stars like John Boyega, Letitia Wright, and Malachi Kirby.
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Damson Idris career
Idris started his career in football at a young age. He trialled for Charlton at the age of 16, alongside Newcastle United star, Jonjo Shelvey. However, his football career dream ended after he sustained a serious knee injury.
In an interview with Native Magazine, Idris revealed that his infamous injury was not the only reason his football career ended.
“Do you know what it was? I didn’t listen! I never used to listen when I played football. “Damson pass the ball;” I’m doing leg over, I’m doing rainbow flick. I never used to go to the gym, I never used to work on my fitness, and that’s the truth.
“I remember I trialled for Charlton when I was sixteen years old, and Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool FC, Newcastle United) was playing at the same time, and now every time I see him I think: ‘I used to train with this guy.’ But everything works out for a reason,” he explained.
After his football career ended, Idris enrolled at Brunel where he met British actress, Cathy Tyson, who encouraged him to meet British-Nigerian screenwriter and playwright, Ade Solanke, to audition for a part in her play, Pandora’s Box. He got the role, signed with an agent and began to feature in more plays.
However, Idris got his breakthrough when he was selected to play Franklin Saint, an ambitious 19-year-old drug dealer in Los Angeles, in the FX crime drama, Snowfall. In 2015, Idris auditioned through video in London before he was invited to fly out to Los Angeles to visit John Singleton, the series producer. He practised his American accent with rapper WC, who tutored him on not just an authentic accent but the mannerisms specific to South Central Los Angeles.
Snowfall debuted in July 2017 and Idris’s performance earned him glowing reviews from critics. He went ahead to feature in other popular movies and TV shows such as Megan Leavey (2017), The Commuter (2018), Farming (2018) and Black Mirror (2019).
His performances have earned him several prestigious awards and nominations such as the “Emerging Talent Award” at the 12th Screen Nation Film and Television Awards, the 2021 MOBO Awards, the 2022 NAACP Awards and BET Awards and the 2023 Black Reel Awards.
In 2023, Idris became a brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger’s menswear.
Damson Idris movies
- Miranda (2013, TV)
- Casualty (2015, TV)
- Doctors (2015, TV)
- City of Tiny Lights (2016, movie)
- Megan Leavey (2017)
- Snowfall (2017-2023, TV)
- The Commuter (2018, movie)
- Astral (2018, movie)
- Farming (2018, movie)
- The Twilight Zone (2019, TV)
- Black Mirror (2019, TV)
- Outside the Wire (2021, movie)
- Swarm (2023, TV)
Damson Idris’ connection to Nigeria
Photo credit: Shutterstock
Idris was born in the UK to Nigerian parents of Yoruba descent. He was raised by his mother, Silifat Abike Idris, who moved to the UK from Oyo State, Nigeria, in the 1980s. He is the youngest of six siblings (three brothers and two sisters) who have successful corporate careers in law, business, and IT.
According to the Farming actor, being the youngest gave him a certain level of freedom to choose a different career for himself. Idris also revealed his family, particularly his mother, supported his career choice as an actor.
“Damson, when are you going to go to America like Idris Elba?” Her son remembers her asking. “My mum has always pushed me to do better, and still to this day, she continues to do that. My family is the main source [of encouragement] to achieve what I’ve achieved today,” he said.
Meanwhile, Idris has not forgotten his Nigerian roots, thanks to his mother.
“My mum would always say: ‘Live as the Romans but don’t forget where you came from’, and I think that’s incorporated into my life today. Above all things, no matter where I go and what circle I move in, I scream Nigeria loudly and I like to educate people about Nigeria,” he told Native Magazine.
Despite being born in England, Idris was raised in a typical Nigerian home. So, he knows how to speak his native Yoruba language fluently, something he credits to often accompanying his mother to the mosque on Old Kent Road when he was a child.
“Everyone is trying to take in the culture now, and I’m so grateful to my mum for keeping me in the loop, dragging me to those hall parties, and playing Fuji music.”
Apart from strongly identifying as a Nigerian in the UK, Idris has made efforts to reconnect with his motherland. He bought a house for his mother in Nigeria because he was “trying to start laying roots there and motivate everyone to own land back home.”
Idris has also revealed his desire to feature in Nollywood movies someday, having been inspired by legendary Nigerian comedic actors, Baba Suwe and Lookulooku Bansanshee. When asked if he was himself working in Nollywood, he replied:
“100%, it’s in motion. Remember how I said my mum loved Hollyoaks? She was either watching Hollyoaks or a Nollywood movie. Growing up, the first two actors I loved were Baba Suwe and Lookulooku Bansanshee. They’re the first people that introduced me to comedy, and that performative and exaggerated style of performance. I remember the first time I watched Anini, I was fascinated, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It’s funny that it was about Lawerence Anini, and today I’m starting the process of playing that character.”
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Damson Idris ‘Sexiest Man of the Moment’
On April 10, 2024, Idris was unveiled as the star of Essence Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Of The Moment’ issue. The American monthly lifestyle magazine also went on to describe the London-born actor’s qualities as “the foundation of a man.
He stands 6’1, with deep auburn skin and a 4K pearly smile that glistens like ultraviolet rays off charcoal mines in the deepest sands off the coast of Nigeria. “Yes, it’s that deep. His charm is tangible. His infectiousness is palatable. His future is limitless,” the publication wrote in describing the actor.
Asked what he thought about being naked ‘Sexiest Man of the Moment,’ Idris said, “I have no idea! [laughs] But I’m beautiful. I didn’t mean that.
“If it wasn’t me, I’d be like, Oh, that guy cares. That guy cares about what he’s doing, aside from aesthetics or whatever. I think if you care about what you do, that’s sexy—and that’s inspiring. So, yeah, maybe that’s why I’m sitting here in this chair.”
Damson Idris age
Idris is currently 32 years old and will turn 33 in 2024.
Damson Idris Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4oLxswSS1q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Like most celebrities, Damson Idris has an active Instagram account where he posts content on his career and lifestyle. His verified account has about 1.9 million followers as of the time of writing this article.
