Damson Idris

Damson Idris is a British actor, producer and entrepreneur of Nigerian descent. He rose to fame for his role as Franklin Saint in the crime drama "Snowfall", in which he played one of the central characters throughout all six seasons. The actor later moved on to major film projects, appearing in the film "F1", where he played Joshua Pearce.

However, Idris’s journey into film did not begin with Hollywood productions. He grew up in Peckham in south-east London, trained in theatre, started out on stage and only then moved on to television and film roles.

In this article, we’ll take a look at Damson Idris’s biography, covering his education, background, family, brothers and sisters, personal life, as well as his early steps in the acting profession.

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Biography

Damson Idris was born on 2 September 1991 in the Peckham area of south-east London. Even after achieving success in Hollywood, Idris continues to emphasise his roots. His full name is Adamson Alade-Bo Idris. He grew up in a family of Nigerian Yoruba origin and was the youngest of six children. The actor himself has said that as a child he spent a lot of time playing sport: he played football and rugby, and at one point even dreamt of becoming a professional footballer. He supports Manchester United and has admitted that he dreamt of following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In one interview, Damson even mentioned that, had it not been for acting, he might have been coaching children in a football academy.

Interesting fact: In May 2026, Damson Idris made his debut in the famous Soccer Aid charity football match, held at the London Stadium, and became one of the stars of the event. Damson played for the England national team alongside stars such as Wayne Rooney and Tom Hiddleston. As early as the 31st minute of the match, the actor scored the first goal of the game: he skilfully curled the ball past the goalkeeper with the outside of his foot. The match ended 3 – 2 in England’s favour, making Idris’s debut a triumphant one.

Idris’s interest in acting developed later on. At university, he studied theatre, film and television, and then began landing his first roles on stage. It was through theatre productions that his professional career began.

Interestingly, it was his sister who encouraged him to take up theatre. At college, Idris had originally intended to study business, but one of his older sisters advised him to try drama instead. That decision proved to be a turning point in his life.

As a child, he shook hands with Queen Elizabeth II. In 2002, the rugby team in which the young Damson played took part in an event to mark the Golden Jubilee. That is how he came to be among the children who were introduced to Queen Elizabeth II.

Education

Damson Idris studied drama at Brunel University London. There, he obtained a BA Honours degree in Theatre, Film & Television studies. The university played a significant role in his professional development: whilst a student, Idris met Cathy Tyson and was given the opportunity to audition for the theatre production "Pandora’s Box".

After graduating from university, the actor continued his training at the Identity School of Acting in London. His fellow students included John Boyega, Letitia Wright and Malachi Kirby. This school provided another step in Idris’s training before he moved on to regular work in theatre, television and film.

The actor has maintained his connection with Brunel University London even after graduation. In 2024, the university presented him with an Alumni Award for Outstanding Contribution to Culture and Creativity.

Parents

Many of Damson Idris’s fans are interested in his ethnic background – he grew up in a family of Nigerian origin. His mother, Philippa Idris, is an entrepreneur. She brought up six children on her own, and the actor himself has spoken on numerous occasions about the significant influence she has had on his character and his approach to work. In an interview, he recalled his childhood in Peckham and spoke about how his mother looked after the family and supported her children.

Damson Idris about his mum:

I am a mummy's boy. Big time. I am not ashamed to admit it anymore... She is the one I want to make proud, She is my biggest fan and I'm her biggest fan.

The actor hardly ever speaks about his father. It is known that he was given the name Adamson in honour of his grandfather, Adam Alade Idris. Damson is the name he was usually called within the family.

Siblings

Damson Idris is the youngest of six children. He has three older brothers and two older sisters. Unlike him, they have mainly built careers in the corporate sector: their professional fields include law, business and IT.

Damson Idris about his brothers and sisters:

I'm the youngest of six. My oldest brother, he's a regional manager. The one underneath, that works in IT, the one underneath, that is a lawyer. And then my sisters are business managers.

Damson’s older brothers and sisters served as a kind of role model for him. Watching their studies and careers, he realised that achieving one’s goals requires hard work. However, Idris chose a completely different path and, instead of a corporate career, went into theatre and film.

Personal life

Damson Idris tries not to turn his personal life into a public spectacle. That said, his relationship with Lori Harvey has attracted media attention for several years. The couple began dating in 2022 and publicly confirmed their romance in January 2023. Idris posted a photo with Lori Harvey on Instagram at the time, after which they no longer kept their relationship private.

In November 2023, news of their split emerged. In a joint statement, Damson Idris and Lori Harvey explained that their decision was driven by a desire to focus on their own life goals.

However, that was not the end of the story. In 2025, the former partners were spotted together on several occasions: first whilst on holiday in Puerto Vallarta, and then in Miami. In March 2026, reports emerged that Idris and Harvey had rekindled their relationship following joint appearances in Paris.

After getting back together in 2025, the couple split up again in April 2026.

Career

Damson Idris’s professional career began not in film, but in theatre. In the early 2010s, he landed his first stage roles and then gradually moved into television. His early work included guest appearances in the British series "Miranda" (2013), "Doctors" (2015) and "Casualty" (2015). This early start allowed the actor to gain experience even before he landed a major role.

A key milestone in his career was the crime drama "Snowfall". In 2017, Damson Idris landed the role of Franklin Saint – a young Los Angeles resident who is gradually drawn into the drug trade against the backdrop of the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic. The series aired on FX from 2017 to 2023, and Idris remained one of its lead actors throughout all six series. It was this role that brought him to the attention of a wider audience.

For his role in the TV series "Snowfall", he had to completely change his way of speaking. Damson grew up in London, so he had to learn the American accent practically from scratch. To practise his accent, he worked with the rapper WC, who taught him not only an authentic accent but also the mannerisms typical of South Los Angeles. Idris received great reviews for his performance.

Following the success of "Snowfall", Damson Idris began appearing more frequently in feature films. In 2018, he starred in the film "The Commuter" alongside Liam Neeson. He appeared in the drama "Farming" and the sci-fi action film "Outside the Wire", as well as in the episode "Smithereens" of the series "Black Mirror".

In 2025, Idris starred in a major Hollywood production, "F1". In Joseph Kosinski’s sports drama, he played Joshua Pearce – a young Formula 1 driver who races for the same team as Brad Pitt’s character. The film is aimed at an international audience.

For this film, Damson actually learnt to drive a racing car. His training lasted around seven months: he practised on circuits, worked with simulators and completed dozens of laps a day. In some scenes, the actor was behind the wheel himself. Idris recounted that whilst preparing for "F1", he went into a skid on several occasions. He particularly remembered an incident on the circuit in Austin, where he lost control on several bends in quick succession. According to the actor, every mistake like that helped him understand the car better. After filming, where speeds reached around 180 miles per hour, normal driving seemed much more relaxed to him. Idris said that he now prefers simply to drive and not to take unnecessary risks.

His work on "F1" also brought the actor new professional recognition. In 2026, he received the African-American Film Critics Association award in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role as Joshua Pearce.

Damson Idris is the face of many well-known brands.

In 2023, he became an ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger’s menswear range. Idris has also featured in several advertising campaigns for Prada.

In 2025, Idris launched his own jewellery brand, DIDRIS. He unveiled the collection at the 2025 Met Gala and said that his mother had been his inspiration.

Popular films and TV series

Over the course of his career, Damson Idris has appeared in both British TV series and major Hollywood productions. Some of his earliest roles were minor, but the actor gradually moved on to playing leading roles.

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