Damson Idris

Adamson Alade-Bo "Damson" Idris (born 2 September 1991) is a British actor and entrepreneur. He is best known for starring in John Singleton's crime drama ''Snowfall'', which debuted 5 July 2017 on FX and ended in 2023 after six seasons. He played the co-lead in Netflix's 2021 sci-fi action film '' Outside the Wire''.

Early life

Idris was born in Peckham, South East London, to a Yoruba Nigerian family. He is the youngest of six children. He played football and dreamed of being "the next Cristiano Ronaldo". He also played rugby, and in 2002, he shook the hand of Queen Elizabeth II when his team took part in her Golden Jubilee. Idris's elder siblings—three brothers and two sisters—have mostly gone on to corporate careers in law, business, and IT Consulting, with one of his sisters working as his PR agent. He ended up studying drama at Brunel University London. He completed a BA Honours degree in Theatre, Film & Television studies. He would later receive an Alumni Award for Outstanding Contribution to Culture and Creativity from the university in 2024. After graduating, Idris continued his training at Identity School of Acting in London alongside the likes of John Boyega, Letitia Wright, and Malachi Kirby.

Career

At Brunel, Idris met actress Cathy Tyson, who encouraged him to meet Ade Solanke and audition for a part in her play, ''Pandora's Box''. He got the role, signed with an agent and began performing in more plays. He also trained at the Identity School of Acting, founded by Femi Oguns. After performing at the Royal National Theatre in London, Idris decided to pursue television and film roles. He had several parts on British series including '' Miranda'' (2013), ''Doctors'' (2015) and ''Casualty'' (2015).

Idris's breakout role is Franklin Saint, an ambitious 19-year-old drug dealer in Los Angeles, in the FX crime drama ''Snowfall'' from John Singleton, which debuted in July 2017. The first season of ''Snowfall'' — set in 1983 as the United States is on the verge of the crack cocaine epidemic — weaves together the stories of several characters whose lives will soon collide because of drugs. Idris auditioned through video in London before flying out to Los Angeles, where he spent the day with Singleton, who wanted to ensure Idris had mastery of the accent. To practise his American accent he worked with rapper WC, who tutored him on not just an authentic accent but the mannerisms specific to South Central Los Angeles. Idris earned strong reviews for his performance; Malcolm Venable of ''TV Guide'' called him "nothing short of captivating." The second series of ''Snowfall'', set in 1984, premiered in July 2018.

Idris had his first big screen part in 2016 in the British thriller '' City of Tiny Lights'', starring Riz Ahmed. In 2017, he made his American film debut in '' Megan Leavey'' alongside Kate Mara, who plays the title character in the eponymous war film. Idris also has a part as an FBI agent in the 2018 film '' The Commuter'' with Liam Neeson; and starred in ''Farming'', alongside Kate Beckinsale. ''Farming'' is a semi-autobiographical story of Nigerian-British actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who directed the film. Idris plays the character based on Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who, like many Nigerian people in the late 20th century, was "farmed out" to a white family in the UK in the hopes of a better life, while Beckinsale portrays his strict foster mother. In 2019, Damson won the Award for Best Actor in a British Film at the Edinburgh Film Festival for his portrayal. He also appears in " Smithereens," the second episode of the fifth season of the anthology series ''Black Mirror''.

In May 2017, Idris won the "Emerging Talent Award" at the 12th Screen Nation Film and Television Awards in London.

In 2023, Idris became the new brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger's menswear. On 7 April 2023, '' Deadline'' announced that Idris will star alongside Brad Pitt in the upcoming film '' F1'' for Apple TV+, directed by Joseph Kosinski. On 12 May 2025, it was announced that Idris will star alongside Anamaria Vartolomei in the upcoming film '' Miles & Juliette'', directed by Bill Pohlad.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Idris, Damson
1991 births
Living people
Male actors from London
Actors from the London Borough of Southwark
Alumni of the Identity School of Acting
English people of Nigerian descent
English male film actors
English male television actors
British male voice actors
Black British male actors
21st-century English male actors
Alumni of Brunel University London
British male stage actors
English people of Yoruba descent
People from Peckham