Damson Idris and His 5 Siblings Were Raised by a Single Mom: ‘We Were Dirt Poor’

British-Nigerian actor Damson Idris is a movie star with major roles in several movies and TV series, but when he was a child, he and his siblings were very poor.

Damson Idris’ life as an actor in Hollywood is a dream he could never have imagined coming true, growing up in one of Europe’s poorest areas, one of six children raised by a single mother.

Damson Idris’ mother struggled to give every one of her six children a fighting chance, and they were all successful, but the one who became a star was her youngest boy.

Damson Idris at the premiere event for the sixth season of “Snowfall” in February 15, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

These days, actor Damson Idris is on top of the world. His resumé includes the lead in the film “Farming” with Kate Beckinsale and a major role in “Outside the Wire” opposite Marvel star Anthony Mackie.

He is doing equally well on TV with the starring role in FX’s crime series “Snowfall” as drug kingpin Franklin Saint, alongside Carter Hudson and Emily Rios.

Seeing him at red carpet events displaying an enviable poise and elegance, few would imagine that Damson Idris, born on September 2, 1991, in London, lived a childhood of crushing poverty. He revealed:

“We were dirt poor. It was roaches, 23 different carpets in the house and the mattress that your mum took from outside so the bottom of it is still pissy.”

Damson’s Mother Raised 6 Children Alone

But while many who grew up poor remember their childhoods with bitterness and resentment for their past suffering, Damson recalls the love and support he and his siblings received from their mother, Philippa Idris.

Phillipa instilled faith in God and a strong sense of self-worth in her children. The father of Phillipa’s children was not there for the family, and his name is never mentioned.

Phillipa raised her children on her own, with great difficulty but with love, and her work ethic led them all to succeed in their chosen fields. Damson revealed:

“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.”

Idris Elba, Damson Idris, and Sabrina Elba at the launch of Edward Enninful’s new memoir “A Visible Man” in September 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Damson is a major star instantly recognized by the public in the United States, but in his native UK, he is still little known.

The internet launched a rumor about Damson’s father and decided that he could only be fellow British actor Idris Elba — both for the coincidence in the name and their good looks. Elba had other ideas. Damson revealed:

“The first time I met Idris Elba was at my good friend Edward, (…) and Idris Elba was like, ‘Hey, come over here.’ I walk over to him and he’s like, ‘I know you, I know you, they always ask if you’re my little brother.'”

The rumor of Damson’s relationship with Elba gained traction when the actor started dating Michael B. Jordan’s ex, Lori Harvey, in early 2023.

‘You Can Go Off and Be a Stripper’ – How Damson’s Acting Career Began

When he was younger, Damson dreamed of becoming a soccer player, an idea his mother approved of — but his sister advised him to study drama, something he truly loved.

Because his five older siblings chose traditional business, law, and technology careers, Damson felt free to follow a different path. He explained:

“I had the leeway to look at what they did. OK, I did this path. Now you can go off and be a stripper and we wouldn’t mind.’ So I was really fortunate to be the last born and have them walk the path before me.”

While Damson is a major star and instantly recognized by the public in the United States, in his native UK, he is still little known. Still, his talent is garnering him the recognition he deserves.