British Actor Damson Idris skyrocketed to stardom by playing a young South-central kid named Franklin Saint in the 2017 FX Crime series Snowfall. His surprisingly flawless American accent and nuanced acting skills garnered him critical acclaim.  

While the breakthrough role introduced him to a plethora of future opportunities, there is still a lot to know about Idris behind the screens. 

Damson Idris’ Parents and Siblings

Idris wouldn't have been born in London if his Nigerian parents hadn't come to the country searching for a better life. The youngest of six children, the stunning actor was born on September 2, 1991, in Peckham, South East London. 

His full name is Adamson Alade-Bo Idris, but he is usually called Damson in his home and work. 

The information regarding Idris’ father remains obscure, and that could be because Idris and his siblings were raised by their single mother, Philippa, in a happy, loving family. 

Though loving, their family faced financial hardships in their hometown, often referred to as the most deprived areas of Europe. Thankfully, Idris' brothers and sisters worked hard and did well for themselves. 

Some of them pursued IT, some studied law, and others did banking. "I was really fortunate to be the last born and have them walk the path before me," Idris told The Guardian in April 2021. 

The uprising star also mentioned he had the leeway to look at what they did, and as the youngest brother, he was supported by all his siblings to pursue whatever he liked in life. 

Just for a fun fact, Idris' eldest brother is 17 years older than him. 

Damson Idris Wanted to be a Footballer 

Never did Idris think about being an actor as a child. And it's understandable given that no one suggested he pursue the entertainment field during his childhood. 

Instead, they expected him to be either of two things — a rapper or a footballer. Idris went with the latter, not because of the pressure, but because he wanted to be an athlete. 

The London native had trials at Charlton Athletic and even competed for the prize of training with David Beckham through the CBBC show Beckham’s Hotshots. However, his attempts didn't work out.

Meanwhile, his sister talked him out of pursuing sports and made him study theatre, film, and television at Brunel University. And since then, there has been no turning back. 

Idris first performed in the 2012 play Pandora’s Box at the Arcola Theatre. 

Is Damson Idris Related to Idris Elba?

The Snowfall actor has often been speculated to be a relative of the Hollywood heavyweight Idris Elba, apparently because of their similarity in names. Other than that, they are also both from London, England.

Despite the coincidence, Idris and Elba aren't related at all. The 30-year-old is of Nigerian descent, while Elba's parents are from Sierra Leone and Ghana.