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Idris Elba Is a “Doting” Dad of 2 – Meet Isan and Winston
Getty / David M. Benett
Hollywood heartthrob Idris Elba has been turning heads in all his roles over the years, including in “The Harder They Fall,” “The Suicide Squad,” the Avengers films, and yes, even “Cats.” But beyond his acting career, People’s former Sexiest Man Alive has another major role in his life: being a father to two children, daughter Isan, whom he shares with ex-wife Kim Nørgaard, and son Winston, whom he shares with former girlfriend Naiyana Garth.
Elba’s children have been spotted out at a handful of events with the actor and his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, but they rarely appear on his social media pages. However, Elba has never been shy about bragging about his title as a proud dad. He had a candid conversation with People in November 2018 and recalled how much he cares for his kids.
“Being witness to the birth of my children, happy and healthy, is the biggest, biggest, most best thing ever,” he said, also admitting that he’s been one of those embarrassing dads “plenty of times.” “But I tend to be conscious of my daughter’s space. I’m super doting as a dad. Big hugs, kisses, lots of love-yous and all of that. I’m sure my daughter’s like, ‘All right dad, chill out.’ My son, he gets it. But [Winston is] still at that age where he loves a cuddle.”
Elba also talked about raising his kids in a February 2023 interview with Esquire UK. “My children love me and maybe that’s helped me love myself a bit more,” he said. He added that he doesn’t give his kids different advice because one is a boy and one is a girl. “Boys and girls are different but you aren’t as a parent. Dad advice is dad advice. I’m not going to give my daughter different advice from my son because she’s a girl,” he explained.
Elba once took his daughter as his date to the Oscars, and according to an interview with Cosmopolitan, she was “NOT chilled out” about the experience (can you blame her?). Ahead, find out more about Isan and Winston, and see the Elba family’s cutest photos together.
– Additional reporting by Njera Perkins
Related: Idris Elba’s Beautiful Family Stole the Spotlight at His Own Movie Premiere
Dave Benett/Getty Images / David M. Benett
Isan Elba
Isan Elba was born in January 2002. She is Idris’s oldest child with his first wife, Nørgaard. Idris and Norgaard split up right around the time she was pregnant, but the two remained on good terms and coparented their daughter. Isan grew up largely out of the spotlight but is very close with her famous father, having made a number of red carpet appearances with him. But despite their bond, there are some things Isan would rather not know about her dad.
In a January 2019 interview with People, she shared that she was “grossed out” by her dad earning the outlet’s title as Sexiest Man Alive, jokingly calling him a poser while pointing out his dramatic photos in the magazine. She does try to keep Idris in check, though, the actor told Jimmy Fallon during an appearance on “The Tonight Show” back in August 2017. He said Isan tells him to calm down because she thinks he’s trying too hard to be cool.
When Isan’s not accompanying her dad to Hollywood events, she’s busy being a mental health advocate. In 2019, she was named a Golden Globes Ambassador, and her platform of choice was mental health in Black teens because she said she wanted to normalize those conversations, so that teenagers could get the help they really need.
Dave Benett/Getty Images / David M. Benett
Winston Elba
Winston Elba was born in April 2014. He is Idris’s youngest child, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Garth. Winston is named after Idris’s dad, Winston Elba, who died the year before Idris’s son was born. In 2015, the actor told Cosmopolitan, “I love being a dad, its [sic] an important part of my life.” He also said, “As much as it’s nice to be busy and working, ultimately children don’t raise themselves. You’ve got to be there to help them and guide them through it. That’s one thing I try my very best to do.” It’s for that reason that Idris does what he can to be a large presence in both Isan’s and Winston’s lives. All the times he’s been spotted with his mini-me son just show how sweet of a dad he is!
