Hanne Norgaard Does Not Talk about Her Marriage to Idris Elba – Who Is the Actor’s First Wife?

Idris Elba's first wife, Hanne Norgaard, is the mother of his first child, Isan, and the pair separated in 2003. Let's look at their relationship and what might have led to their divorce.

Hanne, commonly known as Kim Elba, was born on April 6 in Korea; with a passion for make-up and cosmetics, she chose to pursue a professional career in the field.

Hanne "Kim" Norgaard has spent many years under the radar since her split from her first husband of four years; she spent her time building her businesses, finding love again, and raising her daughter.

WHO IS HANNE NORGAARD?

According to her LinkedIn profile, from 2004 to 2006, she earned a diploma with the highest honors in makeup artistry. She also went to Europe and attended the International Makeup Arts academy, where she did makeup, hair, and nails and obtained another diploma with the highest honors.

She speaks two languages, English and Dutch, and has over 20 years of experience as a professionally trained and certified makeup artist; her list of celebrity clients consisted of Robin Williams, Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Idris Elba, and Shaquille O'Neal- the list as impressive as her experience.

In 2007 she created the makeup service "Makeup Your Mind," which traveled internationally. She was also a beauty column contributor for various magazines such as BET online and Rolling Out; she was a guest speaker and an educator.

In 1991 she was a talent director for a modeling agency, a makeup artist for BBC in 1992, and a creative makeup director for a photography studio in 1997 for three years before founding "Kim Elba Makeup Artistry NY" in 2000.

Hanne spent years building her businesses as an accomplished woman, but her childhood trauma still seemed to follow her. In 2021, she shared a post on Facebook, asking if people could help her find her mother, Kyue Nam Kim.

Hanne spent a year in an orphanage in Korea and went by her Korean name Nam Hee Kim. She was able to find her father through ancestry but was in desperate need to find her mother.

Her biological father did not know much about her birth mother, so she returned to the orphanage in Korea for answers. But it was no use because, without certain personal information, they would not be able to locate her mother.

She attached an image of her mother and herself as a child in Korea, the resemblance striking. Having a family tree with gaps and holes did not stop her from making her own family.

She had her daughter with her first husband and married her second husband, Pastor Andrew L. Friar, at a beach wedding in 2014. The ceremony occurred at Treasure Island.

Reverend Dr. James Wade officiated their wedding, and family and friends joined the couple. They celebrated their marriage on a yacht cruise, with a five-course meal and dancing. Her husband shared a sweet picture of the couple on their wedding day.

HANNE NORGAARD KEEPS SILENT ABOUT HER MARRIAGE TO IDRIS ELBA

Hanne and Idris met in England and tied the knot in 1999. Idris was still an aspiring actor, and Hanne followed him to New York to chase his dreams. Things weren't looking up for Idris; he was born in England and had an English accent he couldn't shake, which prohibited him from mastering an American accent.

As a result, the roles he got in films were minor- a laborer and nightclub bouncer- and this brought with it a financial strain. Hanne fell pregnant and had their daughter, Isan, in 2002. Their marriage soon fell apart, and the mounting financial pressure could have been a factor.

Hanne never had doubts about the success of her first husband; she believed the talent was evident, but nothing could have prepared her for the fame. She didn't see it coming, the way the public reacted to him. She made sacrifices for their marriage and looks back with regrets.

She promised herself and her daughter not to speak of their past relationship, the reason behind her years-long silence, shying away from the spotlight and focusing on her career instead. Despite this, Hanne continued to carry the Elba last name.

Until today, she works as a makeup artist, and through the years, she and Idris have co-parented their daughter and remained on good terms for Isan's sake. She did share that her love for Idris was a priceless experience and gave her the gift of her daughter:

"I knew what Idris wanted to achieve would take major sacrifices, so I held on for the ride. But I must say, I am very happy with how things have turned out for us all."

HANNE NORGAARD STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL HEALTH

Hanne's commitment to herself and her daughter to keep family matters private was not the only thing she had pursed her lips about. Hanne was a private person about most things in her life.

However, for a good cause, at the 2019 Golden Globe Ambassador luncheon held in Beverly Hills, a 17-year-old Isan shared that her mother struggled with mental health.

Her mother had approached her and confessed that she struggled with bipolar depression, depression, and chronic anxiety. It was the first time Isan had learned what her mother went through, and all she could think was 'Woah.'

The moment between mother and daughter was a learning curve for Isan, as she shared that dealing with mental illness is a complex, everyday process.

Hanne and her daughter sat down and spoke about it, which Isan believed to be healing for her mother- talking about her daily mental struggles with someone she loved and receiving an outlet.

During the luncheon, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association president, Meher Tatna, reported that $50,000 was donated in Isan's name to the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation- an organization that brought change and awareness to the African American community about mental illness.

IDRIS ELBA'S LIFE AFTER DIVORCING HANNE NORGAARD

After his marriage to Hanne, Elba married Sonya Nicole Hamlin in 2006 and shared a son named Winston. Their marriage lasted only four months, after which he was in a relationship with Naiyana Garth. After Elba's failed relationships, he married his third wife, Sabrina Dhowre.

They got engaged on February 10, 2018, when he proposed during a screening of his film "Yardie." In April 2019, they married in an intimate ceremony in Marrakesh, surrounded by their closest family and friends. To this day, they remain happily married and in love.

HANNE NORGAARD AND IDRIS ELBA'S DAUGHTER WANTS TO BE IN THE SHOWBUSINESS

Having a famous actor for a father, Isan Elba, has been in the limelight her whole life; he landed his role in "The Wire" on the day she was born and has accompanied him to red carpet appearances since she was a little girl.

Having a famous father came with its perks, as Isan was chosen as the 2019 Golden Globes Ambassador, and her dad could not have been prouder; throughout all his relationships, one thing that remained constant was Idris's bond with his daughter.

The award was previously known as the Miss/Mr. Golden Globe, the title was changed to be inclusive and could only be awarded to persons with well-known actors as parents. The 20-year-old has grown up to be a beautiful young adult, hinting at her entry into the entertainment industry as she continues to model, as seen on her Instagram account.

When Isan was as young as 17, she revealed she knew what she wanted to do- to be in show business. During an interview at the 2019 Golden Globes, she shared she'd been "trained" to be an actress, but after her father's directorial debut in "Yardie," she saw a new side to film.

She saw the behind-the-scenes, learned the different department's responsibilities, and spent time with producers, which she found cool. This shifted her sights to filmmaking, but like her father, who was an actor, DJ, and director, she plans to do it all.