Sonya Nicole Hamlin Was Once Idris Elba's Wife for Several Weeks

In addition to being a successful real estate attorney, Sonya Nicole Hamlin spent a few weeks as the second wife of renowned British actor Idris Elba following a whirlwind romance.

Sonya Nicole Hamlin never thought she would cross paths with Idris Elba with the help of a mutual friend. Her former husband is regarded in Hollywood as one of the most talented actors today.

The couple's respective career paths and public perceptions of them played a role in why they ended their relationship abruptly. They did, however, manage to resolve their situation.

Sonya Nicole Hamlin Is from Maryland

Hamlin was born in 1972 and lives in Glenn Dale, Maryland. She declared bankruptcy several years ago after a painful heartbreak, but she was able to save her house, worth £400,000 ($450,000).

She is a glamorous and highly educated woman. She studied at the University of Virginia, obtaining a bachelor's degree in political science and government.

She attended the American University Washington College, earning a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Hamlin also studied law in London.

Sonya Is a Real Estate Attorney

Hamlin is a real estate attorney who focuses on legal issues involving real estate properties. Her tasks include foreclosure prevention, legal tax matters, and short sale negotiations.

She deals with property management, condominium, and home association conflicts. She also handles credit improvement and assists debt creditors. She has skills in public speaking and negotiating student loan debt and unsecured loans.

Sonya and Idris Got Married in Las Vegas

Hamlin knew nothing at all about Elba. In 2006, Hamlin's friend and college pal, who also happens to be Elba's manager, introduced her to the British actor. According to Hamlin's friend, the hunky actor was a nice man.

Hamlin and Elba lived together in Maryland as their whirlwind romance continued. Some of their favorite things to do together were to go on dates, eat at restaurants, and see movies.

They would wear coordinated outfits. According to Hamlin, Elba is an excellent cook and a homebody. In addition to that, they would take trips together.

On April 8, 2009, they traveled to Las Vegas to watch Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah's boxing match. They also had a good time in Sin City, drinking and lounging by the pool during the day.

According to Hamlin, the boxing match and fun moments were not the only reason she and Elba visited Las Vegas; they also decided to get married there. She said:

"We were both excited. It was a mutual decision. As far as we were concerned, we were going to spend the rest of our lives together."

After purchasing a stunning diamond ring and obtaining a marriage license from a courthouse, they married at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

With a Las Vegas real estate agent as their witness, Hamlin became Elba's "secret" second wife.

Hamlin said Elba used to get annoyed over people asking him why he chose her.

The Marriage of Sonya and Idris Didn't Last

Unfortunately, Hamlin and Elba's marriage didn't last. They divorced after only four months. The property lawyer filed for a divorce in Maryland on June 6, 2006, but couples must first be separated for a year under state law.

She hired a Nevada lawyer to get around this regulation and claimed she was too drunk on her wedding day. Their new marriage faced pressures that eventually drove them apart.

While Elba was drawn to Hollywood, Hamlin was doing well with her law practice in Maryland and was unwilling to relocate to California. In the end, Elba picked his work over their marriage.

Six weeks into their marriage, Elba decided they should split. However, Hamlin also believed Elba was misled by friends who felt he was better off with a young starlet.

Hamlin said Elba used to get annoyed over people asking him why he chose her. She added that she couldn't see how their marriage would impact his job, citing Denzel Washington's successful career and marriage as an example.

Elba has acknowledged the difficulties Hamlin faced since others regard her as average, whereas his peers in the industry were in relationships with models and actresses. Hamlin said it was not an easy decision for her and Elba to call it quits.

They hesitated a few times before arriving at a mutual decision. Elba concluded from his experiences that being an actor is a selfish career that negatively impacts one's personal life and the lives of others.

Hamlin admitted she had two major life setbacks at that time: a shattered marriage and a failing business during the recession. She retreated from the dating scene for years after her split from Elba.

Hamlin considered Elba to be the love of her life, although she believed their marriage ended because he listened to other people. She struggled to pick up the pieces after their broken marriage, whereas Elba achieved success after success in his acting career.

How Did Sonya Nicole Hamlin Feel about Idris after the Divorce?

In 2016, Hamlin revealed that she and Idris remained on good terms and kept in touch by phone. She held Elba in high regard, saying Elba was the best actor in Britain and could become the next James Bond.

Hamlin's law practice flourished again during this time, and she was in a happy relationship. Hamlin said she would be glad if Elba found true love and married again.

Elba went on to date other women. Make-up artist Naiyana Garth reportedly began dating Elba in 2013. In January 2014, the actor walked the red carpet with Garth, who was pregnant at the time, at the 71st Annual Golden Globes.

They dated for nearly three years and welcomed a son Winston before splitting up in February 2016. Rumors of infidelity hounded Elba and Garth's relationship.

Elba allegedly had an affair with rapper and "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" star K. Michelle after they met at the Soul Train Awards in 2013, where she won Best New Artist.

They were rumored to have dated for eight months, though their alleged relationship was kept under wraps. Idris Elba is currently married to model and former Miss Vancouver Sabrina Dhowre.

The couple reportedly met at a party in March 2017, dated secretly shortly, and got engaged in February 2018. They exchanged vows in 2019 in an extravagant ceremony in Morocco.