Eve Elba Is Idris Elba's 'Happy' Mother – Facts about Her

Arguably one of Hollywood's most likable sons, Idris Akuna Elba was first the son of Eve Elba before anything else. The famous actor's mother has been a vital element in her son's progress throughout his life.

Eve gave birth to Idris on September 6, 1972, in London. That was after she and her husband, Winston Elba, had migrated from Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom shortly before Idris was born. Eve and Winston were both from Africa but from different countries.

Idris' successes in the entertainment industry have made Eve a happy and proud mother. In 2016, the mother-son duo went to Buckingham Palace to receive Idris' honor awarded to him by the Royal family for his services to drama.

Eve Is from West Africa

Idris was born to Winston, a Sierra Leone Creole who had married Idris' mother, Eve, while they still lived in Sierra Leone before moving to London, where Idris was born. Eve is a woman of Ghanaian origins and celebrates her birthday on May 22 each year. However, her exact age is not publicly available.

Eve was very strict when raising her only son in a new country where the parents wanted to make their mark as immigrants. She challenged Idris to think through his actions. For example, what he was doing and saying, how he approached things, and the reasons for his actions.

The Elbas seemed like they were a stable working-class family. Eve was an office employee, and she worked as a clerical assistant. The Ford Motor Company employed Eve's husband at its factory in Dagenham, London. They resided in Hackney and later Canning Town.

Idris described his mother as a proud and private person, and he has continued to live on the same principles through his grown-up years. He recalled his childhood with Eve, saying:

“I remember my mum, she’d be at home, talking one way, and as soon as the phone rang she would change her accent to say, ‘Hello-o-o-o?’ in this whole other way. That was the mentality. You’ve got your home shoes, which you don’t wear anywhere but the house. And you’ve got these other shoes, your outdoor shoes.”

Eve's Husband Passed Away

Unfortunately for the Elba family, their patriarch lost his life in 2013. Winston died at 72, and his death devastated the family. He was survived by his son Idris Elba and his wife, Eve.

The loss was a life-changing moment for Eve's son, who was forced to re-evaluate his life. He said he got to a place where he felt like he was not living anymore and becoming a robot with his work. He explained further, saying:

"I have no fear of jumping out of burning cars or out of buildings on set, but in reality, I couldn't run one hundred meters. I just felt out of touch with reality,"

Eve's Son Makes Her Happy

Eve has always been a vital element in Idris' life. During his teenage years, she kept him grounded as he was maturing too fast. He grew up quickly, both in temperament and appearance. He felt mature while still young and looked older than his age. By 14, Idris had already grown a mustache and said:

"[I was] One of those pencil-thin bad boys. No hair on my chin, at that age, but my testosterone kicked in real early. I felt ready to go. Mum kept me grounded. I was popular with the ladies and she was like, 'Na-na-na, sit your [expletive] down.'"

Like the good son he is, Idris did not disappoint his mother. He became a very successful entertainer, rubbing shoulders with fellow great actors like Scarlett Johansson, Sylvester Stallone, and Margot Robbie in the various box-office hit films he has appeared in.

In 2016, Eve's son was honored by the British royal family when he was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama. For the ceremony, which was conducted by Prince William, Idris took his mother along. Idris says he made his "Mum very happy" that day.

Idris has continued to make Eve happy. In 2018, Eve even met Oprah Winfrey while in the company of her famous son, who she hopes will follow in the footsteps of stars such as Daniel Craig and Sean Connery by starring as the famous British super spy, James Bond.