Despite being reserved, Sonya Nicole Hamlin became a famous personality because of her short-lived marriage to Idris Elba.
Sonya Nicole Hamlin’s early life and family background remain largely undisclosed. Born in 1974 in California, she grew up in the U.S. Sonya attended a local high school before pursuing her legal education in London and later in Washington, D.C. Presently, she is a successful property lawyer, owning her law firm in Maryland.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Sonya has a passion for boxing and takes delight in watching weigh-ins. She also loves English chocolate and enjoys music during her leisure time. Often, she finds solace by spending time near the seaside.
In 2009 Sonya filed for bankruptcy but has since recovered and currently resides in a house worth over $500,000 in Maryland. One of her greatest regrets is likely her relationship with Idris Elba. Although their marriage initially appeared to be a fairy tale, their story took a different turn.
How Did Sonya Nicole Hamlin Meet Idris Elba?
Sonya Nicole Hamlin first crossed paths with Idris Elba in 2005, introduced through a mutual friend. She was building her law career with a small office and a team of approximately ten employees. Meanwhile, Idris was recovering from a failed relationship with pole dancer Desiree Newberry, having previously been married to makeup artist Hanne Norgaard, with whom he shares a son.
Gradually, Sonya and Idris embarked on a romantic relationship and even began living together in Maryland. They enjoyed spending quality time together, often visiting Las Vegas. While marriage was not initially on their minds, they decided to try it after several months of dating.
On April 9, 2006, Sonya and Idris tied the knot at the ‘Kittle White Wedding Chapel’ in Las Vegas, witnessed only by estate agent Daniel Krastev. Unfortunately, their relationship turned sour shortly after. Sonya’s legal career was flourishing while Idris struggled to secure stable employment. This disparity caused a strain in their marriage, ultimately leading to their divorce.
When Did Sonya Nicole Hamlin File for a Divorce?
Sonya filed for divorce from Idris Elba shortly after their marriage in Maryland in June 2006. However, Maryland law required a minimum duration of one year of marriage before filing for divorce, leading Sonya to file for divorce in Nevada.
The divorce had a significant impact on Sonya. In an interview, she revealed additional factors contributing to the divorce. While she expressed her deep love for Idris, past relationships and the influence of Idris’s friends played a role in causing problems in their marriage.
Idris’s friends were determined to prove Sonya was a negative presence in his life. This caused a strain in their relationship. However, despite being legally divorced from Idris for years, Sonya supports his career and acknowledges his achievements.
Why Was Sonya Nicole Hamlin Unhappy With Idris Elba?
In her first-ever interview with The Mail on Sunday, Sonya revealed the heartbreaking reason for their separation. According to her, Idris reached the devastating conclusion that being married to her would hinder his career.
People around him believed that being a single-sex symbol in Hollywood was crucial for his image, and being married could potentially damage that. Sonya describes the situation as sad, expressing that she and Idris were deeply in love. However, the pressure and criticism he faced for being married became overwhelming. Many advised him that it was not the right look for his career, emphasizing his status as a hot sex symbol.
Despite Sonya’s desire to save the marriage, the external opinions and the focus on maintaining a certain image in Hollywood led to their separation. We can’t wholly blame Idris for choosing fame over love. He had a tough beginning before his rise to success.
Sonya, an accomplished lawyer, represented a better life that Idris, who was born in a Hackney tower block, aspired to. Sonya is also not the only one Idris Elba has walked out on in a bid to attain success.
Idris ended things with his first wife, makeup artist Hanne Norgaard for his career. She currently leads a private life, rarely publicly appearing and abstaining from social media.
Did Sonya Nicole Hamlin Have Any Children With Idris Elba?
As far as we know, Sonya and Idris had no children together. This can be traced to the fact that their marriage was very short-lived. Secondly, Idris was trying to get his big break while Sonya was focused on her career. Hence, having a child may not have been appealing to both parties.
Is Sonya Nicole Hamlin in Any Relationship Currently?
As earlier stated, Sonya has been leading a very private life since her marriage to Idris Elba ended. We can’t tell for sure what the lawyer is up to. We, however, hope she has found love again in the right place.
Another marriage between an advocate of the law and an actor that came crashing down is that of Clarence Thomas and Kathy Ambush.