An Upclose view on British-Nigerian actor Damson Idris’s realms of style and film

From Lagos roots to Met Gala royalty, Damson Idris is our spotlight star on style and film

Damson Idris has never been one to play by Hollywood’s rules, and in 2025, he’s rewriting them. The British-Nigerian actor is emerging as the new icon where style meets storytelling, blending his cultural heritage with razor-sharp fashion instincts and a growing stake in luxury design.

At this year’s Met Gala, Idris turned heads and dropped jaws with a double-take ensemble that may go down as one of the event’s most iconic looks. Channeling his role in the upcoming film F1, he arrived in a full custom Tommy Hilfiger racing suit, helmet and all bedazzled with nearly 20,000 Swarovski crystals. But in classic Idris fashion, there was more to the story. Moments later, he shed the suit to reveal a striking rouge tuxedo in red and gold tartan, finished with sleek satin lapels. It’s almost like a metaphor: a journey from the racetrack to the runway.

“The first time I ever heard about the dandy was through my sister. She did a documentary on the dandies of Congo when I was a kid, so I always felt close to the idea because it was associated with Africa, which is obviously my heritage. So, when I found out that Black dandyism would be the theme at this year’s Met Gala, I completely locked in.”

The moment capped off his deepening relationship with Tommy Hilfiger. Since becoming a brand ambassador in 2023, Idris has fronted high-profile campaigns like Holiday 2024 and Spring 2025 Denim, proving he can embody timeless prep just as effortlessly as he commands futuristic flair.

But his fashion power move doesn’t stop there. Damson Idris recently launched DIDRIS, a luxury jewelry brand inspired by his Nigerian roots and his mother’s entrepreneurial legacy. Crafted with stones and metals sourced across southern Africa—including Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, DIDRIS fuses bold African craftsmanship with modern silhouettes. His Met Gala debut featured a custom brooch from the collection, anchored by an 11-carat emerald, a quiet yet powerful nod to home.

“Style and fashion filter into everything, and performance is even more important for me as I like to play characters that are transformative where I can disappear.”

Off the carpet and on screen, Idris is gearing up for his biggest cinematic role yet: starring opposite Brad Pitt in F1, the adrenaline-charged film produced by Lewis Hamilton and directed by Top Gun: Maverick‘s Joseph Kosinski. Shot over 18 months during real Grand Prix weekends, the film promises a new level of realism in racing cinema. Idris plays Joshua Pearce, a rising F1 star mentored by Pitt’s character,a performance already building Oscar whispers.

In an era where many still separate culture from couture, Damson Idris isn’t following the formula—he’s setting a new one. The only question left is: who’s catching up?