Damson Idris is a British actor of Nigerian descent, born and raised in London. Idris’ acting debut was on the stage delivering his first performance in Ade Solanke’s play Pandora’s Box. He currently stars as lead role “Franklin Saint” in FX’s hit crime series Snowfall, created by the late John Singleton. Snowfall, now in its sixth season, chronicles the infamous rise of a small-time drug dealer as he builds a drug empire during the 1980s crack epidemic. Idris received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in Snowfall and serves as a producer.
Idris’ most recent notable film credit was starring alongside Anthony Mackie in Netflix’s sci-fi action film, Outside the Wire (2021). Additional film credits include autobiographical Megan Leavey (2017) and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s Farming (2018), co-starring Kate Beckinsale and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, for which Idris won the best performance award at the Edinburgh Film Festival. He has also guest starred in Charlie Brooker’s BAFTA award-winning series Black Mirror (2019) and Jordon Peele’s reboot of The Twilight Zone (2019).
Making waves in the fashion space, Idris is currently part of the Prada Fall/Winter 2022 Menswear Campaign. David Sims photographed a triptych of storytellers whose talents have helped shape 21st century cinema: Jeff Goldblum, Damson Idris and Rami Malek.
Idris is also partnered with Bono’s (RED) as a (RED)UCATOR, stepping-up to act as an ambassador for the fight against AIDS and COVID-19, using their global platform to help sound the alarm on the injustice of global health emergencies and champion proven programs that save lives.
