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Hanne Norgaard: What to Know About Idris Elba’s First Wife

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3 days ago

September 21, 2026

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Hanne Norgaard: What to Know About Idris Elba’s First Wife

Hanne Norgaard is known as the first wife of actor Idris Elba. But Hanne has her own story. She is a trained makeup artist. She has worked in beauty for many years.

Hanne knew Idris before he became very famous. They moved to America together. They later had a daughter named Isan. Their marriage ended in 2003. But they stayed connected because of their daughter.

There is much more to learn about Hanne Norgaard. She has worked with famous people. She also started beauty businesses. Her early life has an interesting family story too. Here is a closer look at her life.

Who Is Hanne Norgaard?

Hanne Norgaard is a makeup artist and business owner. She is also called Hanne Kim Norgaard and Kim Elba. Many people first heard about her because she married Idris Elba.

But Hanne has her own career. She trained to become a makeup artist. She has worked in beauty for many years. Reports also describe her as a beauty teacher and writer.

Hanne is also the mother of Isan Elba. Isan was born in 2002. Hanne has stayed close to her daughter. She also keeps much of her personal life away from the public.

Hanne Norgaard’s Early Life

Most reports say Hanne Norgaard was born on April 5 1977. Reports do not fully agree about where she was born. Some say the United Kingdom. Other reports connect her early childhood with Korea.

Hanne has mixed family roots. Reports say her mother was Korean. Her birth father had African roots. This means her family comes from more than one part of the world.

Some reports say Hanne’s Korean birth name was Nam Hee Kim. As she grew older she wanted to know more about her birth family. This became a very important part of her personal life.

Hanne Norgaard’s Search for Her Mother

One part of Hanne’s childhood is not known by many people. Reports say she spent about one year in an orphanage in Korea. Later in life she started looking for her birth parents.

Hanne was reportedly able to find her birth father through family research. Finding her mother was harder. Reports say her mother’s name was Kyue Nam Kim.

Hanne reportedly went back to the orphanage in Korea. She hoped to find more information there. But there were not enough details to find her mother. In 2021 she also asked people online to help with her search.

Hanne Norgaard’s Education

Hanne loved beauty and makeup. She decided to learn how to do makeup as a real job. She went through professional training. This helped her learn the skills needed to work with many kinds of clients.

There are different reports about when she studied. One source says she finished makeup training in 1992. Other reports say she studied at the S.C. Institute in Washington DC between 2004 and 2006.

Hanne also reportedly studied at a makeup school in Europe. She learned about makeup and hair. Some reports say she also studied nails and special effects. These skills helped her build her beauty career.

How Hanne Norgaard Built Her Career

Hanne Norgaard started working when she was young. One report says she worked as a talent director at a modeling agency in 1991. This gave her early experience around models and fashion.

She reportedly worked as a makeup artist for the BBC in 1992. Later she worked at a photo studio. Her job was to help people look their best before they went in front of a camera.

As the years passed Hanne gained more experience. She also started teaching people about beauty. Reports say she worked as a beauty writer and speaker too. Makeup slowly became a big part of her working life.

Hanne Norgaard’s Makeup Business

Hanne did not only work for other people. She also started her own business. Reports say she opened Kim Elba Makeup Artistry NY around 2000.

She later started Makeup Your Mind Inc. around 2007. The company offered makeup services. Hanne also used her years of experience to teach other people about makeup and beauty.

Her name has also been linked to Kim Elba Cosmetics. Reports say she taught makeup classes in Atlanta too. Her work shows that she turned something she loved into a long career and business.

Hanne Norgaard’s Famous Clients

Hanne Norgaard has reportedly done makeup for several famous people. Client lists have included Robin Williams and Geena Davis. Hugh Laurie and Shaquille O’Neal have also been named in reports about her work.

She has also been linked with big companies and media groups. Reports mention the BBC and BET. Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein are also named in some reports about her career.

Not every old work claim can be fully checked today. So it is best to call these reported clients. Still one thing is clear. Hanne Norgaard spent many years working in the makeup and beauty world.

How Hanne Norgaard Met Idris Elba

Hanne Norgaard met Idris Elba in London. This happened before Idris became a famous actor. At that time he was still trying to find good acting jobs and build his career.

Hanne and Idris started dating. They later moved to the United States in 1999. Idris hoped to find more acting work there. Hanne was also working hard to build her career in makeup.

Their early years were not always easy. Money was sometimes tight. Idris was still waiting for his big acting break. Hanne later said she knew his dream would need sacrifices. She supported him during this early time.

Hanne Norgaard and Idris Elba’s Marriage

Hanne Norgaard and Idris Elba married in 1999. This was years before Idris became a major Hollywood star. They were a young couple trying to build a new life in America.

Idris took small acting jobs while looking for better roles. Hanne also continued her own work. Both were trying to build careers while dealing with the normal problems of married life.

Their marriage ended in 2003. Some reports say money problems may have caused stress. But Hanne and Idris have never clearly said why they divorced. Their true reason for ending the marriage remains private.

Hanne Norgaard and Daughter Isan Elba

Hanne and Idris welcomed their daughter Isan Elba in 2002. Isan became a very important part of both their lives. Hanne and Idris divorced about one year after she was born.

The divorce did not stop them from being parents. Hanne and Idris continued caring for Isan. They were seen together at Isan’s 16th birthday party in 2018. This showed that they could still come together for their daughter.

Isan became the 2019 Golden Globe Ambassador. She has also shown interest in movies and work behind the camera. Hanne has stayed close to her daughter while keeping most of their family life private.

Hanne Norgaard’s Second Husband and Family Life

Hanne later found love again. She married Pastor Andrew L. Friar II. Some reports say they married in 2013. Another report says their wedding took place in 2014.

Their wedding was said to be a happy family event. Reports say friends and family joined them. They also celebrated on a yacht with food and dancing after the wedding.

Andrew has been linked with Heart Strong Church in Georgia. Hanne has also been called the first lady of the church. She and Andrew have mostly kept their marriage away from the public eye.

Where Is Hanne Norgaard Now?

As of 2026 Hanne Norgaard keeps her life very private. She has been linked with Georgia and the Atlanta area for many years. She does not share many details about her home or daily life.

Hanne has spent many years working in beauty. She became a makeup artist and started her own businesses. She has also taught other people about makeup. Her career is an important part of her story.

She does not seem interested in chasing fame. Hanne could easily talk about her famous ex-husband to get attention. Instead she has chosen a quiet life with her work and family.

Hanne Norgaard and Mental Health

A private part of Hanne’s life became known in 2019. Her daughter Isan spoke about her mother’s mental health. Isan said Hanne had talked to her about some of the problems she faced.

Isan said her mother had faced depression and anxiety. She also spoke about bipolar depression. Mother and daughter sat down and talked about these struggles. Isan said talking openly seemed to help her mother.

Isan later helped bring more attention to mental health. A $50,000 donation was made in her name to the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. The moment also showed how close Isan and her mother had become.

Hanne Norgaard’s Net Worth

Many people want to know about Hanne Norgaard’s net worth. Some websites say it is around $900,000. Other websites give numbers from about $250,000 to $1 million.

These numbers are only online guesses. Hanne has never told the public exactly how much money she has. There are also no clear public records that show her full wealth.

We do know that Hanne has worked for many years. She has earned money through makeup and beauty work. She has also been linked with her own beauty businesses. Her exact net worth is simply not known.

Final Thoughts

Hanne does not talk much about her old marriage to Idris Elba. She has kept many details between herself and her family. This is one reason there are few interviews about their divorce.

Hanne has spoken kindly about her past with Idris. She has said that his goals needed sacrifices. Their marriage did not last but it gave them their daughter Isan.

Hanne also chose not to build her life around Idris’s fame. She focused on makeup and family instead. This helped her make a name for herself while still keeping her personal life private.