Hollywood heartthrob Idris Elba is usually the center of attention whenever he enters any room, slaying women’s hearts left and right as he struts with a swag that should be patented. But the British-born thespian, who is undoubtedly one of the leading ladies’ men of this generation, gladly played second fiddle on his daughter Isan’s special night.
The star of the No. 1 film No Good Deed first introduced his daughter Isan at a Hollywood red carpet premiere in 2007. This time the actor helped her celebrate her special day with a birthday party she will never forget.
The man who exploded onto the national scene with epic performances in the iconic HBO series “The Wire” stood proudly by his oldest child’s side when she hosted dozens of high-energy friends for her Sweet 16 birthday bash at the Park Tavern in Piedmont Park in Atlanta on Saturday. Elba dedicated a sweet birthday post for Isan, whose mother is his first ex-wife Hanne “Kim” Norgaard. They were married to from 1999–2003.
“Isan is 16 today!! What?? I’m so proud of my lil mami .. I’m very lucky to have her in my life. Her entire life represents a change for the better… The long-awaited gift bearer. I love you @isanelba Dad,” said Elba, who also starred in Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls.
And quite appropriately, the birthday girl poignantly proclaimed onstage that she’s “always been a daddy’s little girl!”
Norgaard stunted at the party with a glamorous all-white dress that matched Elba and their daughter’s outfits. Elba, who delivered an Academy Award-type performance in Mandela, The Long Walk To Freedom, became his daughter’s personal Oscar winner with a special gift given towards the middle of this sizzling soiree.
The popping party erupted when Elba surprised his daughter with a special appearance by hip-hop star YFN Lucci, who was showered with an avalanche of ear-piercing screams from the throng of women in attendance. The rapper then belted out his club anthem “Everyday We Lit” as the dance floor became a blizzard of bodies dancing, jumping and gyrating to the booming beats.
The bash also attracted several dignitaries to the party, including newly-elected Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, “Sister Circle” TV show wardrobe director/stylist Erica Benoit and Tell All Inc.’s dynamic diva and founder Kathy Taylor.
This is not the first time Elba has publicly gushed over his diva daughter. He just detailed their relationship during a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show” starring Jimmy Fallon in August.
“She loves me but she tells me to calm down a little bit,” he said. “She thinks I’m trying to be cool all of the time and I’m like, I am cool. She’s always trying to quiz me about rappers and I don’t know who’s who anymore.”
Later that month, Idris and Isan Elba told E! News that she is considering following him in his career footsteps, but at the very least, wants to pursue a career in the arts.
“I want to be an actress but recently had a change of heart, so maybe photography and writing is sort of my thing now,” she said.
Elba, a very prolific actor who has also starred in Obsession opposite Beyonce and American Gangster with Denzel Washington, is also a father of 4-year-old son Winston.
