Wikipedia Biography / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Hanne Kim Norgaard, a short woman with dark hair and a sweet smile, is a makeup artist in the film industry.
- Norgaard is known best to the public, however, as the ex-wife of UK actor Idris Elba.
Education : Qualifications, High School & College Info
- Norgaard went to 6th form school, the equivalent of the last few years of US high school, in London, England. While there, the school helped prepare her for a path into higher education, but Norgaard found her own path along the way.
Professional Life :
Early Career :
- Shortly after 6th form school, Norgaard began handling makeup for local clients in London. Mainly self-taught, she would spend hours perfecting new makeup techniques.
- Eventually, she earned a prominent career as a makeup artist and was serving some of the biggest names in the UK.
New York
- After moving to New York with then-husband Elba, Norgaard’s career took a hit. Her clients were all in the UK, and she had very little knowledge of how to bring her business to the United States.
- As a result, her business floundered for the first few years she and Elba were over there.
- Eventually, she was able to build her career back up, but nevertheless returned to the UK after her divorce with Elba.
Personal Life :
Marriage
- Norgaard married Elba in 1999 while they were still living in London.
- Her adjustment to New York was difficult, to say the least. Elba often spent his days auditioning and taking acting classes and his nights working as a bouncer, leaving little time for him and Norgaard to explore the city together.
- When she became pregnant, things became worse. The new baby brought on new financial stressors, and Norgaard found herself becoming increasingly isolated.
- Norgaard gave birth to their daughter Isan in 2001. Their marriage problems were temporarily relieved as they welcomed the new bundle of joy, but quickly fell apart again as she got older and Elba fell into the same routine.
Divorce
- In 2003, Norgaard and Elba divorced, with Norgaard keeping custody of their child. The divorce was fairly amicable, and Elba was allowed visitations and the usual joint custody privileges, but Isan continued to live with her mother.
Husband
- Elba’s acting career began while he was still in London. He had a few small roles but knew he wanted more opportunities, and so he pushed his wife to move with him to the US.
- In 2001, Elba got his big break and was cast on the TV series The Wire, a crime drama set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland.
- Since then, Elba has gone on to star in major blockbusters, including Thor, Pacific Rim, and Prometheus. He also had success in the TV show Luther, where he was cast as the namesake character.
- Norgaard and Elba still share custody of their 16-year-old daughter.
