Hanne Norgaard: The Inspiring Life of Idris Elba’s First Wife

Hanne Norgaard has a story that many people find warm and inspiring. She is known by many as the first wife of actor Idris Elba, but her life is much bigger than that. She is a makeup artist, a businesswoman, and a woman who has lived through many special and challenging moments.

Her life is filled with love, learning, hard work, and quiet strength. In this article, we will take a simple and clear look at who Hanne Norgaard is, where she comes from, how her life began, and how she became the person she is today.

Hanne Norgaard Profile Summary

Attributes	Details
Full Name	Hanne Kim Norgaard
Date of Birth	April 5, 1977
Age	46 years old (as of 2023)
Birthplace	United Kingdom
Nationality	British-American
Ethnicity	African–Asian (Korean mother, African-descent father)
Profession	Makeup artist, businesswoman, writer
Famous For	First wife of Idris Elba and mother of Isan Elba
Daughter	Isan Elba (born 2002)
Current Husband	Pastor Andrew L. Friar II (married 2013)
Known Businesses	Kim Elba Cosmetics, Makeup Your Mind Inc.
Award	BEFFTA Lifetime Achievement Award (2016)
Estimated Net Worth	Around $900,000

Who Is Hanne Norgaard?

Hanne Norgaard is a British-American makeup artist, writer, and business owner. Many people first learned her name because she was married to Idris Elba, but she built her own path long before and long after that marriage. She likes to stay private, which makes her story even more interesting.

Her full name is Hanne Kim Norgaard, and some people also call her Kim Elba. She was born on April 5, 1977. She has a mixed background because her mother is from South Korea and her father has African roots. This rich mix of cultures helped shape her style and her view of beauty.

Even today, people respect Hanne Norgaard for her long career in the beauty world. She founded her own brands, worked with famous names, and stayed humble the whole time. She also became the First Lady of her husband’s church after her second marriage, which shows how many roles she holds with grace.

Hanne’s Early Life and Family

The early life of Hanne Norgaard is very special and also very emotional. She was born in the United Kingdom, but her family story reaches all the way to South Korea. When she was very young, she spent one year in a Korean orphanage. Her Korean name was Nam Hee Kim during that time.

Her mother’s name is Kyue Nam Kim. Hanne has shared that she has been searching for her mother because there were many missing pieces in her family history. This shows that her childhood had both love and pain, but she grew up with strength and hope.

Hanne speaks English and Dutch, which also shows her mixed life between different cultures. Later, she focused on building a future for herself. She studied makeup in Europe and earned a diploma with the highest honors. She also studied makeup artistry again in Washington, D.C., and once again finished with top results.

Before moving to the United States, she started working in the beauty world at a young age. She worked as a talent director for a modeling agency, became a makeup artist for the BBC, and later worked as a creative makeup director. Each step helped her grow her skills and confidence.

How Hanne Met Idris Elba

The love story between Hanne Norgaard and Idris Elba began in London. They were young and hopeful. Hanne was around 22 years old, and Idris was about 27. They fell in love and dreamed of a bright future together. Their connection felt strong, and they wanted to build a life as a team.

In 1999, they decided to move to the United States. They wanted to chase their dreams together, especially Idris’s dream of becoming a successful actor. Moving to a new country is never easy, and they faced many challenges when they arrived in New York.

Work was hard to find, money was tight, and Idris often worked small jobs like being a bouncer and a laborer. Still, Hanne believed in him. She supported him in every way she could during those early days. Their love helped them stay strong even when life felt heavy.

In 2002, they welcomed their daughter, Isan Elba. Becoming parents brought them joy, but life continued to be stressful. With growing pressure and Idris’s rising career, their marriage slowly began to struggle. They tried their best, but in 2003, only one year after Isan’s birth, they separated quietly.

Even after their marriage ended, Hanne Norgaard kept her peace. She never spoke badly about the past and stayed focused on her daughter and her own life. She even kept the last name “Elba,” showing respect for the life they once shared.

Meet Hanne’s Daughter Isan Elba

Isan Elba is a very important part of Hanne Norgaard’s life. She was born in 2002 and grew up with love from both her parents. Even after the divorce, Hanne and Idris worked together to raise her with care, respect, and strong family values.

Isan became well-known in 2019 when she was chosen as the Golden Globe Ambassador. This role placed her in the spotlight and showed her confidence and charm. During this event, she also shared a personal story about her mother’s health, which touched many people.

Isan has shown interest in acting, filmmaking, and modeling. She has grown up around movies, red-carpet events, and creative people because of her father’s career. Still, she always speaks with love about her mother, who supported her in every step of her life.

Hanne and Idris still come together for important moments in Isan’s life. For example, they celebrated her sixteenth birthday in 2018 as a united family. This shows the strong bond they share for their daughter, even if they are no longer together.

Hanne Norgaard Makeup Artist Career

Hanne Norgaard has worked in the beauty world for more than thirty years. Her journey began in the United Kingdom and continued across Europe and the United States. She trained herself with passion, earned top honors in her studies, and slowly built a name that people trust.

Her career includes work with big companies like BBC, BET, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Rolling Out, and Columbia Tristar. She has done makeup for major events, photo shoots, and creative projects. Her goal was always simple: help people feel beautiful and confident.

She also worked with many famous clients, including Robin Williams, Shaquille O’Neal, Hugh Laurie, Geena Davis, and even Idris Elba. These names show how skilled and respected she is in her field. Her soft and gentle style made her someone people enjoyed working with.

Hanne also created several businesses. She founded Kim Elba Makeup Artistry NY in 2000, then launched her company Makeup Your Mind Inc. She later started her own cosmetics brand called Kim Elba Cosmetics. In 2016, she received the BEFFTA Lifetime Achievement Award for her long and successful work.

Hanne’s Marriage to Pastor Andrew

After her divorce from Idris Elba, Hanne Norgaard took time to focus on herself, her daughter, and her career. She stayed quiet, lived peacefully, and worked hard. Many years later, she met Pastor Andrew L. Friar II. Their connection grew slowly and gently, and soon they built a strong bond based on trust and kindness.

Hanne and Andrew married in 2013. Their wedding took place at Treasure Island, a beautiful location with soft waves and a calm view. After the ceremony, they celebrated on a yacht with food, music, and close friends. It was a warm and simple day, filled with love and smiles.

Today, Hanne Norgaard is known as the First Lady of Heart Strong Church in Georgia, where her husband serves as pastor. She supports the church, the members, and her husband in many ways. She also continues her work in beauty, showing how she balances both faith and creativity in her life.

Even though Hanne and Andrew do not have children together, they share a peaceful and steady life. Their marriage shows how a new chapter can begin even after hard moments. It also shows that love can return when someone is ready to receive it.

Hanne Norgaard Net Worth

Because of her long career, many people wonder how much Hanne Norgaard has earned over the years. Her estimated net worth is around $900,000. This amount comes from her work as a makeup artist, her beauty brands, her teaching, and her writing. She built this value with patience and steady effort.

Her income has never been flashy or loud. Instead, it reflects years of honest work. She worked with major brands, helped many clients, and created beauty companies with her own hands. Step by step, she built a strong name in the beauty world.

What makes Hanne’s story special is not just the money she earned. It is the way she used her skills to create a stable and secure life for herself and her daughter. Even when she stayed out of the spotlight, she kept growing her career and her business quietly.

Her net worth is simply a sign of her dedication. It reminds us that slow, steady work can still create a strong future. For Hanne Norgaard, this value represents years of learning, practice, and passion for beauty.

Final Thoughts

The life of Hanne Norgaard is a gentle reminder that strength can be quiet, and success does not always need to be loud. Many people first know her as Idris Elba’s first wife, but her story is much deeper than that. She built a long career, raised a loving daughter, and created a peaceful life after many ups and downs.

Her journey shows how someone can grow through different cultures, different countries, and different phases of life. She faced challenges, including mental health struggles, but she still moved forward with care and courage. She built beauty businesses, won awards, and supported her family with love.

Today, Hanne lives a calm and steady life with Pastor Andrew, works in her field, and remains close to her daughter Isan. She enjoys privacy and stays away from noise, yet her story continues to inspire many people who value grace, patience, and inner strength.

In the end, the life of Hanne Norgaard teaches us that every chapter matters — the early years, the love stories, the challenges, and the new beginnings. Her story shows that with hope and steady steps, anyone can build a beautiful life in their own way.