Hanne Norgaard is a British-American makeup artist, entrepreneur, and writer best known as the first wife of actor Idris Elba. She was born on April 5, 1977, and built her reputation quietly in the beauty industry rather than in the spotlight. Her early clients included major names from film and television, and her later work expanded into fashion and business ownership. 

Norgaard is also recognized as a mental health advocate. She has Afro-Asian, or Blasian, heritage, and her career spans makeup artistry, brand building, and public speaking. This profile lays out her verified background, career timeline, and family life using the most consistent, sourced information available.

Quick Facts About Hanne Norgaard

Who Is Hanne Norgaard?

Hanne Norgaard built her name as a working makeup artist long before most people knew who she was. She trained formally and spent years applying that training on real film sets and fashion shoots. Her clients over the decades have included some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. 

Beyond makeup, she has worked as a businesswoman, blogger, and educator. She is also widely known as Idris Elba’s first wife, though her career stands apart from that connection. Her Blasian background, drawn from South Korean and African-American roots, has shaped both her personal identity and her professional focus on inclusive beauty standards.

Early Life, Family Background and Cultural Heritage

Birth, Childhood and Family Background

Norgaard was born on April 5, 1977, in London, England. Her father is of African-American descent, and her mother traces her roots to South Korea. Some accounts describe her early years as including time in a South Korean orphanage under the name Nam Hee Kim, with her birth mother reportedly named Kyue Nam Kim. 

This detail has not been independently confirmed and should be treated with caution. What is consistent across sources is her mixed heritage and multicultural upbringing across different countries. She has a daughter, Isan Elba, born in 2002, and a stepbrother connection through Idris Elba’s later family, including his son Winston Elba, born in 2014 to Naiyana Garth.

Ethnicity, Nationality and Cultural Identity

Norgaard identifies her heritage as Blasian, a term combining Black and Asian ancestry. She holds British citizenship by birth and later gained American ties through her career and marriages. Her cultural identity blends African-American and South Korean roots, which she has said shaped her approach to inclusive beauty work. 

She practices Christianity and has spoken about her faith as part of her personal life. Her surname carries Danish spelling conventions, which has led to variations like “Nørgaard” appearing in searches and articles about her.

Education and Makeup Artistry Training

Norgaard’s path into beauty started young. She worked briefly as a teenage model in London before choosing to pursue formal training instead. She graduated from the International Artist Makeup Academy in 1992, earning top marks in her class. Later, between 2004 and 2006, she studied at the SC Institute in Washington, DC, covering makeup artistry, hair styling, nail art, and special effects. 

She also completed further training at the International Makeup Artist Academy in Europe. This layered education gave her technical range across film, television, and editorial makeup, setting her up for steady industry work rather than a single specialty.

Career Journey

Early Career: BBC and Columbia TriStar

Norgaard’s first major break came in 1992, when she landed a position with the BBC shortly after finishing her training. That job put her in contact with directors and producers on real television productions. 

In 1993, she moved into film work with Columbia TriStar in London. Working on major film sets exposed her to the technical demands of makeup under studio lighting, which is different from television or print work.

Fashion Industry Collaborations

Her reputation soon reached the fashion world. She collaborated with brands including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Sean Combs, and BET. This fashion work required a different skill set than film, focused on runway presentation and photographic detail. These collaborations helped her build a client base among high-profile names in both entertainment and fashion.

Celebrity Client Portfolio

Over the years, Norgaard worked with a wide range of well-known clients. Her list includes Robin Williams, Shaquille O’Neal, Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jenna Redgrave, and Nigel Havers. She also worked with Chillie of TLC and singer Lyfe Jennings. Idris Elba himself remained one of her clients during and after their marriage.

Career Resurgence and Later Ventures

After moving to New York in 1999, Norgaard worked across movies, television, fashion shows, and magazine shoots. Her career slowed following her 2003 separation from Elba. In 2007, she relaunched her professional path through Make Up Your Mind, a service offering makeup, hair styling, and personal styling for clients. Starting in 2009, she became associated with the “My Black is Beautiful” campaign as a makeup artist and advisor.

Entrepreneurial Ventures: Make Up Your Mind Inc. and Kim Elba Cosmetics

Norgaard eventually turned her freelance work into two formal businesses. Make Up Your Mind Inc. offers makeup artistry, personal styling, and themed event services for everyday clients and celebrities alike. Her second venture, Kim Elba Cosmetics, is a cosmetics line built around inclusive shade ranges for different skin tones. 

The brand markets itself as cruelty-free and paraben-free, targeting customers who want quality ingredients without harsh chemicals. Details about the brand’s exact launch date and current product lineup are not widely documented, which makes it hard to confirm how active the line remains today.

Net Worth and Financial Breakdown

Reported figures for Norgaard’s net worth vary widely, ranging from around $250,000 to as high as $5 million. The most commonly cited estimate places her net worth reportedly between $900,000 and $1 million. 

Her income has come primarily from makeup artistry services, her two companies, and occasional teaching or writing work. Unlike some celebrity ex-spouses, her financial history is not tied to alimony or settlement figures from her marriage to Elba, whose own net worth reportedly exceeds $40 million.

Marriage to Idris Elba

Meeting, Marriage and Move to America (1999)

Norgaard met Idris Elba in London during the late 1990s, when he was still an emerging actor. The two married in 1999. Shortly after the wedding, they relocated together to New York City to pursue better career opportunities in the United States.

Birth of Daughter Isan Elba (2002)

Their daughter, Isan Elba, was born in 2002. Her arrival came during a formative period in Idris Elba’s acting career, as he was cast in “The Wire” around the same time. Isan later became a Golden Globe Ambassador, a role that brought her public recognition beyond her family connection.

Separation, Divorce and Co-Parenting

The couple separated in 2003, four years after marrying. Despite the divorce, Norgaard and Elba maintained a working co-parenting relationship. They have appeared together at events tied to Isan’s milestones, including her birthday celebrations, showing a continued, cooperative connection focused on their daughter.

Current Marriage: Pastor Andrew L. Friar II

In 2013, Norgaard married Pastor Andrew L. Friar II. The wedding reportedly included a yacht cruise celebration. As his wife, she holds the role of First Lady within his church community, which operates under the name Heart Strong Ministry, based in Georgia. Specific details about the ministry’s programs and public activities are not well documented, so its current scope remains unclear from available records.

Life After Divorce and Career Resurgence

Following her split from Elba, Norgaard chose to keep her personal life private rather than seek media attention. She focused instead on rebuilding her career and raising her daughter. That decision to stay out of the spotlight became a consistent part of her public image, even as interest in her background grew over time.

Mental Health Advocacy

Norgaard has become known for openly discussing mental health. According to a 2019 interview her daughter Isan gave to People Magazine, Norgaard reportedly battled chronic anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. 

Isan has said watching her mother manage these conditions shaped her own openness about mental health today. This shared advocacy between mother and daughter has helped normalize conversations about therapy and treatment within their family’s public story.

Physical Appearance and Personal Style

Norgaard stands at 5 feet 2 inches tall. She has black hair and dark brown eyes. Her personal style leans toward natural, understated makeup rather than dramatic looks, which reflects her professional philosophy that makeup should enhance rather than mask someone’s features.

Legacy and Impact on the Beauty Industry

Norgaard’s work has contributed to a broader shift toward inclusive beauty standards. Through Kim Elba Cosmetics, she pushed for products that serve a wider range of skin tones at a time when many major brands still had limited options. Her visibility as a woman of mixed heritage in the beauty industry has also offered representation for other Blasian and multiracial professionals.

Hobbies and Personal Interests

Outside of work, Norgaard has mentioned enjoying reading, writing, cooking, and traveling. She also practices yoga and spends time gardening when she is not working. These interests reflect a lifestyle centered on creativity and personal wellness.

Isan Elba: Daughter’s Career and Advocacy

Isan Elba has built her own public profile as a model and actress. She appeared in “Crimson Ties” in 2022, playing the role of Deja. Her 2019 role as Golden Globe Ambassador introduced her to a wider audience. Isan has continued her mother’s mental health advocacy, speaking publicly about the topic in her own interviews.

Current Life and Activities (2026)

As of 2026, Norgaard reportedly continues working in makeup artistry while managing her business ventures. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside her husband, Pastor Andrew L. Friar II. She remains involved with Heart Strong Ministry and continues her mental health advocacy work through social media and public appearances. Her relationship with Idris Elba remains cooperative, centered on their shared role as Isan’s parents.

Conclusion

Hanne Norgaard’s story extends well beyond her connection to Idris Elba. Her career reflects decades of hands-on work in makeup artistry, entrepreneurship through Make Up Your Mind Inc. and Kim Elba Cosmetics, and a more recent role as a mental health advocate. She has built a private, steady life centered on her family, her faith, and her craft, choosing consistency over public attention at nearly every turn.

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FAQs

Who is Hanne Norgaard? 

Hanne Norgaard is a British-American makeup artist, entrepreneur, and businesswoman best known as the first wife of actor Idris Elba.

How old is Hanne Norgaard? 

Hanne Norgaard was born on April 5, 1977, which makes her 49 years old as of 2026.

What is Hanne Norgaard’s net worth? 

Hanne Norgaard’s net worth is reportedly between $900,000 and $1 million, earned mainly through her makeup artistry career and her companies, Make Up Your Mind Inc. and Kim Elba Cosmetics.

Is Hanne Norgaard still married to Idris Elba? 

No, Hanne Norgaard is not still married to Idris Elba. They divorced in 2003 after marrying in 1999, and she later married Pastor Andrew L. Friar II in 2013.

What is Hanne Norgaard’s ethnicity? 

Hanne Norgaard identifies as Blasian, reflecting her South Korean and African-American heritage.

Who is Hanne Norgaard’s husband now? 

Hanne Norgaard is currently married to Pastor Andrew L. Friar II, whom she wed in 2013, and she serves as First Lady of his church, Heart Strong Ministry.

Does Hanne Norgaard have children?

Yes, Hanne Norgaard has one daughter, Isan Elba, born in 2002 from her marriage to Idris Elba.

What mental health condition does Hanne Norgaard have? 

According to a 2019 People Magazine interview with her daughter Isan, Hanne Norgaard reportedly has chronic anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.