Lots of celebrity marriages are short-lived.
Take Britney Spears and Jason Alexander, for instance. They got hitched in Las Vegas and split after 55 hours.
The wedding I’ll discuss today also resulted from a rash decision in Vegas that lasted a bit longer. Think six weeks or so. Yes, that’s Sonya Nicole Hamlin and Idris Elba’s wedding!
Sonya Nicole Hamlin: Quick Bio
Here’s some basic info about Sonya Hamlin:
- Birthdate: January 1, 1974
- Hometown: Glenn Dale, Maryland
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Virginia, JD from the American University Washington College of Law
- Profession: Real estate lawyer
- Ex-Husband: Idrissa Akuna Elba
A Timeline of Sonya Hamlin and Idris Elba’s Relationship
Let’s check out how this whirlwind romance began and ended!
2005: The Two Meet Through a Mutual Friend
Sonya Hamlin has been practicing law in her firm since 2000, but she didn’t meet Idris Elba until 2005.
Apparently, Elba’s manager was also Hamlin’s friend. He introduced the lawyer to the actor, who had just finished filming his part for The Wire drama series.
April 8, 2006: Hamlin and Elba Take a Trip to Vegas Together
Hamlin and Elba had big plans for April 8.
That day, Zab Judah and Floyd Mayweather Jr. were scheduled to fight over the IBF welterweight title in Paradise, Nevada. So, the lawyer and the star decided to travel to see the match.
By the end of the day, Mayweather had won the fight, and the couple were ready to make even bigger plans. After spending the whole day chilling together, Hamlin and Elba decided to marry.
April 9, 2006: The Two Lovebirds Tie the Knot
The next day, Idris Elba and Sonya Hamlin put their rushed plan into action.
They bought a ring, got a marriage license from the courthouse, and found a witness. Then, they went to the Chapel that has seen several celebrity weddings over the years—the Little White Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Just like that, Hamlin became a celebrity wife!
June 2006: Hamlin Tries to File for Divorce
A few weeks after tying the knot, the couple were discussing divorce. Shocking, isn’t it?
Based on Hamlin’s version of events, people kept telling Elba that he had to leave his wife or else he’d risk ruining his career. Hamlin, who loved the actor, was devastated and heartbroken.
And there was one more hiccup:
State laws mandated that the couple live apart for a year before filing for divorce. So, Hamlin requested that the wedding be annulled because she was drunk then.
Final Thoughts: Where Is Sonya Nicole Hamlin Now?
As short as the relationship was, it must have been painful to see it end.
Hopefully, Hamlin has managed to move on and is emotionally in a better place. She’s still got her law firm to focus on, after all!
Idris Elba began dating a girlfriend, Naiyana Garth, in 2013, and during their relationship, they welcomed a son, Winston. The couple split in 2016, though the reasons for their breakup were not publicly confirmed.
Around their separation, rumors circulated about Elba’s possible connection with supermodel Naomi Campbell.
In 2019, Elba married Somali-Canadian Sabrina Dhowre. The couple has been together for about seven years and married for approximately five.