Nearly one year after starring in F1: The Movie, actor Damson Idris aligns Formula 1 with lifestyle while building his empire with luxury jewelry house, DIDRIS. The actor was named Formula 1 Global Ambassador this week, the organization’s first non-driver to have the distinguished title. Earlier this week, Idris spoke to Complex about the new partnership, his DIDRIS brand, and more.
Idris’ presence in F1, which amassed over $630 million globally, bridged the gap between entertainment and motorsport, and his continued attendance at races has bolstered Formula 1’s international platform. The Idris effect has already brought the sport to new audiences and further expands his attention to detail and performance.
“When you see me at these races, you’re seeing culture, you’re seeing innovation, and from talking to F1 and [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali], that’s the direction they’re trying to go in,” Idris emphasizes during a Zoom interview from London.
This skill as a cultural connector has also turned to handcrafted jewelry through DIDRIS, which launched in 2025 and is poised to demonstrate Idris’ intentionality across precision, design, and lineage.
Idris’ newfound purpose begins with his mother, Silifat Idris, who worked as a jewelry broker and passed down gemstones and adornments as heirlooms. These details guide the DIDRIS narrative, where subtle references to the actor’s family are made in diamond stud earrings and maxi necklace, a yellow gold necklet decorated with diamonds and gemstones.
“Anytime I think about jewelry, I always think of legacy and something that you’re going to pass down to your children,” the entertainer tells Complex. “And I wanted to make jewelry as homage to my mother because really it was a dream of hers when she was in her twenties that she never fully got to fulfill. As an artist, you’re always working with so many brands on the journey. It’s really nice to have ownership to build a legacy and to start your own journey, too.”
After playing overconfident racecar driver Joshua Pearce opposite Academy Award winner Brad Pitt in F1, Idris has rerouted to the world of Formula 1, and the sports league drives the next chapter of DIDRIS. As the Joseph Kosinski-directed film explored of fearlessness, passion and achievement, collaborating with the F1 brand makes a natural fit for Idris.
The crisp motorcore and relaxed fits that Pearce wears in the movie were also Idris’ nod to race legend Lewis Hamilton, notably his appreciation for statement pearl designs. “I wanted Joshua to wear as many pearls as possible and then at the same time I was creating DIDRIS and the first bit of money I ever made spending on jewelry was Tahitian pearls in Tiffany. So I had to put Tahitian pearls in that collection in the first pieces,” Idris shares.
While most jewelry brands hinge on traditional diamonds, colored gems are a recurrence in DIDRIS, which the founder likens to the opulence he wants consumers to feel when draped in his collection. Precious stones like tourmaline, emerald, and peridot are a focal point of DIDRIS’ signet ring, cube pendant and compass bracelet.
“A lot of our gemstones and everything is sourced in Africa, so Botswana and maybe in South Africa. It’s natural diamonds that we’re using. We fully use the Kimberley process,” Idris explains. “But with color, the biggest thing that was speaking to me was theme and feeling. I wanted people to wear DIDRIS and feel royal and regal and wealthy. Green, I think, encapsulates all of that.”
He continues, “Then coined with just my Nigerian heritage and how my mother always used to have so many amazing emeralds and tourmaline and favorite in her jewelry box.”
While Idris will maintain his influence in F1, the actor also teases an expansion of DIDRIS with his next movie, the highly anticipated fantasy epic Children of Blood and Bone, where he’ll play Prince Inan. Last year, production occurred in Cape Town and Nigeria, and, in addition to promising “royal and regal” DIDRIS pieces that will tribute the film’s essence, the line will also be seen in the Gina Prince-Bythewood-directed flick.
“Each piece I create is tied to a moment and Children of Blood and Bone is going to be such an event,” Idris excitedly shares. “It’s going to be out of this world. It opens January 2027 as of now. But the lead up to it–I think there’s going to be so many amazing moments to partner the essence of the movie with DIDRIS and I can’t wait to do it.”
Idris’ flair for jewelry has evolved since DIDRIS made its debut at the 2025 Met Gala, when the actor took over the carpet with F1-inspired Tommy Hilfiger suit reveal. On the outfit was the brand’s capstone piece, a one-of-one brooch, that Idris was admittedly nervous to wear.
“That green tourmaline in that huge brooch had to match up to the extravagance and spectacle of those other two elements,” Idris recalls. “My heart was definitely skipping in a beat when the outfit was pulled during the reveal because I didn’t want it to break. But I think it couldn’t have gone better. It was the first time I unveiled the brand to the world and I wanted to start big.”
Idris plans to have another “wild moment” on the red carpet while wearing Prada at the 98th Academy Awards, where F1 is nominated in four categories including Best Picture. As the actor sees continued career elevation, he nods to his friend, rapper and style icon Tyler, the Creator, who helped bring the vision of DIDRIS to life. Idris also counts Tyler’s 2021 album Call Me If You Get Lost as his favorite style phase of the two-time Grammy winner. Like Idris’ work with F1, a business pact could soon be sparked with the Don’t Tap the Glass artist.
“Tyler was really instrumental in just kind of the overall messaging and the way I was trying to present my brand to the world in the beginning. Definitely with the website,” Idris reveals. “He was giving me so many amazing pointers and he’s had such huge success with Golf [Wang] and Golf le Fleur. I’m so inspired by everything he does. I see that being a collaboration in the future, too. I’ll tap my nose on that one.”
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