Throughout his journey, Damson has always held onto his mother’s advice: “To stay humble and never forget where you come from.” Those simple yet profound words have shaped his path, taking him from the stages of London’s theatres to the heights of Hollywood stardom. Along the way, the British-Nigerian actor has won over audiences with his commanding performances and carved out a unique place for himself in the fashion world, celebrated for his creativity and unmistakable sense of style.
After six critically acclaimed seasons of Snowfall, Damson made a triumphant return this year with F1: The Movie, stepping into the shoes of an ambitious rookie driver. Reflecting on the experience, he shared: “I think the biggest [thing that stuck with me in real life from the film] would be that with teamwork you can go as far as you want.”
Damson’s interest in fashion has been evident since the very beginning of his career. During his early days in theatre, he earned just £400 a week for his debut performance in Pandora’s Box at the Arcola Theatre. Despite the modest paycheck, he chose to spend his first earnings on a pair of Prada shoes—an early glimpse of his keen eye for style. Fast forward to today, and Damson is now a Prada ambassador, bringing his signature charm to the brand’s 2025 Holiday collection. In the campaign, directed by Glen Luchford, he and his co-stars embark on a heartwarming journey through a snow-dusted forest, perfectly capturing the magic and warmth of the season.
Damson has ventured into the world of jewellery, launching his very own jewellery brand DIDRIS as a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of his mother, Silifat. As a young woman, Silifat bought gold in Africa, sold it in Europe, and used the profits to support her family in Nigeria before eventually moving them to London. Though she dreamed of starting her own jewellery business, she put those aspirations aside to raise Damson and his siblings as a single mother in London. Now, through DIDRIS, Damson is honouring her legacy and fulfilling the dream she couldn’t pursue.
“My mother had an amazing jewellery box, and I’d sneak into her room and go through many of her rings and often take them to school and show them off to my friends,” Damson recalls. “My love for jewellery definitely came from her. She is my greatest inspiration for creating DIDRIS. She later gave me a gold ring of my own, which I of course lost. An absolute tragedy.”
The designs of DIDRIS are deeply personal, each piece infused with meaning and sentiment. Damson explains the inspiration behind them: “Many of the pieces are tributes to my family. The diamond stud earrings have a six-claw setting which symbolises me and my siblings. The intertwining D’s on the monogram cuff were crafted as an embrace.” For Damson, jewellery is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about how it makes people feel. “I want people to feel more confident, more seen, and still totally natural. It’s finely crafted luxury you can actually live in.”
DIDRIS has even found its way into Damson’s film work. In his upcoming fantasy movie Children of Blood and Bone—directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and adapted from Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 novel of the same name—he plays Prince Inan. “In the beginning of the movie, when Inan is introduced, he is wearing two DIDRIS thin rings. The costume department believed the pieces would complement the character’s royal essence.”
At the 2025 Met Gala, Damson made a bold statement with a standout piece from the collection. “The brooch I wore was our big moment. We went all in on our green, but the little 3-carat Rubellite ended up being my favourite detail because it brought everything together.” He also recalls spotting his designs on the carpet. “Honestly, the wildest part was seeing LaKeith Stanfield in DIDRIS!”
Currently, Damson is busy preparing for the filming of Miles & Juliette, in which he portrays jazz legend Miles Davis. Learning to play the trumpet for the role has been both challenging and rewarding. “The biggest challenge is keeping my lips tight in order to get the best sound. My favourite song to play is My Funny Valentine.” As for his growing trumpet collection, he said: “I now have four trumpets. The first one I bought is still my baby. […] Juliette sounds nice [as a name for it.]”
When asked whether DIDRIS might appear in Miles & Juliette (for Miles Davis loved jewellery), Damson teased: “That right there is top secret, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Photography: Ken Ngan
Editorial Director: Jumius Wong
Styling: Kyle Tang
Producer: Marina Fairfax
Makeup Artist: Vanessa Wong
Hair Stylist: Aston Ng
Fashion Assistant: Sing Lei
Photography Assistants: Mike Lam & TK
Retoucher: Tapestry Soho
Location courtesy of Carlyle and Co.
