Idris Elba's ex: I was going to 'ruin his career'

Actor Idris Elba with ex wife Naiyana Garth. Photo / Getty Images

Idris Elba's second wife claims he dumped her for the sake of his career.

The 43-year-old actor - who recently split from Naiyana Garth, the mother of his two-year-old son - was married to Sonya Hamlin for just a few weeks in 2006 before they split up.

She told the Mail on Sunday: "People were telling him he was going to ruin his career. He was being told it was an important part of his image to be a single sex symbol in Hollywood and being married would damage that.

"It was very sad. Idris and I were madly in love, but he was getting a lot of flak for being married. Everyone was like, 'Dude, you're the hottest sex symbol! It wasn't the right look', that's what they were telling him. I wanted to save the marriage."

Despite the split, Sonya- who married Idris in Las Vegas - insists that she would be happy for Idris if he decided to marry again as she just wants the best for him.

Speaking about Idris, who was also married to make-up artist Hanne Norgaard from 1999 to 2003, she said: "I'd be happy for him if he got married again, and he genuinely loved that person. I'm not a jealous person. I want him to be happy, just like I'm sure he wants me to be happy. I don't think he's ever going to have a problem being lonely."

- BANG! Showbiz