Hollywood icon Idris Elba is ending 2025 on a high note, securing a prestigious new accolade even as he hints at a major career shift away from the spotlight. The acclaimed actor, recently honoured with a knighthood, has now been named the winner of the Smile of the Year award for 2025 in the male category.
A Winning Smile: The Dental Verdict
The award, organised by the dental clinic Dentakay, recognises celebrities with the most balanced and attractive smiles. Elba, 53, triumphed over a strong field of nominees that included Paul Mescal, Harry Styles, and footballers Daniel Sturridge and Bukayo Saka.
In the female category, the honour went to Bridgerton star Simone Ashley, who saw off competition from the likes of Raye, Dua Lipa, Munroe Bergdorf, and Nicola Coughlan.
Dr Gülay Akay, founder of Dentakay, provided a professional analysis of the winning smiles. She praised Simone Ashley's "natural alignment" and "mysterious facial structure," noting her smile was not flawless but appealingly authentic.
Of Idris Elba, Dr Akay said: "His central incisors are sufficiently long, and his canines are prominent, supporting his masculine look. When he smiles, gum visibility is very minimal... Altogether, his smile is in harmony with his face, giving him a masculine, strong, and charismatic appearance."
Looking Beyond Acting: Elba's Directorial Ambitions
Despite continuing to collect awards, the Luther star has signalled a desire to pivot away from acting. Speaking at a Q&A during the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on 10 December, Elba expressed his hope to transition fully into directing.
"I'm hoping that my fan base as an actor isn't mad at me," he said while promoting his project *Dust To Dreams*. "But eventually, I want to transfer to be a director fully. I’ve been acting for a long time. I love it still, but I think directing allows me to flex slightly different muscles."
Dousing the James Bond Rumours
Elba also attempted to cool the long-standing speculation linking him to the role of James Bond. In comments made to The Mirror in November, the actor expressed disbelief that the question still follows him at age 53.
"When you sign up to Bond, you sign up for a decade of making films, often a bit longer," he stated pragmatically. "Nobody wants to see Bond running around in his mid 60s!"
The search for the next 007 has been ongoing since Daniel Craig's departure in 2021 after No Time To Die. With filming for the 26th Bond film reportedly set to begin in 2027 for a potential 2028 release, the debate over the next star continues to captivate fans, even as one of the favourites appears to be setting his sights on a new chapter behind the camera.
