Idris Elba pops the question at film debut

The 45-year-old was greeted with a rapturous applause from the cinema audience on Saturday morning as he popped the question at the Rio Cinema in east London.

He had been at the venue for a preview of his directorial debut Yardie.

Video posted online by audience member David Marsden-Sainou‏ shows the actor down on one knee at the front of the packed auditorium.

In the clip, Miss Dhowre – a model and former Miss Vancouver – appears to say “yes” and kisses Elba as the crowd cheers.

The cinema confirmed the news on Twitter. It wrote: “Another @riocinema first! Still 5 days to Valentines Day but @idriselba went down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend live on stage this morning before a preview of his film.”

The couple have reportedly been dating since early 2017.

Elba, who was also born and raised in east London, previously married Hanne Norgaard and Sonya Hamlin.

Fans in the audience soon expressed their delight online.

“At cast & crew screening of @YARDIES & @IdrisElba just proposed to his girlfriend Sabrina!! Too cute,” one tweeted.

Another added: “At cast & crew screening of YARDIES & Idris Elba just proposed to his girlfriend Sabrina!! Big Congrats !!”

His latest project, Yardie, is set in Jamaica and is an adaptation of Victor Headley’s 1992 novel by the same name.