Lifestyle Beauty & Style Celebrity Fragrance Idris and Sabrina Elba on Their Instantly Iconic Calvin Klein Campaign: 'Showcases Black Love' (Exclusive) The couple are the newest ambassadors for Calvin Klein's historic (and sexy!) Eternity fragrance franchise — and share exclusive behind-the-scenes details with PEOPLE By Brittany Talarico Brittany Talarico Brittany Talarico is PEOPLE's Deputy Style Director, where she oversees the brand's digital Style and Beauty coverage. This includes running lead on the Met Gala, which is among PEOPLE.com's top-trafficked red carpet events every year, interviewing the industry's top influencers (including all the Kardashian-Jenners), and breaking A-list celeb news (a New Jersey shore native, it is no surprise that her favorite interview ever was with Bruce Springsteen). Brittany is a style contributor to People Every Day Podcast and has represented the brand on national TV programs including Good Morning America and The CW's two TV specials on the British Royals. She joined PEOPLE from Cosmopolitan in 2013, where she was an Associate Editor. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 10, 2024 09:18AM EDT Close Actor Idris Elba and his wife, model and activist, Sabrina Elba, star in Calvin Klein Fragrances Eternity Campaign. Photo: Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances Mr. and Mrs. Elba may just be the sexiest couple alive. And now they're sharing an inside peek at their love as the newest ambassadors for Calvin Klein's iconic Eternity fragrance franchise. Actor Idris Elba and his wife, model and activist Sabrina Elba, star in the campaign for the new male and female Aromatic Essence scents from the Eternity portfolio. The spot carries on the legacy of the timeless love story that the brand has been reinventing since the launch of the scent in 1988 with Christy Turlington as the face. (Turlington later revisited the spot alongside her husband Ed Burns.) Shot by renowned photographer Mert Alas, the new campaign sees the Elbas embracing one another and channeling their love story and intimacy while honoring Eternity's storied past. The global advertising campaign spans digital, social, print and TV. "There was a lot of expectation leading up to it," Idris tells PEOPLE during a Zoom interview alongside his wife, speaking about their Calvin Klein partnership for the first time. "I think Sabrina and I were both like, 'Wait, wow.' And I was like, 'Oh my God, I really have to look really handsome in this thing, and you're just going to ace it, because you're just beautiful,'" he adds nodding at his wife. Idris, 51, says that the whole shoot was "quite intentional." Idris Elba and his wife, model and activist, Sabrina Elba star in the new Calvin Klein Eternity Campaign. Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances "Mert is a friend of ours, so he's seen us at dinner parties and he was like, 'I want to capture that,'" Idris says. "There was a lot of making sure that our real natural essence came across on screen. He wanted to make something that really stood out — this to be remembered." Sabrina, 34, says that she jumped at the chance to work with her husband on such an iconic campaign. "It's been part of pop culture as long as I could remember," she tells PEOPLE of the fragrance. "I'm a huge fan of Christy [Turlington] and just seeing those campaigns all the time, I was like, 'I can't believe I get to do this.' We did it in a way that just felt so natural, so easy and that showcases Black love in a way I think isn't seen enough — I love the idea of that." Sabrina and Idris Elba star in Calvin Klein's new Eternity fragrance campaign. Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances The model adds that she's "honored" to have been a part of it. "I feel like now I have something that I can show my kids in the future and be like, 'Look how cute mom was.'" Below the couple opens up about co-starring together, their favorite scents and more. What feeling does the Eternity scent evoke for you? Sabrina: That nostalgia for me is everything. Funnily enough, Calvin Klein Eternity was actually my first fragrance. And I think for a lot of people, it was their entry into fragrance. I remember begging my mom to buy this for me. I wanted to be a part of the culture. It wasn't even necessarily about the scent. It's almost a bonus that the scent is good too. It was so much about, "I want to be that person in that campaign and I want to be part of the Calvin Klein lifestyle." They've always nailed that — being super inclusive so that everyone can feel a part of it. And also growing with an audience over time. I can still relate to the brand, which is amazing, because I related to this brand at 16. Idris: For me, it makes me feel expensive. You walk by, and you are going to want to smell me. "Oh yeah, you want some of this?" It's putting out that energy. We went to dinner recently and I put it on, and felt super confident. I think that's the feeling it gives me. Idris Elba and his wife, model and activist, Sabrina Elba star in the new Calvin Klein Eternity Campaign. Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances Do you have a favorite non-perfume or cologne smell that holds memories for you? Sabrina: Idris has a musk that he uses as a body oil, and anyone that knows him knows that's his smell. I love it. It embodies him to me. I also love the smell of lipstick. Is that really weird? I could definitely sniff a lipstick. Sorry if that sounds really creepy. Idris: Well, mine is not lipstick, so I'm trying to figure out an answer. Actually, I really like the smell of an older car that's sat in the sun for a long time and you open it and it's baking hot in there and that old leather, old engine smell. I love that smell. Idris Elba stars in Calvin Klein Eternity Campaign. Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now How would you describe each other's styles in three words? Sabrina: Idris for sure is effortless, timeless and sexy to me. He doesn't even have to lift a finger. He just walks out the door, this confident sexy guy. He can be in a pair of flip-flops and sweats and I'm just like, wow, "You're going to make best dressed lists." And he always does, he's effortless. Idris: I think Sabrina is fresh because she loves the newest and coolest. And she's elegant no matter what she puts on, whether it's sweatpants or a ball gown, she looks elegant. And I would say the third would be memorable. Idris Elba's New Project Has Emotional Connection to the Grandfather He Never Knew (Exclusive) Idris Elba and his wife, model and activist, Sabrina Elba star in the new Calvin Klein Eternity Campaign. Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances Do you like to coordinate your red carpet looks? Sabrina: If we could match and wear matching colors, I'd actually love it, Idris not so much. I love the idea of couple dressing and when couples do it, I just think it's the cutest thing ever. Idris doesn't love it. Babe, you hate couple dressing. I think he'll try and sneakily find out what color I'm wearing. Idris: When it's all matching, matching and you look like twins, I'm like, "Oh man." Who takes longer to get ready? Idris: Sabrina Sabrina: It depends. I am very happily underdressed for anything but a carpet. I'm like, "It's fine, I'll just wear casual things." Idris: No… Sabrina: I am. Don't give me a VB moment. He's being my David Beckham right now. I am very, very happy to be underdressed. I love glam for events, but I am happy to be underdressed. He's got his routine, like a shower and then a thing and then da, da, da and then we can go. Whereas if we're just going for a walk, I'll just put on some Uggs and go forth. Idris Elba and his wife, model and activist, Sabrina Elba star in Calvin Klein Eternity Campaign. Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Do you do self-care together as a couple? Sabrina: I love showering together, although we have some really funny memories showering together. We have two sinks, separate sinks, side by side. And it's funny because we're doing the exact same thing because we started a skincare brand [S'ABLE Labs]. We're both using exact same products. He does it really fast, I'm like, "Hold on, my toner is still setting." But we do the, "Okay, he's there. I'm here." It feels like it's part of our day. When we can get up at the same time and someone doesn't have to be up super early, it's really nice, because we can get into the shower and enjoy that moment, have a coffee together, which doesn't feel like it happens enough, unfortunately. I think selfless self-care when it's with community and your partner and with anyone feels really nice. Idris Elba's New Project Has Emotional Connection to the Grandfather He Never Knew (Exclusive) Idris Elba and his wife, model and activist, Sabrina Elba star in Calvin Klein's latest Eternity fragrance campaign. Mert Alas for Calvin Klein Fragrances Any Father’s Day plans? Sabrina: Father's Day is my birthday this year. Double celebration. I got us tickets to go see the play Spirited Away in London, so I'm forcing it on him. It’s my birthday I get dibs. Idris: Of course she does. Idris, any spoilers you can give us about Hijack season 2? Idris: I'm actually just getting ready to start filming. That starts in the next 10 days, believe it or not. I also finished directing a movie called Above the Below. And a tiny, small Nigerian film called Dust to Dreams, which I'm excited to show the world soon.