Idris Elba Tried to Capture Mandela’s Aura

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Weinstein Company, Biopics, Drama, Period, Political, Celeb News, Filmmaking, New Releases,

Idris Elba tried to capture Nelson Mandela's "aura" when filming Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

The star thoroughly researched his role as the South African civil rights activist and former president - who was imprisoned between 1962 and 1990 for his beliefs - and says his acting was helped by understanding the gravitas he is held in:

"I was more of a journalist than an actor when I first got the role [as Mandela]. I didn't know as much as I'd like to about him, there is so much to learn. Especially about his aura, about the way people feel about him because you can't really act that. You just have to have some understanding of it, so that's what I did. The pressure of taking on someone that everyone knows is insurmountable - ultimately you've got to own it yourself. I don't look like Mandela so I have to ask the audience to come along on a journey and say this is my interpretation."

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Morgan Freeman Hasn’t Received Mandela’s Approval

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Warner Bros, Biopics, Drama, Political,

Nelson Mandela has seen Invictus - but no one knows if he was happy with how he is depicted in the film.

Morgan Freeman, who was just nominated for his portrayal of the former South African president, admits he was left frustrated as the freedom fighter refused to give his opinion after being treated to a special big-screen showing.

“Yes, I know that he has seen it. You know, he won’t say what he thinks of it. So you have to kind of gather from his reactions,” Morgan said over the weekend at the film’s London premiere. “I was sitting next to him and when I first came on the screen he said, ‘I know this fellow.’”

However, the 72-year-old star did confirm that South Africans accepted him playing the legendary historic figure, and even called him by the honorary title bestowed upon elders of Mandela’s clan - Madiba.

“You know, South Africans starting calling me Madiba. I was totally accepted. I remember getting out of a car one time and I was walking into a stadium and someone shouted, ‘You walk like him, you walk like him!’, people were giving me lifts,” Freeman recalled.

Jennifer Hudson to Play Mandela’s Wife

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Biopics, Drama, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,

Jennifer Hudson has signed on to star in Winnie, a biopic about Nelson Mandela’s former wife.

The film will follow her whole life, and Hudson will be singing the movie’s theme song as well.

“I was compelled and moved when I read the script,” the Academy Award winner recently said. “Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I’m honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told.”

Production begins May 30. With Hudson in the lead, the flick already sounds like Oscar material.

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Matt Damon Looks Up to Clint Eastwood

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,

Matt Damon wants to have Clint Eastwood’s career.

The Hollywood star - who worked with the award-winning director and actor on upcoming movie Invictus - is in awe of Clint’s successful move behind the camera and would love to follow suit.

He said: “I don’t get starstruck in front of someone like him because I don’t care about the superficiality in this business. I care about his talent, and what really intrigued me was the fact that Clint made the transition from acting to directing,” Matt said. “He started directing when he was 39. I’m 38 now. I’m hoping to have the same career trajectory where I make movies as an actor until I’m 40 and then I start directing.”

Damon insists he is, of course, far from being the only star to have huge respect for 79-year-old Eastwood.

“Few people in life get to do something they love so much. I talk to other people I respect, like Ben Affleck and George Clooney, and all of us look up to Clint,” he added to the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper.

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