Idris Elba's portrayal of Nelson Mandela was so convincing the man himself was fooled into thinking he was in new film

'Is that me?' Idris Elba's portrayal of Nelson Mandela was so convincing the man himself was fooled into thinking he was in new film 

By PAUL THOMPSON

PUBLISHED: 17:26, 21 November 2013 | UPDATED: 17:26, 21 November 2013

Idris Elba has revealed he was so convincing in his portrayal of Nelson Mandela that the former South African leader was fooled into believing he was in the film.

The Luther star said the ailing statesmen was shown a clip of the film which is released in the US next week and has generated Oscar buzz for his performance.

The actor spent hours studying news clips of the 95 year old Mandela to perfect his mannerisms and he also had a dialect coach to perfect his accent for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Is that me? Idris Elba revealed he was so convincing in his portrayal of Nelson Mandela that the former South African leader was fooled into believing he was in the film based on this scene

Convincing turn: Actor Idris Elba attends the New York premiere of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom on Thursday after Mandela himself believed he'd appeared in the film 

Elba said he was flattered when he heard Mandela mistook his portrayal for himself.

He said:'There is a scene in the end of film where I am walking. You cannot see my face, but it’s got the shirt and I'm walking up the hill. He said: ‘Is that me?'. How did you do that.'

Elba told ABC News the elder statesman had thought he was watching an actual news clip.

Good job: Idris said he was flattered when he heard Mandela mistook his portrayal for himself

The actor said it was an honour to play Mandela, playing him from his 20s until his late 70s.

He admitted that he thought he would not be able to pull off playing such a well known and loved figure.

'The main concern for me was the look-a-like thing. Everybody knows what he sounds like and what he looks like.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom official UK trailer

Long haul: The film shoot for Nelson Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom lasted six months in South Africa

'So as much as I'm an actor, and I'm an ambitious one, it just seemed beyond the realms of what I could do.'

In an interview for Entertainment Weekly magazine Elba said he spent hours watching news clips of Mandela to perfect his accent.

But he said his own father, who was from Sierra Leone, also helped.

'There are certain ways that African men speak English, and Mandela and my dad sort of fall into  similar category. They are very grammar conscious and like to use long words.'

The film shoot lasted six months in South Africa.

The trailer opens with scenes of conflict; guns being loaded, explosions and white soldiers rushing into combat, with the statements, 'public enemy #1', 'hunted by the police' and 'feared by the government' flashing in between.

His rock: Naomie Harris plays Mandela's wife Winnie and their love story plays out I the film from when she first captured his eye through her social activism by being the first black social worker in South Africa

Then the 'revolutionary, outlaw, rebel, radical, liberator' Nelson comes on to the screen, standing on a podium in front of a crowd of protestors at a race rally.

It then introduces Naomie, 36, as Winnie and their love story from when she first captured Nelson's eye through her social activism by being the first black social worker in South Africa.

He describes her as 'the most beautfiul girl I've ever seen', but their love story is not the main narrative arc of the movie, for Nelson's 67 year role as a leader for black rights is the primary focus of the man who says in the trailer 'Freedom, it is an ideal of which I am prepared to die.'

The film is directed by British filmmaker Justin Chadwick - of The Other Boleyn Girl and BBC's Bleak House fame - while the script was penned by William Nicholson who was nominated for an Academy award for Gladiator, and wrote the screenplay for last year's critical and box-office success Les Miserablé.

Oscar nod? The film is directed by British filmmaker Justin Chadwick - of The Other Boleyn Girl while the script was penned by William Nicholson who was nominated for an Academy award for Gladiator

Leading roles: Idris Elba and Naomi Harris who plays Madela's wife Winnie in the film attended the screening of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom in New York City

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2511295/Nelson-Mandela-fooled-Idria-Elba-thinking-new-film-actor.html#ixzz2lKGRo8kP
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SourceTV Exclusive: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris & More attend ‘Mandela’ New York Premiere

Shaina411 | November 17, 2013 | 0 Comments

The Source Magazine was on the red carpet for the New York premiere of The Weinstein Company’s “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom,” which opens in New York and Los Angeles on November 29 and nationwide on December 25. Ashanti, Michael Strahan, Kevin Liles and June Ambrose were a few of the celebs who joined Idris Elba and Naomie Harris at the star-studded premiere, which was supported in part by DeLeón Tequila.

‘Mandela’ is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris stars as Winnie Mandela and Justin Chadwick directed the film.

Before the screening began, Harvey Weinstein introduced the cast and director. He said right after Nelson Mandela had been released from prison Robert De Niro invited him to the Tribeca Film Center and Eddie Murphy was in attendance at the special event. Mandela thanked De Niro and Murphy for getting him through his time in prison because every Thursday they would watch films, which featured the two actors and it brought some joy to their days.

Zindzi Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s daughter, also spoke before the screening. She said, “It hasn’t been an easy life growing up with parents like mine. I was 18 months old when my father went to prison. I was a grown woman and a mother of three when he came back, and that had its challenges.” She praised producer Anant Singh for his dedication to the project (25 years) and Idris and Naomie for their stunning performances. Definitely keep an eye on these two as awards season progresses.

On the red carpet we spoke with “Mandela” director Justin Chadwick. When asked if anything moved him, while filming he said, “Everyday I was moved…I used to drive everybody crazy cause everyday I would say, ‘This is the most important scene of the movie.’ This is all real scenes, all the stories that I’ve heard from the people that were involved in the struggle or involved in the story. So we also worked with a lot of people that had been [there]…those parts are not CGI, they’re not extras, they are real people living in those communities, so the feeling off of those people, the feeling of that crowd, the men and women that are living the struggle today and are living through it. It was very, very emotional. So a lot of the scenes, like when he was released, many of those people had been there on the day he was released, so the overwhelming emotion that you felt when he came out there…I mean everyday the commitment from the country to make it, the commitment to truth that they all gave it was incredible, emotionally, but the next day we’d be up again and making it again and it was very exhilarating — I don’t know if you’ve ever been, but South Africa has this energy…just…it comes up…it’s a bit like being in New York, it’s exciting.”

The after-party continued at Stone Rose Lounge, where guests enjoyed the “Madame Butterfly” cocktail, which was made of DeLeón Diamante, Grapefruit, Jamaican Jerk, Agave and Mint.

Naomie Harris shows off toned tummy in sheer dress while Idris Elba looks dapper in a grey suit at Mandela premiere 

By COLETTE FAHY

PUBLISHED: 03:09, 15 November 2013 | UPDATED: 08:22, 15 November 2013

She has consistently impressed with her outfit choices on the promotional trail for the highly anticipated Nelson Mandela biopic.

And Naomie Harris added to her long list of knockout red carpet dresses on Thursday night as she graced the New York premiere of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.  

The 37-year-old actress, who plays Winnie Mandela in the movie, chose a spectacular patterned dress featuring sheer material on her arms and legs with see-through panels over her stomach. 

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Sheer delight! Naomie Harris made another winning outfit choice on the Mandela promotional trail, choosing a sheer dress which showed off a glimpse of toned tummy

Despite the large expanse of flesh on show, Naomie managed to keep the look classy with its high collar and floor skimming length.

The black dress featured a red and purple pattern and Harris added more colour with her purple heels. 

Elegant: Both Naomie and co-star Idris Elba scrubbed up well as they took to the red carpet at the premiere of Long Walk to Freedom in New York on Thursday 

She pulled her hair back off her face in a half-up style and managed to look both elegant and sexy as she graced the red carpet. 

She wasn’t the only star of the movie to impress, with Idris looking dapper in a fitted grey suit. 

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom official UK trailer

Celebrating: Director Justin Chadwick joined actors Terry Pheto, Idris and Naomie along with producer Anant Singh at the premiere 

Dapper: Idris Elba, who is reportedly set to become a father soon, was dapper in a grey suit on the red carpet

He appeared relaxed and happy, giving no indication if he is still reeling from recent reports that he is soon to become a father.

A source told the Mirror that he and his makeup artist girlfriend Naiyana Garth are expecting a baby and that 'they had been keeping it quiet as it’s early in the pregnancy, but they’ve told family and friends and Naiyana is beginning to show’.

If the news is true, it makes for an interesting year for Idris whose role as Nelson Mandela will surely be a career landmark for him.

Directed by Justin Chadwick (Bleak House, The Other Boleyn Girl), the biopic is based on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. 

Wedded bliss: Ronnie Wood and his wife Sally Humphreys joined the cast of the movie on the red carpet in New York 

Showing their support: Model Anja Rubik and actress Rosario Dawson both attended the Mandela premiere in New York on Thursday 

Powerful! Rosario shared a laugh with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood 

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom chronicles the life of the freedom fighter from his childhood in his small rural village to his days as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Last Friday, both Elba and Harris attended a private White House screening of the film, hosted by President Barack Obama.

The Weinstein Company's biopic could be a potential Oscar contender for the season. 

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is released in the US on November 29 and in the UK on January 3, 2014.

Girls' night out: Actresses Sean Young and Jess Weixler turned out to watch the new Nelson Mandela biopic in New York 

Fashion royalty: Zac Posen cuddled up to supermodel Pat Cleveland on the red carpet 

Dressed to impress: Terry Pheto and Ashanti both sparkled on the red carpet at the premiere

Based on autobiography: Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela in the new movie Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

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• Mirror Online: The intelligent tabloid. #madeuthink

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