Photos: Naomie Harris and Idris Elba: 'Mandela' Paris Premiere

Naomie Harris & Idris Elba: 'Mandela' Paris Premiere!

TUE, 03 DECEMBER 2013 AT 2:00 PMNaomie Harris & Idris Elba: 'Mandela' Paris Premiere!

Naomie Harris and Idris Elba hold hands as they hit the red carpet at the premiere of their new film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom held at UNESCO on Monday (December 2) in Paris, France.

The 37-year-old British actress and Idris, 41, were joined at the event by their co-star Lindiwe Matshikiza, producer Anant Singh, and director of the flick Justin Chadwick.

“Its the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I had to plot it out,” Naomi said about playing Winnie Mandela in the flim (viaThe Guardian). “At 21, Winnie had joyfulness, innocence, openness, excitement and an ability to fall in love deeply. But as people get older – well, some people – they close down. Winnie is a complex woman– like seven people in one. She was a grass-roots activist – on the streets with the people. She could only survive the level of brutality she went through this way.”

FYI: Naomie is wearing a Vionnet dress, Chanel jewellery, Burberry shoes and Rauwolf clutch.

UNESCO Hosts French Premiere Of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom -mandelamovie

UNESCO Hosts French Premiere Of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

Pictured at UNESCO are Anant Singh, Justin Chadwick, Naomie Harris, Idris Elba and 
Lindiwe Matshikiza / Pathé France (p)

The international roll-out of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom continued 
last night with the French premiere of the film at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO,
 ahead of its opening in France on 18 December. Producer Anant Singh, 
director Justin Chadwick and actors Idris Elba, Naomie Harris and 
Lindiwe Matshikiza presented the film. The Nelson Mandela Foundation 
was represented by its Chairman, Professor Njabulo Ndebele.

The event was attended by leading film director Raoul Peck, producer 
Alain Terzian, and foreign ambassadors and heads of NGO’s based in Paris.

"Launching Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom at the UNESCO headquarters
 is appropriate as the organisation promotes education, culture, heritage 
and freedom of expression which are issues that Madiba championed. 
We encouraged with amazing reaction from the Paris audience. 
The film opened as the Number One film in South Africa last week 
and we expect the film to perform equally well in France. 
 We are also delighted that the chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, 
Professor Ndebele was able to join us at the event," said producer, Anant Singh.

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom will be released in France by Pathé, 
with France being the first European country to release the film.