Naomie Harris glitters in white dress featuring tulle and sequined skirt at Mandela premiere in South Africa

PUBLISHED: 20:58, 3 November 2013 | UPDATED: 22:13, 3 November 2013

She has a crucial role in the film, playing the part of Nelson Mandela’s second wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

So it’s no surprise that Naomie Harris wanted to dress to impress as she attended the premiere of Mandela – Long Walk To Freedom in Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday.

Shinning like the star she is the 37-year-old slipped into an elegant one shouldered Donna Karan Atelier gown, made from draped white silk gauze over gold silk lame, with an exposed under skirt made of silk tulle.

Shine bright: Naomie Harris shone at the premiere of Mandela in South Africa on Sunday

The necklace and skirt were embellished with antique gold metal embroidery, catching the light as she walked.

The cut of the dress showed off the British actress’s toned arms perfectly, while her shapely shoulders also couldn’t be missed.

Making sure nothing distracted from her dress, her hair was worn loose in a simple style and she opted to keep her make-up relatively simple.

The beautiful star seemed in high spirits as she made her appearance on the red carpet, chatting away in a very animated style.

Elegant: Naomie's dress had a very elegant yet sexy feel to it, showing off her toned arms

Delicate: The dress featured a tulle skirt section and plenty of sequins which caught the light as she walked

As she sat down to watch the film the star reached out to hold hands with Zindzi Mandela, the daughter of Winnie and Nelson.

To Zindzi’s right sat her mother Winnie, who busy chatting away to Idris Elba, who takes on the role of Mandela in the biopic.

Speaking to the BBC earlier this year about the role, she said: ‘We both had to undergo prosthetics for about four hours a day because we play the characters from very young ages right through to, Nelson is 76 by the end of the movie and I’m 47.’

Close: Naomie held hands with Zindzi Mandela, one of Nelson and Winnie Mandela's daughters during the premiere

Animated: Naomie pulled a variety of faces as she chatted away on the red carpet

Vocal: Naomie seemed to have plenty to say to waiting journalists as she made her way along the carpet

Talking about meeting Winnie for the first time, she said: ‘It was intimidating at first but a real privilege. One of the things you’re really scared about when you are playing someone who is such an icon and such a formidable kind of character – is how do they want to be seen?’

Discussing her character’s controversial nature, she continued: ‘That’s the joy of playing a character who is so controversial and so misunderstood as well. You have to understand that she is a product of a particular time in history and circumstances and it’s very difficult now to judge those circumstances. She had a terrible time.’

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, directed by Justin Chadwick is adapted from Mandela's 1994 autobiography.

Proud: The actress applauded as she sat in front of George Bizos, Nelson Mandela's lawyer

Something to laugh about: Idris, who plays Nelson in the film has a giggle with Winnie and her daughter Zindzi

It chronicles the iconic leader's journey from childhood in a rural South African village, his days as an anti-apartheid revolutionary, which led to a 27-year prison sentence, and his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of the country.

The film is produced by the Weinstein Co. and also stars Riaad Moosa, Terry Pheto, Lindiwe Matshikiza and Deon Lotz.

The film will be released in the UK on January 3.

Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom

Phew, he made it! Idris Elba looks a little poorly as he mops his brow at Mandela premiere in South Africa a day after being hospitalised for asthma attack

By FAY STRANG

PUBLISHED: 19:31, 3 November 2013 | UPDATED: 19:47, 3 November 2013

It was looking a little hit or miss whether Idris Elba would be able to attend the premiere of his latest film Mandela: A Long Walk Of Freedom after he was rushed to hospital on Saturday after suffering an asthma attack as he was due to fly to South Africa.

But on Sunday evening the 41-year-old actor showed nothing was going to get in the way of him and the film's premiere – not even a serious health scare - as he walked the red carpet in Johannesburg alongside his co-star Naomie Harris.

Looking perhaps not entirely back to full health, Idris, who plays Mandela in the film, was seen mopping his brow before taking his seat alongside Minnie Madikizela-Mandela – the ex wife of Nelson Mandela.

Not quite recovered: Idris Elba arrived at the premiere of Mandela on Sunday in South Africa after asthma attack on Saturday

Dressed to impress in a sharp black suit with a thin white black tie, the London-born star put his health worries behind his as he chatted away to the South African press and the politician Winnie.

Naomie Harris, who takes on the role of Winnie in the film, looked sensational wearing a one-shoulder white dress featuring a sheer and sequined tulle section.

Idris was due to fly out to South Africa on Saturday for a press conference ahead of the biopics premiere.

Nothing was going to stop him: Idris was clearly determined to make it to the premiere of his latest film

However after suffering an asthma attack on a plane ready to take-off he was hospitalised.

The film's producer Anant Singh told reporters:'Idris is in hospital after an asthma attack on the plane last night,'

Speaking previously about getting into character for the movie, Elba told the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye's that he spent a night on Robben Island, locked in a cell next to the one where Mandela was jailed for 18 years.

Biopic: Idris takes on the role of Mandela in the film which he prepared for by that he spendding a night on Robben Island, locked in a cell next to the one where Mandela was jailed for 18 years

Plenty to chat about: Idris took a seat beside Mandela's second wife Winnie Madikizela Mandela at the premiere

Something to laugh about: Idris has a giggle with Winnie and her daughter Zindzi

Stealing the show: Naomie Harris, who plays Winnie in the film, stunned in her white dress with a tulle section

He said: 'I wanted the audience to know what it was like once Mandela and his colleagues were jailed and the crowds dissipated.'

The actor travelled around South Africa researching the role and wrote to the authorities on Robben Island (now a heritage site) to ask if he could stay in the jail. Initially, they turned him down, but later they recanted.

‘Look, we turn the key and you’ll be here till we let you out again at eight in the morning,’ a security man told him.

Taking it seriously: Elba went to extreme lengths to get into character for the role

‘It was a s***hole,’ Elba said. ‘I had a thin blanket for a mattress and that’s all there was between me and the concrete floor. They gave me a bowl. I had no water, nothing to drink at all. I was wearing my sweats and whatnot. I had two iPads to document myself and a cell phone.

‘Mr Mandela spent 18 years in the cell next to mine. It was a tiny room; the man turned the key and as I saw him walk away, it was plunged into darkness.

‘Before he went, he gave me a number to call if I wanted to be released. Later I checked my phone, but there was no signal. I was there for the whole night, whether I liked it or not. I slept for about an hour in total. There were ghosts there - of course there were! - because people had died there. I woke in the night and a massive cold thing hit my face, almost like cold water . . . it was obviously a spirit.

‘The wind made the cell bars make this ringing sound that echoed throughout the building. They clanged all night. I was on my own, but I wasn’t alone.

‘Later, every time I did the cell scenes in the film, I thought of that night. It wasn’t pretend for me.’

The film will be released in the UK on January 3.

What a charmer: Idris posed with with Graca Machel, wife of former president Nelson Mandela

In character: Idris as the politician in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, due for release next year

Naomie's TV and Film Credits

Sunday, 3 November 2013