Video:Naomie Harris on Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom BBC Breakfast interview

From Miss Moneypenny to Mrs Mandela: Naomie Harris on Nelson’s long walk to freedom

DURATION: 06:44

Nelson Mandela is currently critically ill in hospital, but plans are still well underway to mark his 95th birthday next week.

People from all over the world will honour the man who became South Africa's first democratically elected president.

The remarkable story of his rural upbringing, his opposition to apartheid and how he coped with being in prison for 27 years was told in his autobiography - Long Walk to Freedom.

After a long wait, a film of the same name has finally been made.

Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom is due for release in January 2014.

Available since: Today

Idris Elba's long walk to freedom begins: First look at trailer for Nelson Mandela biopic

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 16:14, 12 July 2013 | UPDATED: 17:14, 12 July 2013

A first small glimpse has been released of the hugely-anticipated Nelson Mandela movie Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

British actor Idris Elba plays the extraordinary South African leader and campaigner and he is heard reading from Mandela’s autobiography A Long Walk To Freedom – in a convincing accent.

Elba is not seen in close-up however – the 1min 13sec clip features the star walking across a plain towards a stunning sunset surrounded by children, and waving.

Long walk: Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela in the UK teaser trailer

Stunning countryside: Idris Elba is barely visible in the trailer which does feature some glorious countryside - and his voice as Mandela

Long road ahead: Elba seen in long shot in the short teaser trailer

The Luther star’s first words are ‘I have walked the long walk to freedom. It has been a long walk and it is not over yet’.

Bond girl Naomie Harris plays Winnie Mandela in the biopic, and she has her own new poster for the film, which has the tagline ‘the leader you knew, the woman you didn’t’.

The movie tells the extraordinary story of Mandela's life, from his childhood in a rural village to being imprisoned on Robben Island and then becoming the first democratically elected president of South Africa in 1994.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom official trailer

Towards the horizon: Elba makes strides towards freedom in the much-awaited film

Children of the corn: the trailer features young children following Elba as Mandela on his journey

Remarkably the film is an mainly-British affair, with Elba as Mandela, Harris as Winnie and director Justin Chadwick of The Other Boleyn Girl taking the reins.

Elba is already the favourite to win an Oscar for the part in 2014. He has never met Mandela but said: ‘It meant so much to me, it's such a massive opportunity to be part of a true legend's life, and more importantly, the film re-educates people on this legend.

‘I never met Mr. Mandela because he was very ill, so our interpretation of him was without his personal influence. But the script is such a good script, and obviously it comes from his book, and the book speaks for itself.’

Oscar-winner? Long Walk to Freedom stars Idris Elba as South African president Nelson Mandela

Historic couple: Idris and Naomie take on two of world history's iconic figures

Best of British: Naomie Harris stars alongside Elba as Winnie Mandela

Elba admits he looks ‘look nothing like him’ but judging by the trailer he certainly has studied Mandela’s voice.

As for Harris, playing Winnie Mandela was the ‘toughest thing’ she’s ever done.

She explained: ‘For me, that was the most challenging role that I've ever played and I absolutely loved playing her - right from this innocent woman to this warrior figure.

Saving the world: Idris as Stacker Pentecost in Pacific Rim

‘That journey for me was the most challenging that I've ever done and I've enjoyed that the most.’
The film is released in cinemas on 3 January 2014.

Elba is currently starring on TV in the third series of Luther, in which he plays a cop, and in new movie Pacific Rim. He made his name in the hugely-acclaimed US series The Wire, playing drug dealer Stringer Bell.

Long walk: Harris has finished filming her role as Winnie Mandela

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2361977/Idris-Elbas-Long-Walk-To-Freedom-Mandela-biopic.html#ixzz2YsG2AlHf
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Photos:Naomie attending Fashion Rules exhibition at Kensington Palace on 4th July

 Emilia Fox and Naomie Harris arriving at the opening of the Fashion Rules exhibition at Kensington Palace in London.

 Emilia Fox and Naomie Harris arriving at the opening of the Fashion Rules exhibition at Kensington Palace in London.

Naomie Harris attends the launch party for the Fashion Rules exhibition, a collection of dresses worn by HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace on July 4, 2013 in London, England.

Naomie adds a floral touch to Royal polo match with Prince William -CelebrityRedCarpet.co.uk

NAOMIE HARRIS ADDS A FLORAL TOUCH

 TO ROYAL POLO MATCH WITH PRINCE WILLIAM

by Kathy Saunders - Thursday May 30, 2013 

ACTRESS NAOMIE HARRIS ADDED A GIRLY TOUCH TO THE AUDI ROYAL POLO CHALLENGE 2013 WITH PRINCE WILLIAM AT CHESTER RACECOURSE ON 29 MAY 2013 IN CHESTER, ENGLAND.

Bond girl and all round great actress Naomie Harris is not only one very talented lady, 

she's also rather stylish to boot. After not one but two gorgeous red carpet looks at the

 Cannes Film Festival 2013, she has now brought her particluarly pretty brand of s

pring style to Audi's Royal Polo Challenge with Prince William.

Naomie might not technically be a royal herself but after this very chic and very pretty appearance, 
we would certainly be all for crowning her "Style Queen Naomie". A lame title, perhaps, but easy to 
agree with, no?

Our continued admiration of Naomie's style has a lot to do with the way she was rocking a 
gorgeous floral dress with some bright pastel yellow shoes! Not only was it a great look 
in general, it was a great look for Naomie and it certainly helped to brighten up a rather 
dreary day in the middle of a field!

Well, we say field, but when there's a polo club house the size of a small country filled
 with A-listers, aristocracy and crates of champagne it becomes clear that they weren't exactly
 "down on the farm"...

A pretty beauty look to match

To go with her feminine outfit, Naomie opted for a rather simple beauty look. She kept her 
sleek hair loose and paired with with make-up that was just glamorous enough for a polo party 
with a prince without looking over the top.

We're talking subtle eyeliner, a coat of black mascara, a hint of blush and a little lipgloss to finish. 
As far as "easy beauty looks" go, we think this one is among the easiest! So, why not steal it this
spring?

Simplicity is so IN right now.

There you have it. If you were ever in need of some style inspiration for the next time you find 
yourself in a field with theheir to the British throne...

Photos: Naomie and Jeremy Irvine Meet Prince William at Polo Event

Naomie Harris & Jeremy Irvine Meet Prince William at Polo Event

Naomie Harris and Jeremy Irvine sandwich in Prince William while attending the presentation ceremony at the 2013 Audi Royal Polo Challenge at Chester Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon (May 29) in Chester, England.

The 30-year-old Duke of Cambridge played during the event and even scored a point for his team!

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Naomie Harris

Douglas Booth was seen rubbing shoulders with Naomie and Jeremy during the party that afternoon. In case you missed it, check him out in the trailer for Romeo & Juliet.

FYI: Naomie is wearing a Docle&Gabbana dress and coat with Nicholas Kirkwood shoes.

Jeremy Irvine, The Duke of Cambridge and Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris and Angela Scanlon

Tonya Meli, Jeremy Irvine, Naomie Harris and Douglas Booth

Video: Naomie in a Clip from Small Island - Hortense Dreams of England

Hortense dreams of England - Small Island - BBC

Published on 14 Jan 2013

As young Jamaican men enlist to help Britain in World War II, Hortense is studying at a teacher training college, but her friend Celia has bad news from her mother. Later during a parade Hortense dreams of a life in England and London.

Subscribe to the BBC Worldwide channel: http://bit.ly/yqBWhy

BBC Worldwide Channel: http://www.youtube.com/BBCWorldwide

Sam Mendes dramatically decides to return as director for the next James Bond movie

Mendes is back: Sam dramatically decides to return as director for the next James Bond movie after initially refusing offer

By BAZ BAMIGBOYE

PUBLISHED: 00:55, 29 May 2013 | UPDATED: 01:37, 29 May 2013

Sam Mendes the Oscar winning director who turned Skyfall into one of cinema's biggest franchise hits in years has dramatically decided to return to make the next Bond film after initially withdrawing from contention.

After the phenomenal success of Skyfall the next 007 drama was his for the asking. But he turned it down.

Bond 24 as the untitled project is known had his name on it but he said he was too busy.

Winning formula: Sam Mendes, who worked on latest Bond movie Skyfall, has dramatically returned to the franchise and is in talks to helm the next movie as well

All kinds of names then came into the frame.

Just two weeks ago I was told Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson were in preliminary talks with Batman film-maker Chris Nolan.They well may have talked but he's not doing it. Mendes is.

Mendes was urged to reconsider, I'm told, by Broccoli, Wilson and Bond himself, Daniel Craig.

They told Mendes that he was the one that they wanted and Mendes went off and thought it through.

Teaming up: Sam Mendes has reportedly made a dramatic return to the Bond franchise, agreeing to helm the next movie after originally turning it down

His reason for not doing it was the major theatre commitments of directing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory now in preview at the Theatre Royal ,Drury Lane and King Lear with Simon Russell Beale at the National Theatre.

When I spoke to him a few weeks ago during rehearsals for Chocolate Factory he told me that he couldn't work on his stage shows during the day and do pre-production on Bond at night.

'It's impossible to do and not fair to either party', Mendes told the Daily Mail.

Back in the game: Mendes was originally slated to direct the as yet untitled Bond 24 but refused on the grounds of his busy schedule, but it seems he's now made room for it

He added that he would consider, however, doing 'a Bond in the future'.

Well, that future has come around pretty quickly.

The situation now is that the Bond family has told Mendes they will wait until all his theatre projects are out of the way and then he can commit to Bond 24 full-time. Mendes, unofficially, has agreed.

No word yet on whether he will do Bond 25 as well. Both are being written by John Logan who wrote Skyfall, the most successful 007 film in its 50-year history.

I was told Mendes was back in talks just as my friends at Deadline Hollywood broke the news tonight 

Sources close to the 007 production confirmed to me tonight that 'talks have re-opened' with Mendes to make the next Bond picture.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2332454/Sam-Mendes-dramatically-decides-return-director-James-Bond-movie-initially-refusing-offer.html#ixzz2UdgUv3n0
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook