First though "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom" the biopic given extraordinarily sharp focus by the death last month of the former South African president. Not long after Mandela's autobiography was published in 1995, producer Anant Singh acquired the film rights. The project took more than a decade and a half to come together as a joint British-South African production, shot in more than 200 locations in the Republic made with the cooperation of the family. British director Justin Chadwick worked with the screenplay by William Nicholson, of "Shadowlands" and "Gladiator" fame. The narrative runs almost the full span through Mandela's childhood, early legal career and political activism through imprisonment and the transition to an ANC-led government. But in some ways, the dramatic high point is his famous speech in 1964 before he was sent to Robben Island.
I have fought against white domination. I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a free, democratic society where all persons live together in harmony with equal opportunities.
All this, however, is infused with the personal, in particular Mandela's second marriage to Winnie, played by Naomie Harris. And the man who had the task of interpreting the life of Nelson Mandela is also British, Idris Elba, best known internationally for the television drama "The Wire", as well as films such as "Thor" or "Prometheus". But however big the picture, it doesn't compare to the challenge of playing, possibly the world's most celebrated individual. Idris Elba explained how.
I sort of, try to channel this, you know, he had the laurel, and he had an ambition that was evident from his days as a lawyer, you know, he was eloquent. He spoke quickly, and he knew the law.
