BIG local and international names gathered at The Zone in Rosebank, Joburg, on Sunday night to see Idris Elba walk in Nelson Mandela’s shoes.
The excitement and anticipation were palpable.
Media from all parts of the world swarmed around Elba, in a navy suit, when he stepped onto the red carpet at the premiere of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Looking presidential, Elba expressed his gratitude at being able to attend the premiere after a severe asthma attack on the plane while flying to South Africa.
“It was a scary weekend. I’ve battled with asthma all of my life,” he said, adding jokingly: “I’d like a South African passport now.”
The star of Luther and Thor had brought his mother along with him, and she beamed with pride.
“We watched it (the film) and we’re very proud,” said Eve Elba, who is from Sierra Leone, “It’s one of the best roles he’s ever played.”
Her son, who plays the beloved former president, said he would definitely meet him soon.
The red carpet also saw members of the most high-profile family in the country tread upon it.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zindzi – her and Madiba’s daughter – as well as grandsons Ndaba and Mbuso were in attendance.
Also there were Mandela’s wife Graça Machel, Struggle hero Ahmed Kathrada, advocate George Bizos and ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Madikizela-Mandela, who had already seen the film, congratulated British actress Naomie Harris on her performance.
“It was as if she had read (Winnie’s prison memoirs) 491 Days,” she said.
Harris, who sat alongside the Mandela family at the premiere, said she had worked with a voice coach for two hours every day to get Winnie’s accent right.
“I feel like I gained a real understanding of who Winnie was.”
Anant Singh, the film’s producer, said Mandela had seen the movie.
“Madiba mistook Idris for himself and asked ‘Is that me?’” said Singh.
For Zindzi, watching the film was both emotional and therapeutic. “It took me to various episodes in my life, where I felt the absence of a father and the absence of a mother,” she said.
Ramaphosa said he was looking forward to seeing how the film presented Madiba.
“He is a living monument and a real hero, so I look forward to seeing how they show the way he led our struggle.” - The Star