In the wake of Nelson Mandela’s December 5 death at age 95, actor Idris Elba opened up about the “honor” of having played the humanitarian icon.
“What an honor it was to step into the shoes of Nelson Mandela and portray a man who defied odds, broke down barriers, and championed human rights before the eyes of the world,” Elba said in a statement. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family.” Elba is one of a handful of actors to have portrayed Mandela on the big screen over the years. Among those in his company are Morgan Freeman, Sidney Poitier, Danny Glover and Terrence Howard.
“Long Walk to Freedom” U.S. distributor Harvey Weinstein also issued a statement on Thursday, praising the late leader’s sense of humor and optimism.
“One of the privileges of making movies is having the opportunity to immortalize those who have made a profound impact on humanity,” said Weinstein. “We count ourselves unspeakably fortunate to have been immersed in Nelson Mandela’s story and legacy. It’s been an honor to have been granted such proximity to a man who will go down as one of history’s greatest freedom fighters and advocates for justice. I have had the privilege of spending time with President Mandela and I can say his sense of humor was as great as his optimism. We are deeply saddened by his loss; our hearts go out to his family and the entire South African nation.”
International music stars including Beyonce, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Fergie and John Legend have taken to social media to offer remembrance of the real-life hero. “Thank you for all you have sacrificed to improve the lives of other human beings. Rest in peace,” wrote Beyonce, alongside a photo of she and Mandela in an embrace.
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