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Home · Celebrity

Nelson Mandela in the Movies

Here's a look at how the beloved icon has been portrayed on the big and small screen.
By · Updated October 28, 2020
01
“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” (2013)

Idris Elba stars as the celebrated freedom fighter in the highly anticipated film (out November 29) based on Mandela’s 1994 autobiography Long Walk to Freedom. Actress Naomie Harris plays his former wife Winnie Mandela.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
02
“Winnie”

Terrence Howard portrayed Nelson Mandela in the unreleased biopic Winnie with Jennifer Hudson playing his former wife, Winnie Mandela.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
03
“Mrs. Mandela” (2010)

British actor David Harewood played Mandela in this BBC biopic on the life of Winnie Mandela, who was played by actress Sophie Okonedo.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
BBC Four
04
“Invictus” (2009)

Morgan Freeman starred as a recently elected Nelson Mandela in the 2009 film Invictus. Freeman earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, while his co-star Matt Damon was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
05
“Endgame” (2009)

The Wire star Clarke Peters played Nelson Mandela in this gripping film on the tense discussions between the South African government and the African National Congress that led to the end of apartheid.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
06
“Goodbye Bafana” (2007)

Dennis Haysbert gives a moving performance as Nelson Mandela in Goodbye Bafana, which explored Mandela’s relationship with prison guard James Gregory during his years of imprisonment.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
07
“Mandela and de Klerk” (1997)

Sidney Poitier portrayed Nelson Mandela in this 1997 TV movie opposite Michael Caine, who played Frederick Willem De Klerk, the former South African president who helped usher the end of apartheid in 1990.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
08
“Mandela” (1987)

Possibly the most well-known Mandela biopic is HBO’s Mandela starring Danny Glover (pictured here with Mandela and Harry Belafonte) as the activist-turned-president and Alfre Woodard as his wife and confidant, Winnie.

Nelson Mandela in the Movies
Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
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