Idris Elba Spent ‘A Night’ in Jail to Prepare for His Role as Nelson Mandela
Idris Elba reflects on his preparation to portray Nelson Mandela in the acclaimed 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
“Back in 2013, while gearing up to portray Nelson Mandela for the film Long Walk to Freedom, I spent a night in a prison cell on Robben Island, located 12 km from Cape Town, where Mandela was held from 1964 to 1982,” Elba, now 52, recounted in an article published on January 26 in The Sunday Times.
He went on to say, “Having been given the extraordinary privilege of embodying this remarkable individual, I realized I had yet to fully comprehend the gravity of the two decades stolen from his life. After much effort, I managed to convince the authorities to allow me to stay there overnight.”
Elba shared that the location “holds many painful memories” and is “undoubtedly haunted,” mentioning that he “heard unsettling sounds throughout the night” despite being “completely alone.”
Idris Elba reminisced about a funny encounter with Robert De Niro at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards. “When I was just starting in the industry at the age of 19, I managed to get into Robert De Niro’s office in Tribeca where auditions were happening for […]
“I had just a bucket, a thin mattress, and a blanket; they kept the lights on, which is what they typically did, so I hardly slept,” Elba recounted. “It was a frightening experience, but it undoubtedly strengthened my connection to Mandela.”
The biopic details Mandela’s life, including his 27 years in prison before he became South Africa’s first Black president from 1994 to 1999.
Mandela passed away in 2013 at the age of 95, and the announcement of his death coincided with the ending credits of the London premiere of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. The audience observed a moment of silence, followed by a standing ovation.
When the film debuted in 2013, Elba noted feeling anxious about screening it for a South African audience.
Mike Marsland/WireImage Idris Elba has opened up about his mental health journey, detailing his experiences with therapy during a podcast appearance on “Changes with Annie Macmanus” on October 2. “In therapy, I have been reflecting deeply on the need for change, almost to the extent of altering neurological pathways,” […]
“In South Africa, the audience was notably quiet, which intrigued me,” he reflected, as reported by Variety. “I initially thought it might have been disapproval, but they were simply absorbing it. Remember, the liberation struggle in South Africa is still relatively fresh, about 25 years old. When we screened it, the reactions were authentic.”
Producer Anant Singh had the opportunity to show a scene from the film to Mandela, who responded upon seeing Elba in makeup as the older Mandela: “Is that me?” he remarked, which elicited smiles and laughter, indicating a positive reception.
