I saw Invictus over the holidays. There were some very interesting things going on in the film especially how inspirational true leadership is, and how sports can be a great connector across cultures. But one thing I thought was strange about the film was how Winnie Mandela was completely absent.
Sophie Okonedo plays Mrs. Mandela in a new biopic that will air on the BBC later this month. (I hope we can see it here in the US soon.) Her performance in the film Skin is also wonderful and will be availble on DVD soon.
She spoke with the Guardian about playing Mrs. Mandela and a host of other issues. Here’s what she had to say about when success beckoned:
“After the Oscar nomination there were some big things mentioned. But it would have meant moving to America. And my domestic life here is set up in a way that I can’t move there unless I want to leave my daughter or something ridiculous like that, and she certainly doesn’t want to go there. Also, Los Angeles – I’m not thick-skinned enough to live there.
“And some other things here I was offered very good money for – but the parts just felt badly written. I’d be the girlfriend of someone really famous and I’d always be the same – wearing a tight dress and saying the odd slap-piece smarmy line – and I just thought, ‘First, I’m not very good at those parts anyway, and second, there are much prettier younger actresses to do them other than me!’
There Wasn’t A Moment I Didn’t Love Being Winnie (The Guardian)
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Isn’t Jennifer Hudson also playing her in another film?
She’s refreshingly honest about Hollywood and good for her for realizing where her career may have ended up had she pursued that and moved to Hollywood.
I saw Invictus and wasn’t especially put out. I thought it was a good film(a bit slow at times), good performances. If Winnie had a presense in this particular film and this story, I am not sure how significant she still would have been as it relates to this story.
I am glad there is a project coming up about Winnie Mandela. She’s a strong courageous woman who’s always interested me and Sophie, glad to see her taking on this role. I am guilty of losing track of her somewhat since the amazing Hotel Rwanda but I am glad to see her continue to work and impressed with her career decisions.
Jennifer Hudson is lined up to do a film playing Winnie Mandela based on a biography writted about her which is quite good and interesting. She grew up in a life of priviledge which I would never have imagined but consider it’s still South Africa. Based on this book, it should certainly make an interesting film.
Winnie and Madiba separated two years before he became president, and she never served as First Lady. It would have been quite strange to include her rather than the converse.
seen your name on hollywood feminist and wondered if some way i can help?
i am 77 a ill korean war veteran..also i would like to some how have a 1/2 hour t v special with brief stories of my life and at the end i want to ask the women voters of california to help me get #17116 on the ca ballot..in 1993 i tried but failed..want to try again
# 17116 would give any parent there whole lifetime to the right to collect not paid child support example
90 year old sue and her 84 year old son frank never did get any child support way back when..so now today they could collect that child support with out a prior court order but would need dna testing and any person who denys dna testing the law will assume he/she is the parent and there.payment will come out of there income
in the us most poor people are older women..this $ is rightfully there’s
am asking for help in this matter and to be of help too
warth423@yahoo.com
please if you agree with this thinking that all people need to be held accountable for there actions,,always
please do let me know and we can exchange phone numbers
i have no web site but you can follow me on myspace
it just may be do able that via my true story a lot of women in the u s could be helped,,god willing
also i am not being a not nice person to ask the law makers of this nation need to apologize to me over nation wide t v..yes it is 100% true that this is due me and other mothers too in the u s
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