Sophie Okonedo says she felt like a fraud playing Winnie Mandela
January 14th, 2010 - 5:00 pm ICT by ANILondon, January 14 (ANI): Sophie Okonedo has revealed that she was worried she would look a ‘complete fraud’ while depicting her role as Winnie Mandela in major BBC biopic Mrs Mandela.
The British actress said she felt ‘vulnerable’ when she was due to make a notable speech in front of hundreds of South African extras.
‘I was so nervous, one of my first scenes was when I had to go into a big hall and do one of her most famous speeches,” the Telegraph quoted her as saying.
‘I just thought ‘what the hell? I’m about to go in there and be one of South Africa’s most iconic women’. I just felt like a complete fraud.
‘I remember crying in the toilet before it started. I thought ‘I’m not going to be able to - this is just a bridge too far; I’m not going to be able to become this lady now’,’ she added.
Okonedo continued: ‘I was terrified of going out in front of hundreds of extras who really knew what she was like and I just felt really vulnerable. But once I got out on the stage, the noise from the extras - the cheering and screaming - it was amazing and I thought ‘bring it on’. I really enjoyed it.’
The movie follows the wife of South African president Nelson Mandela from the 1950s to 1990 when her husband is released from prison after 27 years and is due to be screened on January 25. (ANI)
- Nelson Mandela's ex Winnie to have her own opera - Dec 28, 2010
- Jennifer Hudson set to play Winnie Mandela in her biopic - Nov 20, 2009
- Jennifer Hudson to play Winnie Mandela in dramatic biopic - Nov 19, 2009
- Scarlett's vulnerable feelings - Mar 14, 2012
- Jennifer Hudson to play the lead in Winnie Mandela film - Nov 18, 2009
- Biopic on Nelson Mandela's wife facing legal threat - May 17, 2010
- Nelson Mandela 'awkward in his personal relationships' - Oct 17, 2010
- Probation ends, Lindsay excited to play Taylor - Mar 30, 2012
- S. African athlete Semenya tries to gloss over gender controversy - Sep 09, 2009
- Family force 'frail' Mandela to call off return to prison on 20th anniversary of release - Feb 11, 2010
- South Africa celebrates 20 years of Mandela's walk to freedom - Feb 11, 2010
- Jennifer Hudson bounces back with new album, upcoming movie - Mar 06, 2011
- Evanna Lynch wants to play Britney - Apr 02, 2012
- Mandela reveals misery over family's suffering in new book - Oct 13, 2010
- Mandela's ex-wife threatens to sue makers of biographical film - Jan 27, 2010
Tags: 1950s, bbc, biopic, bridge, british actress, famous speeches, fraud, hell, london, mrs mandela, nelson mandela, president nelson mandela, sophie okonedo, south africa, south african president, telegraph, toilet, winnie mandela