Actress/Singer Jennifer Hudson will have a starring role in the new movie “Winnie” about Nelson Mandela’s ex wife, Winnie Mandela (pictured above at an event last week).
According to Variety, production begins May 30 in the South African locations of Johannesburg, Capt Town, and the Transkei and Robben Island where the future president spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.
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@ 43 rot in hell with your jealousy and may you never see good..
Another American who has no idea about our history, who will butcher the accent. Fantastic. Love it.
I’m happy for her n all..but I just don’t see her as Winnie.
Good for her, nonetheless
@ # 57 thanks for setting that record straight..:-)
JHUD is a wonderful and talented young woman but our Winnie Mandela is the personification of strength, beauty and a great fighting spirit.
JHUD better do her some justice..! Start working on your accent now because Hollywood is very good at casting “big names” who don’t do our accent, culture and a lot of things justice..
As a South African, I just don’t see the connection. Jennifer hudson just does not scream Super HOT gangsta B*&# to me… which is what Mama Winnie is. But who knows, maybe she can bring it on screen.
But still, git it J Hud! … please no funny googly goo “African” accent girl. whatever you do.
@46 Mama Winnie was Nelson Mndela’s second wife
Well Jill Scott did a good job at doing an African accent, so I’m sure if Jenny tries she can do it.
And what’s up with bringing up Beyonce’s name in here? There ALWAYS has to be a minority. If you hadn’t noticed this post has NOTHING to do with Beyonce, so why bring her up? Regardless of whether you feel she’s a good actress or not she still gets film roles which manage to smash the box office because it is BEYONCE starring. Yes her name carries that much weight. And let’s not even start on her musical accomplishments.
There was no need for Beyonce’s name to be mentioned. I’m sure she’s pleased for Jennifer like the majority of us.
@67 I was thinking the same thing, Jill Scot was brilliant in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
I won’t be expecting a truthful account of Winnie Mandella’s life but I think Jennifer Hudson will do a good Job.
What has Winnie Mandela done with her life to deserve a film adaptation? As far as Jhud’s acting skills are…uhhh…she’s going to need an acting coach asap! Because I’ve seen her in ‘Sex and the City,’ as well as ‘The Secret Lives of Bees’, and she always has this stereotypical black woman sassy, neck rolling sista. I mean dayum! You’d think winning an oscar would inspire her to better her craft. Smh..
Judah, your input please………..
Jennifer Hudson as Winnie Mandela?????? What about the many South African actresses who are waiting for wonderful opportunities such as these..? What does Jennifer Hudson know about the apartheid struggle and the role Winnie Mandela played?? I am honestly sick and tired of Americans playing South african roles and not fully understanding what or who they are protraying. I am yet to meet an American actor/actress who can truly adapt a South African accent, and Im not talking bout the west african accent Americans seem to think we South Africans have! Maybe a South African should play Martin Luther King with a fake American accent or Malcolm X…see how you Americans would feel about that?!
Ummmmm Jhud is not a good actress. She did a WONDERFUL job in Dreamgirsl during “And I Am Telling You” scene….but thats it. EVERY movie she has been in after that ( Sex and The City, Secret Life of Bee’s, and “…the movie with Forest Whitaker) she has sucked.
Now Im not hating at all…Jhud can sang, but her acting..NO WAY
And why in the hell is Beyonce name being brought up….
Hell as far as I’m concerned neither Jhud or Beyonce or great actresses (and Im a BEYONCE STAN TO THE HEART)….and the same can be said for soooo many other’s…why jus Beyonce’s name? Smh
Last thing…Jhud WILL NEVER wim another Oscar (hell she shouldn’t have won the first one). Although I was VERY proud of her that night, lets be honest, there was no way that she should have won that Oscar.
morgan freeman will not be playing nelson in the same movie as jennifer. those are two different movies, focusing on two different aspects of their lives.
…..HAPPY FOR JENNIFER HUDSON…..CANT WAIT TO SEE THE NEW MOVIE
Well I for one am very happy she landed the role. She obviously must have impressed during auditions. I think she could do it justice if she does her research right. Yea and ugh at all the wannabe critics who know nothing of true craft. This is a role that will truly tell if Jennifer deserves the title actress. Please don’t even try it with “Sex and The City” she played the role but it was hardly a role to pass serious judgment on. As far as “Secret Life of Bee’s” I don’t care what anyone says she played her character convincingly. Yea and it is not her fault that she landed the stereotypical sassy girl roles. Obviously she’s looking outside of that box now and what yall wanna do drag her down a shame.
Dang, I thought she was fun to watch in Sex & the City. It was a “girlfreinds” type of movie. I think you all are just being too harsh.
JHud,….this is an honor. Do the darn thang!
@ 77
I read the book, ‘The Secret Lives of Bees,’ and Jhud did NOT play that role convincingly. However, I do agree that this film will determine if she was deserving of an Oscar. I still don’t understand why they’re making a film of Winnie Mandela.. *shrugs*
—>Sidenote: Has the film that Jhud did with Forrest hit theaters yet?
@CIRCA-1984
I rented the movie at a red box about 2 months ago. And she didnt do a good job. Her role was small. The movie it self wasn’t that great. And with Forest, Dakota, and Jhud, I thought it would be a really good movie.
@ Dude
It didn’t go to the theaters??? Lmao! That is a shame..I’m gonna have to netflix it..I can’t say I’m surprised that her performance was weak. Smh
Go JHud!!! that is excellent for you…although she has a tough rough ahead…learning an accent and pulling it off as authentic can’t be easy but she just may pull it off…
@ Dude….who needs to win another Oscar, when you already have one-one that ‘some others’ will never come close to winning anyway lol?!!
Go J-Hud!! I’m very proud of her!! I hope she nails this role so she can shut her hater up!
@49. I feel so stupid.
For some reason I was thinking about Miriam Mabeka
Good for JHud! SHe will prob get another oscar nom…. anyway she will need to do research and work on her speech but she should do fine.
Congrats Jennifer!!!
i doubt that this director just jump up and gave jennifer this role without testing her, there is no (if and and about it) jennifer had to audtion for this tough role. what ever she did in those auditions the director like what he saw.
l love the way she acted out the character in ‘sex and the city’ her character was low key and naive, not loud and in charge.
in the sence when carrie opens the box her wedding dress was in jennifer responses with the correct facial expression ‘oh god no she open that box’
Yes, some of you guys are right on! Jennifer Hudson had to audition for this role, and she did amazing (owned it)! It was definitely not GIVEN to her, it was EARNED…Just wait, watch, and see.
Some of you are saying, “Why is Winnie Mandela having a movie portrayed about her life story?” The answer is, Winnie was and continues to be a very strong political figure in and out of South Africa….Her story is one that boasts power, strength, and bravery! Some of you should research history before letting such asinine verbiage come out of your mouths. Ignorance is definitely not bliss on any level! (Let’s read a book people)
WHAT THE FUCK BEYONCE GOT DO WITH IT. INCASE PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THEY ARE FRIENDS. JUST LIKE RIHANNA, WHILE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TRYING PUT THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WENT ON WITH THE DREAM GIRLS THING. JUST CAUSE THE MEDIA HYPED THE BULLSHIT UP DON’T MEAN ITS TRUE.
@Toons.
For an American you are way ignorant, our country is as first world as yours. Why the fuss about our country, go check our history then you can post something on this site and bare your ignorance for all to see. Just to revive your mind Nelson Mandela was the first South African black president who fought against apartheid in our country, racism, discrimination against black people/honoured with a Nobel Peace prize. He is our icon/a symbol of peace and by the way the 18th of July has been declared the Nelson Mandela international holiday. Ring a bell,just to also let you know we are hosting the Soccer World Cup next year, get a ticket, fly over and see for yourself what the fuss is about…you probably one of those people who believe all things the media shoves down your throat, get a life, get an education and read, you are an American for Pete’s sake. Eishhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
IMO.PHYLICIA RASHAD DESERVES THIS ROLE .JEnnifer is NOT a good actress and is not seasoned enough to potray such a strong figure.I’ve watched both her SATC and Seccret life of bees, Dreamgirls was just a musical..and NO WINNIE was NOT a singer she was a qualified professional Social Worker..for those yankees who dont know much Winnie is probably the most controvesial, most powerful in South African politics, and she had her demons later in her political career, but she suffered more than most MALE and FEMALE politicians, and stood by her husband for almost all of his prison years, while doing her social work ..while the ANC vilified her as soon as they got into power and treated her like a naugty child that needed to be ignored or punished but she has survied all of that…lots of women in South African can tesitfy to what she did to save their hosues, families…please get the books on Aazon…about her called :Winnie Mandela: A Life …before you say stuff you not sure of.
THE ONLY PERSON I CAN THINK OF IS PHYLICIA RASHAD..BEAUTY ELEGENCE, AND TALENT
i dont understand why they couldn’t find a South African Actress to play Winnie..i don have anything against JHUD I THINK SHE TALENTED…When i heard abt the auditions in South Africa i thought wow….gud luck 2 whoever gets it…..point is would have been nyc if it was given to a South African Actress>>>
@ Circa-1984
I didn’t read the book so I can’t base my opinion on that. I can base it only on what I saw and that alone cause I ain’t readin the book. Now with that said you have your opinion I disagree and that’s fine because I’m entitled to that. As are you.
Good 4 her & everything, but they couldn’t find an AFRICAN actress to play the role? Im sure there’s plenty out there…im just saying, if they want the character to be genuine….
Why does Africans never match their clothing. I am looking at Winney Mandela’s pic she and many Africans poorly coordinate their clothing often looking tacky.