Idris Elba To Release Nelson Mandela Tribute Album

Idris Elba plays Nelson Mandela in Long Walk To Freedom and the actor has now revealed that his next album is going to be a tribute to the late former South African President, saying that the legend inspired him to write new music.

The Luther star plays Mandela in Justin Chadwick's biopic, based on the leader's own memoirs. The film has taken on more poignancy with Mandela's death at the age of 95 last week, with many raving about Elba's portrayal.

And it seems like the star's experiences in the movie have released his passion for music again. He told the Daily Star that the album will be titled Mi Mandela.

He said: ''I went back to South Africa and worked with some great musicians.

"I'm really proud of the album. I'll wait until the film has died down so it doesn't get muddled but I'll release it in the new year."

He continued: ''Basically, it's a love letter from me to Mandela about me playing him.''

Idris Elba plays Nelson Mandela in Long Walk To Freedom (WENN)

The Brit admitted in a new interview though that one of the most challenging aspects of the role was perfecting Mandela's distinctive voice: ''I couldn't do it at the beginning and you know why? Because I couldn't understand what he's doing to make him talk like that. And it turns out it's his traditional language, Xhosa."

"When he spoke to people he took pauses. Big pauses. Like that. To make sure they understood every word," he added to the Daily Telegraph.

Idris also had concerns about his appearance as he feared he looked nothing like Mandela but Chadwick was convinced his leading man was the right person for the job.

''My worry was I don't look like Mandela. Justin just said, 'Don't worry about it'. But I was saying, 'No one is going to believe me. I am too dark-skinned'. Justin was like, 'It's the presence we want.'''

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