Jennifer Hudson, Who Performed At White House, To Star As Winnie Mandela In Film
Grammy and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, who wowed President Obama and distinguished guests on Tuesday (November 24) at Obama’s first White House state dinner, has been cast to play Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife, Winnie, in an upcoming film about her life. Winnie will be directed by Darrell J. Roodt, whose movies include Cry, The Beloved Country and Sarafina.
The controversial Winnie Madikizela-Mandela played a vital role in freeing her husband after 27 years in jail and eventually getting him elected as president of South Africa. Madikizela-Mandela, who is 73, was divorced from Mandela in 1996. Mandela is now 91.
At Tuesday’s event, Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her role in the movie Dreamgirls, was joined by jazz singer Kurt Elling, the National Symphony Orchestra with conductor Marvin Hamlisch, and A.R. Rahman, who won two Oscars for his music in the Academy Award-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.
The dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was held in a tent on the White House South Lawn.