Naomie Harris Shares Acting Advice From Winnie Mandela
Naomie Harris stars opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the literal box office smash, Rampage, in theaters April 13. Harris plays Dr. Kate Caldwell, a genetic scientist who teams up with primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson) to stop giant mutant animals from running amok.
In 2013, Harris appeared as Winnie Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, a biopic starring Idris Elba. She was nominated for two London Critics Circle Awards and an NAACP Image Award for her portrayal. The South African anti-apartheid activist and politician passed away on April 2, 2018 at the age of 81, so BET.com asked Harris what she remembered about her role.
"It’s one of the hardest roles I’ve ever played. Because obviously she is a controversial figure for many, but so beloved in South Africa. And at the time, obviously, she was alive. I had the opportunity to meet her and I felt the weight of the responsibility to honor her and do a good job representing her story. But she was amazing because she just said to me, 'Look, Naomie, you’ve been cast in this role and it’s because you can do it. And so I’m not gonna tell you how I want to be portrayed. You do your research and you portray me as you see fit.'”
Watch the full video above.
