Local actress should play role of Winnie

By Ainsley Daniels

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson is set to play Winnie Mandela in a film charting the turbulent life and times of the ex-wife of South Africa's first black president.

Does South Africa's entertainment industry have a lack of talent to warrant hiring a foreign actress to play the role of one of the most influential people in our country's history?

IOL asked its readers: Is actress Jennifer Hudson the right choice to play Winnie Mandela?

Of the 586 people who participated in the 64 percent (376 votes) said "No" and 36 percent (210 votes) said "Yes"

Here are some of the comments posted online:

Just me:
Firstly on Cry Freedom they use an American , then Again they decide to use another American to tell the story of Winnie.... I wont be surprised if they take other Americans to act on our local soapies because they don't see a Talent in South Africa.

Duncan:
Agree with all those who say the part should have gone to a South African actress. We suffer from horrific cultural inferiority in SA - although if you watch the soapies you'd swear that no-one in this country can act or write a script!

Neo:
JH is def a good choice,the only issue is her features,as she has similar looks to Com Winnie to date,not sure how they going to make her look like Com Winnie 30 years ago(Thin waste and beauty wise).This will bring and expand integration as well to the movie industry. There is no need for all the jealousy people,she is the chosen one,and for a good reason I'm sure.

Chanel:
I've always wondered why they neva use South Africans. Besides we can relate better because it happened in our country. e.g Morgan Freeman playing nelson Mandela. Jennifer Hudson playing Winnie- how about Leleti Khumalo, come on producers/investor..... SA's got talent!!

Graham F:
Its not that there is not talent in SA but the money needed to make a film can only be raised if the investors think it will sell. A film of Winnie Mandela starring Baby Cele, Nthati Moshes or Linda Sokhulu would not attract finance because they are unknown outside a small country called South Africa. Why don't we raise the money ourselves and make the film. The new Invictus film re 1995 Rugby World Cup is lead by American actors because they sell.

JD:
The American accent translation into our African languages sucks big time. Secondly no American know anything about SA, let alone Africa, can we do our own stuff please, tired of seeing Sydney play Madiba common now, can I play Bush and look for mass destruction weapons Part 1

Frank Hartry:
The film is being produced and directed by local South African film maker Ahmad Singh. So there is normally no excuse for not producing a film of the life of Madikizela Mandela showing warts and all. One can presume however that it will only reveal her life as a down trodden 'heroine' during the struggle years and will leave out the fraud trials in which she was rightfully convicted

Nqobile:
They should take a South African who has a better understanding of our culture and knows more about Winnie's history a person like Terry Pheto am sure she can do a tremendous job. We need to promote our own actors/actress so that one day they can also be given chances to act in those American films.