Fishburne gets into Madiba’s character
WHEN Hollywood star Laurence Fishburne returns to the US after three months of filming in South Africa, he will be using the words dankie, yebo and sharp sharp a lot.
The Matrix actor plays Nelson Mandela in a new BET miniseries, Madiba, which tells the story of Mandela from the age of eight to his election as president. He has been learning the local lingo from a cast of more than 170 South African actors. Among those working with him are Terry Pheto, who plays Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Meren Reddy, Jason Kennett and Hlomla Dandala.
Filming is due to end next month and the series is scheduled for release next year.
The Sunday Times spent time on set with the actor at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg this week.
Surrounded by tombstones, the 54-year-old went through his lines under the direction of Kevin Hooks.
His South African accent was flawless, thanks to dialogue coach Fiona Ramsay, who has also worked with Idris Elba, Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle and Sophie Okenedo.
But Fishburne makes light of his skill.
“This is my job. This is what I do, I am an actor,” he said. “I am trying not to do an impersonation. I am trying to play the character.
“I am absolutely honoured and humbled to have been asked to play Madiba and hopefully I’ll do a credible job.
“I was not fortunate enough to meet Madiba in person, but when he did his US tour in 1992 after his release, I did go to a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, just to hear him speak,” he said.
The scene being shot at the cemetery is the 1993 funeral of former struggle leader Chris Hani, played by Isibaya actor S’dumo Mtshali. Mandela and Oliver Tambo, played by US actor Orlando Jones, discuss the upcoming first democratic elections during the scene.
On the sidelines of the set were Mandela’s grandsons, Kweku and Mbuso. Fishburne is working with Kweku to help understand the character he is portraying.
When work stopped for lunch, Fishburne was brought his iPad and a cigar, then whisked away to his trailer in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes.
Minutes after lunch, Fishburne was back. Makeup-free and out of character, he was ready to be interviewed.
He credited most of his knowledge of Mandela to the “many people I have run into [who] have a Madiba story. I have read a couple of books, met Ahmed Kathrada and Zelda la Grange, and been to Qunu and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. I met many people there, including one of his daughters.”
Before his return to the US Fishburne says he wants to indulge in more “oxtail, kudu and ostrich meat”.