Mama Winnie touched’ by Mandela movie

NAOMIE Harris ’ s performance in

has impressed Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Speaking at a press conference to promote the movie at the Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Saturday Madikizela-Mandela ’ s daughter, Zindzi, said: “I was with my mother when I watched the movie. She was touched by it.”

Producer Anant Singh said: “To show the movie to Winnie and Zindzi was quite an emotional thing for me. Mama Winnie was very moved. She said to me: ‘ Don ’ t change anything.’ ”

Singh said Madikizela-Mandela told him Harris ’ s portrayal of her “is perfect ”.

For Zindzi, watching the movie was therapeutic.

“It helped me confront many emotions that I refused to acknowledge,” she said.

“It just reminded me a lot about growing up without both parents. When my mother got arrested; just coming home and not finding her there.”

The 53-year-old daughter of former president Nelson Mandela and his second wife is played in the movie by Lindiwe Matshikiza.

Viewers will see how she and her elder sister Zenani were often left alone at home when police took their mother away to jail.

Harris said playing Winnie helped her gain an understanding of who Madikizela-Mandela is.