mr. mandela, a freeman. >> reporter: from prisoner to president, his story so refreshingly remarkable, solywood attempts to capture in mandela, long walk to freed freedom. >> what surprised you most in playing this iconic figure? >> it was always rooted, very rooted man, though all of the stuff was going on around him. he never really lost his cool. >> most people know, nelson mandela, the elder statesman. you play nelson mandela, a player if you will. early in his life. you know, very much a -- a man with -- >> you talk about responsibility. that's one of the things i have to pay attention to. we were given the task to go ahead and make that as real as possible on the screen. you know, being a lady's man, a man that was not humble. and very am bish us ambitious m. >> these are factors you can't even, put in the same sentence, mr. mandela the older statesman. >> this 41-year-old british actor, a role of a lifetime and early whispers of an oscar nomination. >> reporter: at times heroic, haunting. he brings a brutal physicality to the role fans are familiar with. hit shows like the bbcs "lu

mr. mandela about playing mandela. i produce music. to johannesburg, worked, made the album. documenting the process of an actor making an album. >> jimmy: singing on the album? >> no. >> jimmy: playing an instrument? >> rapping. >> jimmy: rapping? >> no. co-wrote, about my sensations playing mandela. music is amazing. i want to document that. >> jimmy: south african flavor. >> traditional. english. great. really good. >> jimmy: we talked about this last time, you were a dj. you played a lot of record. i didn't know you were making records too. first time you have done that? >> no. i have put some stuff out before. i was actually rapping, believe it or not you. know what i am saying? >> jimmy: dangerous thing to do, rapping. >> i can rap, actually, the thing is nobody wants to see me rap. >> jimmy: why do you think? >> maybe the english accent. >> little weird. the english accent. doesn't fit with rapping. >> come on, man. >> jimmy: i know how you feel. i am telling you how the whole rest of the world feels about it. it seems wrong to

mr. mandela would like to meet me. oh, please. at such and such a time in his hotel room.nt down to the front desk and said you just made this up, right? and they all said, no, i said that there was this writer from washington, d.c., and he said he'd really like to meet you. so they took me up to nelson mandela's room, and he wanted to talk to me about american publishers and why they were demanding that he put more of his personal life in his book and why, why would he do -- and we talked for about 20 minutes. and i was so moved to meet him. i asked him if he would sign, if he'd give me his autograph. i mean, i feel like an idiot, and he was so gentle and kind and said i don't know why you'd want it, but, yes, can i say to kitty? i almost started crying. i said, uh-huh, you can. we talked a little bit more about publishing, and that was it. so this was somebody who more than lived up to what i thought. and i forget what was the rest of it? >> host: his second question was about being in a time machine, who would you like to go back and interview? >> guest: probably some b

mr. mandela. i don't look like him, i'm not old enough, you know what i'm saying? kelly: right, right.repare? what is that undertaking like? the accent. the physicality, the whole thing. >> for me it was a matter of understanding south africa first, you know? i went to south africa for three or four months prior just to understand the social structure of it. and then you know, the preparation was about the way he speaks, you know. i had a long time to plan. so i play him from around 25 years old to 70. so i really had to understood how he grew, what happened to him in prison and all that stuff. it was my greatest part i've ever played, i'm so proud to have gotten the job. and i think i did all right. michael: you did, trust me. [cheers and applause] kelly: trust me. michael: we're going to let everybody check out a clip now. now in this clip, nelson mandela meets winnie mandela played by nome iowa harris, for the first time. here we are, idris elba in "mandela: long walk to freedom." >> you want a lift? >> ok. >> sure. do you always accept lifts from strangers? >> you are not a strange

mr. mandela would like to meet me. oh, please. at such and such a time in his hotel room.nt down to the front desk and said you just made this up, right? and they all said, no, i said that there was this writer from washington, d.c., and he said he'd really like to meet you. so they took me up to nelson mandela's room, and he wanted to talk to me about american publishers and why they were demanding that he put more of his personal life in his book and why, why would he do -- and we talked for about 20 minutes. and i was so moved to meet him. i asked him if he would sign, if he'd give me his autograph. i mean, i feel like an idiot, and he was so gentle and kind and said i don't know why you'd want it, but, yes, can i say to kitty? i almost started crying. i said, uh-huh, you can. we talked a little bit more about publishing, and that was it. so this was somebody who more than lived up to what i thought. and i forget what was the rest of it? >> host: his second question was about being in a time machine, who would you like to go back and interview? >> guest: probably some b

mrs. mandela cried and said this is the first time i've seen myself and it's been done right.let's talk about "best men holiday." >> this was released a couple of weeks ago. it's getting a lot of buzz. it overperformed when it first came out. made for 17 million. made 31 million and now has 50 million amassed so far. great film. all-star cast. back in theaters after 15 years. the director said he's working on a sequel. "best man holiday" fans are in store for another film. it's doing really well and i think it will do it big this week as well. >> one of your favorites, let me pay a clip of this. >> can't remember anything unusual? >> we hired this woman. >> we hired this woman to come live in our house before he left. >> have an indian in my house. >> do you have a problem with indians? >> they are called american nfc. >> what's wrong with indian. >> why can't you call people -- >> let's call dinosaurs native americans. >> native american heritage month also november. but actors not very good here. i'm joke. >> the best part between thanksgiving and christmas oscar contenders