Elba's Nelson touch

He's played everything from a maverick English cop (Luther) to a ruthless American drugs lord ("Stringer" Bell in The Wire) but now, at 40,  East End raised actor Idris Elba has landed the role of a lifetime.

Elba plays Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, a new biopic of the South African leader who endured 27 years of captivity before becoming the first black President of the new Rainbow Nation.

Now 94, and in poor health, Mandela, known as "Mandiba" has apparently given his blessing to this latest screen version of his life and times which is due to open later this year.

Elba, who was seen last year in the sci-fi epic Prometheus, joins a long line of distinguished actors who have played the living legend. They include Sidney Poitier ( Mandela and de Klerk), Dennis Haysbert (Goodbye Bafana), David Harewood (Mrs Mandela), Morgan Freeman (Invictus) and Terrence Howard (Winnie).

Asked by the Guardian to rate his film, Elba said: "Hands down the best. Not in terms of performance. But my film's about his entire life. Anyone wanting to understand who Mandela was should watch my film."