Trending Topics

Idris Elba Hospitalized For Asthma Attack En Route to ‘Mandela’ Press Conference

Idris Elba misses press conference for Mandela biopic due to asthma attack Actor Idris Elba was rushed to the hospital Saturday when he suffered an asthma attack just moments after he boarded a plane to head to a press conference in South Africa for his new film, “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.”

The 41-year-old British actor may miss out on a few press events due to the frightening asthma attack.

When the “Luther” actor boarded the plane that was scheduled to leave from the U.K. to Johannesburg, his asthma attack began before the plane took off.

Elba is currently still hospitalized and although he has already missed yesterday’s press conference, producers have their fingers crossed that he’ll be able to make it to the movie’s big premiere tonight.

Of course, since he is still in the U.K. he would certainly have to make a swift recovery and board his plane as soon as possible to make it in time.

Meanwhile, his co-star Naomie Harris who plays Nelson Mandela’s wife in the film, managed to handle the press conference by herself – just one of the many reasons she was a great candidate to play the role of Winnie Mandela.

During the press conference in Johannesburg she spoke of the country’s ongoing political and social unrest.

“I do feel in 20 years the country has come an extraordinarily long way, but change is slow and it takes generations,” she said.

“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” won’t hit theaters in the U.S. until Nov. 29 and the wait will be even longer for viewers in the U.K. who won’t get to see the film until January 2014.

Back to top