Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is to play Winnie Mandela in a new biopic about the controversial former wife of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela.
Variety reports that 'Winnie' will begin production on 30 May in South Africa.
The film is based on the Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob book 'Winnie Mandela: A Life' and will be directed by South African director Darrell J Roodt.
Commenting, star Hudson said: "I was compelled and moved when I read the script. Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I'm honoured to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told."
