Jennifer Hudson
Singing icon Jennifer Hudson is coming under attack from the South African actors union after she was cast as the ex-wife of the country's former president Nelson Mandela in a new biopic. Jennifer is going to portray Winnie Mandela in South African filmmaker Darrell J. Roodt's new project "Winnie," about the famous politician's longtime spouse. When Jennifer landed the role, she said: "I was compelled and moved when I read the script. Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I'm honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told." Now Jennifer's new role is causing uproar among the members of the Creative Workers Union of South Africa, who insist a local actress should have been cast as the title character in a movie so important to the country's history. The Union's secretary general, Oupa Lebogo, even threatened to boycott the movie if Hudson's casting is not reconsidered. Lebogo says, "This decision must be reversed, it must be stopped now. If the matter doesn't come up for a discussion, we will push for a moratorium to be placed on the film." reports The Times Live. Protesters are also arguing Hudson's inclusion in the film project will hinder the country's development of its movie industry. Union president Mabutho Sithole tells The Citizen newspaper, "It can't happen that we want to develop our own Hollywood and yet bring in imports."
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