The ‘demon’ or ‘saint’ in Winnie Mandela that troubled Bond girl, Naomie Harris

In researching Winnie Mandela for her role in Mandela…Long Walk To Freedom, actress Naomie Harris faced a dilemma on the true person of the estranged wife of the late South African president.

Naomie Harris plays Winnie Mandela in Long Walk To Freedom

Harris, the Bond girl in the last 007 film disclosed to Independent.ie how she “was terrified,"  trying to know Winnie. "I thought: 'What? This woman is like seven different persons in one. One biography painted her as a demon, another as a saint and I thought how can you create a cohesive character from all that?"

And to get Harris out the confusion, actor and co-star, Idris came to the rescue by arranging a meeting with Winnie.  "It was nerve-racking. She's a formidable woman, so it was scary to sit down with her. But she was completely different to what I imagined her to be. She loves gardening and has found peace."