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Warning: main(/usr/local/www/apache22/data/baf00/includes/top.php) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /homez.313/bananamo/www/www.goodbyebafana.com/interviews/dennis_haysbert.php on line 28 Warning: main() [function.include]: Failed opening '/usr/local/www/apache22/data/baf00/includes/top.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /homez.313/bananamo/www/www.goodbyebafana.com/interviews/dennis_haysbert.php on line 28 What made you want to play the part of Nelson Mandela? That's a really easy answer because of who the man is. I believe he's one of the top five human beings in history, because of what he did for South Africa during and after the twenty-seven years that he spent wrongfully imprisoned for his ideas.   Wasn't it a little intimidating to play a man of that calibre? It was daunting. I struggled a little early on with feelings of worthiness, but I trust Bille, and Bille trusts me, so I quickly got over that and just decided I was going to do my best.   What can you tell us about the story of, 'Goodbye Bafana'? For me, it chronicles the relationship between James Gregory, who was Nelson Mandela's warder for over twenty years, both on Robben Island and at Pollsmoor. I play Nelson of course, and it starts off with James Gregory being a devout racist. Mandela could sense, however, that his heart wasn't really into it, and with further interaction with Mandela, he completely turns around, as do most of the guards.   How do you see Mandela's relationship with his warder James Gregory, and how it develops? I think at first it was a relationship Mandela wanted to exploit, because he knew there was a human being under the uniform. Because he knew Xhosa, Mandela also thought, 'This man can't be that far gone'. He only discovers he knows Xhosa when he is speaking to his wife on visiting day. To him that was a telltale sign.   How much did you know beforehand about South Africa, Mandela and Apartheid? I did some lengthy research on Mandela and South Africa, but you can never really know about it until you visit the country. I have to say, it's been an unbelievable experience shooting here, and it's certainly a fascinating country. A country that's come a long way in twelve years, and in many ways has come further along than some states in the United States, sadly to say. You feel, however, the country still has some way to go.   How did you prepare for the part? I did about as much research as I could about Nelson himself. I listened to all his speeches closely, and still have some favourites. I don't think he was a man who was perfect in speech. He would make mistakes, which I thought was very human, but never made any bones about it.   Technically, how did you cope with doing not only the South African accent, but also Mandela's very unique voice? I listened to a lot of tapes, and had a very good dialogue coach. We just practised, practised, practised.   Were there any other specific skills you had to learn to play the part of Mandela? Yes, one in particular: stick fighting, which is a lot of fun. It can be a little rough on the hands and the limbs! It's a brutal game, but it's more of a dance than anything else. It's really a great workout!   What did you think about shooting in Cape Town? It wouldn't have worked anywhere else. You have to shoot it where he grew up. You have to have the landscape, the locations, etc…As we speak, we're sitting in the middle of Pollsmoor maximum security prison, and this is where he stayed for a good many years. They think he stayed eighteen years on Robben Island, and around two or three years here before moving to Victor Verster. This was the real deal.   What did you think about shooting in Cape Town? It wouldn't have worked anywhere else. You have to shoot it where he grew up. You have to have the landscape, the locations, etc…As we speak, we're sitting in the middle of Pollsmoor maximum security prison, and this is where he stayed for a good many years. They think he stayed eighteen years on Robben Island, and around two or three years here before moving to Victor Verster. This was the real deal.