Terrence Howard And Jennifer Hudson To Star In "Winnie" First Morgan Freeman played Nelson Mandela which got him an Oscar nomination, will playing the same role give Terrence Howard his second nod. Terrence Howard ("Iron Man") is to portray Nelson Mandela in the Jennifer Hudson-starring feature " Winnie ," based on the story of Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela's former wife. Darrell Roodt is directing the $15 million historical drama, a South Africa-Canada co-production set to start production May 31 in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for 18 years. Here’s the official synopsis of the book WINNIE MANDELA: A LIFE. “Everyone has an opinion about Winnie Mandela, and usually a strong one. She has been adored, feared and hated more than any other woman in South African history. But few people know much about the life behind the headlines, myths and sound-bites. This biography is an in-depth and intimate