Actor who played leader hails 20th century ‘treasure’

Morgan Freeman, who played Nelson Mandela in the Oscar- nominated film Invictus after being chosen by the icon himself as his favoured actor, hailed the late South African leader as a “giant” of the 20th century.

The anti-apartheid hero was also praised in Hollywood by the star of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ — a just-released movie whose fortunes could ironically be boosted by the tragic news, according to Tinseltown experts.

“Today the world lost one of the true giants of the past century,” said Freeman after Mandela died at the age of 95, triggering outpourings of grief and tributes around the world.