Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman took to the red carpet in London on Sunday for the British premiere of "Invictus", about Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, draws on the then South African president's efforts to unite his post-apartheid country ahead of the tournament being held on its soil, which the
Springboks won amid joyous scenes.
Eastwood, who also attended the premiere, told BBC TV: "It is a very interesting approach for a politician to take, to use sports to bring about the reconciliation of a country.
"It just seems like Mandela was very creative in that regard."
Freeman plays Mandela, whose relationship with the white captain of the South African team, Francois Pienaar, played by Damon, is at the heart of the film.
"He realised that if he could talk them into winning, it would do a lot for the nation -- and it did, obviously," said the veteran American actor, who voiced his hope that the film will receive an Oscar nomination.
Eastwood admitted that the "tricky aspect" of making the film was the rugby itself -- not a sport widely played in the United States. "It's a tough sport to fake, you have to actually play the game and photograph it," he said.
