Claire Dawson
On November 2, 2013, English actor and musician Idris Elba was rushed to the hospital after suffering an asthma attack on a plane bound for South Africa. The actor was on his way to Johannesburg to attend a press conference for his upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic, 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom'. The film, in which Elba stars as Nelson Mandela, was set to hit theatres on November 29, 2013.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2nd November 2013, and 3rd July 2019 |
| Reason | Asthma attack |
| Location | On a plane to South Africa, departing from London Heathrow Airport |
| Destination | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Event | Press conference for his upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" |
| Age | 41 |
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What You'll Learn
Idris Elba suffered an asthma attack on a plane
On November 2, 2013, Idris Elba suffered an asthma attack on a plane that was preparing to depart to South Africa. The actor was on his way to Johannesburg to attend a press conference for his upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic, *Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom*. However, he failed to make the trip as he suffered an asthma attack before the plane took off.
Elba was rushed to the hospital from London's Heathrow Airport. The 41-year-old actor was hospitalized after experiencing an asthma attack on the plane the previous night. "Idris is in the hospital after an asthma attack on the plane last night," said 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' producer Anant Singh.
Elba is reported to have recovered well from the asthma attack. This incident occurred four years before Elba himself confirmed that he has asthma. In an interview with the Sunday Times in 2017, the actor revealed that he has had asthma since he was a child.
Elba went to great lengths to get into character for his role as Nelson Mandela in *Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom*. He spent a night on Robben Island, locked in a cell next to the one where Mandela was jailed for 18 years. He also travelled around South Africa, conducting research for the role.
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The plane was bound for South Africa
On November 2, 2013, actor Idris Elba suffered an asthma attack on a plane that was preparing to depart for South Africa. The plane was bound for Johannesburg, where Elba was scheduled to attend a press conference for his upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic, 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom'. The actor, who is known for his roles in 'The Wire' and 'Luther', spent a night in a prison cell on Robben Island as part of his preparation for the film. He wanted to understand what it was like for Mandela and his colleagues after they were jailed.
Elba's asthma attack occurred before the plane was able to take off, and he was rushed to the hospital from London's Heathrow Airport. The actor was reported to be recovering well. At 41 years old, he had been set to star as Nelson Mandela in the film, with Naomie Harris playing Mandela's then-wife, Winnie. The film was scheduled to be released in theatres on November 29, 2013.
Elba's commitment to his roles is evident, and his dedication to getting into character for 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' was no exception. The actor went to great lengths to understand Mandela's experiences, even spending a night in the same prison where Mandela was jailed for 18 years. This immersive experience left a profound impact on Elba, who described the conditions as harsh and haunting.
The actor recalled the sparse accommodations, including a thin blanket on a concrete floor, and the overwhelming sense of darkness and isolation. He also mentioned feeling the presence of ghosts, as people had died in that very cell. Elba's willingness to undergo such an intense and challenging experience demonstrates his dedication to his craft and his desire to accurately portray the life of Nelson Mandela.
The plane incident caused a brief delay in Elba's promotional activities for the film, but his health was a top priority. With his asthma attack under control and his recovery underway, Elba could continue to share his powerful performance as Mandela with audiences worldwide.
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He was hospitalised hours before the Mandela premiere
On November 2, 2013, actor Idris Elba was rushed to the hospital after suffering an asthma attack on a plane bound for South Africa. The actor was on his way to Johannesburg to attend a press conference for his upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic, 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom', but he fell ill before the plane took off from London's Heathrow Airport.
Elba, who was 41 at the time, stars as Nelson Mandela in the film, with Naomie Harris playing Mandela's ex-wife, Winnie. In an interview, Elba spoke about his experience of getting into character for the movie, revealing that he spent a night in a cell in Robben Island prison, where Mandela was jailed for 18 years. He also travelled around South Africa, conducting research for the role.
The actor was hospitalised just hours before the premiere of the film, which was scheduled to hit theatres on November 29, 2013. Fortunately, he was reported to be recovering well following the asthma attack.
Elba's hospitalisation came as a concern to many, given his dedication to his craft and the lengths he went to in order to accurately portray the iconic South African leader.
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He was playing Nelson Mandela in the film
In 2013, actor Idris Elba was rushed to the hospital after suffering an asthma attack on a plane bound for South Africa. Elba was on his way to Johannesburg to attend a press conference for his upcoming film, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, in which he played Nelson Mandela. The film is a biographical drama based on the 1994 (or 1995, according to some sources) autobiography of the same name by anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Elba went to great lengths to prepare for his role as Mandela. Speaking to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, he revealed that he spent a night locked in a cell on Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Elba described his experience:
> "I had a thin blanket for a mattress and that’s all there was between me and the concrete floor. They gave me a bowl. I had no water, nothing to drink at all. I was wearing my sweats and whatnot. I had two iPads to document myself and a cell phone. Mr Mandela spent 18 years in the cell next to mine. It was a tiny room; the man turned the key and as I saw him walk away, it was plunged into darkness."
Despite some criticism of the film, Elba's performance as Mandela received positive reviews. Claudia Puig of USA Today noted that the film "suffers from trying to squeeze in too many milestones of Nelson Mandela's long life," but Elba's "commanding performance" lent the film "heft." Similarly, an IMDb review praised Elba's "towering" performance and his ability to convey Mandela's inner calm and strength.
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He is now reportedly recovering well
In 2013, Idris Elba suffered an asthma attack on a plane headed for South Africa. The actor was on his way to Johannesburg, where he was scheduled to attend a press conference for his upcoming film, *Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom*. The film, in which Elba stars as Nelson Mandela, was due for release in November 2013.
Elba was rushed to the hospital from London's Heathrow Airport. He is now reportedly recovering well.
Elba's hospitalisation occurred after the actor spent a night locked in a cell on Robben Island, where Mandela was jailed for 18 years. Elba had asked the authorities if he could stay in the jail to get into character for the film.
Elba has spoken about his experience on Robben Island, describing the conditions as a "s*hole". He said:
> I had a thin blanket for a mattress and that’s all there was between me and the concrete floor. They gave me a bowl. I had no water, nothing to drink at all. I was wearing my sweats and whatnot. I had two iPads to document myself and a cell phone. Mr Mandela spent 18 years in the cell next to mine. It was a tiny room; the man turned the key and as I saw him walk away, it was plunged into darkness.
Elba also said that he believed there were ghosts on the island, as people had died there.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Idris Elba was rushed to the hospital after suffering an asthma attack on a plane.
Idris Elba was flying to South Africa when he suffered an asthma attack.
Idris Elba was on his way to Johannesburg, South Africa, for a press conference for his upcoming Nelson Mandela biopic, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom."
Yes, it was reported that Idris Elba was recovering well after being rushed to the hospital.
