When Idris Elba took on the role of Nelson Mandela, he admitted that learning to speak with a South African accent was difficult.

The British actor starred as the former South African president in the 2013 historical drama Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Speaking to The Guardian at the film's red-carpet premiere, Elba said: "South Africans love their Madiba, and it's a massive responsibility to bring him alive in the best possible way."

He added that he "wanted people to recognise him when they heard the sound and say, 'That's Madiba'," when asked about learning to speak like Mandela.

Click 'read more' to see stars of the big and small screen, who convincingly kept up an accent.