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Bangin’ Biopics: Hot Stars Playing Hot Historic Heroes

When Idris Elba signed on to play Nelson Mandela in the new film Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom, he not only had to play one of the most recognizable men in history without it seeming like an impression, but he also had to capture the vitality of the man in his youth. Nelson Mandela isn't just a peace maker or a former rebel. As seen we see in Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom, he was also a ladies man.

And so, Elba joins a long list of hot actorss like Nicole Kidman, Amanda Seyfried and Ashton Kutcher who have had to either turn down (or turn up) their looks to match the hotness of the historic heroes and legendary celebs they've been hired to play.

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"People like to see 'lookie-like' films," Elba told us on the Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom red carpet. "It makes them feel comfortable and they go, 'Oh my God! You look just like him!"

However, that was not the intent in this film. "We veered away from that," he said. "We wanted to give the audience the chance to just watch a film."

So Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom was less concerned with whether or not Elba looked and sounded just like Nelson Mandela and more interested in presenting a certain "point of view" on the man's life.

Elba might not have been worried about looking like Mandela, but he certainly captured something of Mandela's youthful glory.

Just for fun, we want to ask you if you think Idris Elba is too distractingly hot to play  young Nelson Mandela or was the handsome and athletic man himself a bigger catch? Also, let us know which other stars outshine the celebs they were hired to play. Does Nicole Kidman carry more royal elegance than Grace Kelly? Is Amanda Seyfried more sexy than Linda Lovelace? Click through and let us know!

[caption id="attachment_400978" align="aligncenter" width="615"]mandela_1 [Photo: Weinstein/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Idris Elba playing Nelson Mandela, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400980" align="aligncenter" width="615"]grace_kelly_1 [Photo: Weinstein/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Nicole Kidman playing Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400981" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70984-naomi_di_main [Photo: Entertainment One/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Naomi Watts as Princess Diana in Diana, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400983" align="aligncenter" width="615"]jackie_robinson_1 [Photo: Warner Brothers/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in 42, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400984" align="aligncenter" width="615"]linda_lovelace_1 [Photo: Millennium Films/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Amanda Seyfried as Linda Lovelace in Lovelace, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400985" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70586-lilo_liz_splash_1 [Photo: Lifetime/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor in Liz & Dick, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400986" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70579-steve_jobs_ashton_kutcher_1 [Photo: Open Road Films/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs in Jobs, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400988" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70576-monroe_williams_1 [Photo: Weinstein/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400987" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70571-jimi_hendrix_andre_3000_1 [Photo: Splash News/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Andre 300o as Jimi Hendrix in All Is By My Side, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400989" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70585-malcolmx_denzel_washington_1_0 [Photo: 40 Acres And A Mule/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Denzel Washington in Malcolm X, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400990" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70581-val_kilmer_morrison_1 [Photo: TriStar Pictures/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in The Doors, or the real thing?

[caption id="attachment_400991" align="aligncenter" width="615"]70564-amelia_earhart_hilary_swank_1 [Photo: Fox Searchlight/Getty Images][/caption]Who's hotter: Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart in Amelia, or the real thing?