Idris Elba has been admitted to a unspecified UK hospital after suffering an asthma attack whilst on his way to the premiere of new film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. The Brit-actor suffered the attack whilst on board the plane, but was able to be removed from the aircraft whilst it was still in the UK and taken to a near-by hospital to recover.

Nelson MandelaWinnie Mandela
Long Walk to Freedom has been given mixed reviews

Elba, who stars alongside fellow Brit Naomie Harris (who plays his wife Winnie Mandela) in the film, was forced to miss a press conference due to take place upon his arrival earlier today (2 Nov.), however producers have said that they remain confident that the star will be able to fly out and attend the premiere of the film on Sunday, 3 November, according to Sky News.

Elba has won much praise for his portrayal of Mandela in the biopic and is among the top contenders for the Best Actor gong at the 2014 Academy Awards. But he faces tough competition from the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Robert Redford and Matthew Mcconaughey.

What are the chances of Elba finding Oscar glory for Mandela?

The biopic is an adaption of the history-making former SA president's 1994 autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, which documentes his life from childhood, his education and adoption of political activism and eventual arrest, resulting in a 27-year sentence in prison before being release as a hero's welcome from the SA population. It has been directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl, The First Grader) and written by William Nicholson (Les Misérables, Gladiator, Nell) and will hit UK cinemas next year on 3 January 2014 and will be released on a limited basis in the US on 29 November.

See the trailer for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom