I didn't know beans about rugby says Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman admitted last night that he knows very little about rugby – despite starring in a film about the sport's famous 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

The Oscar winner, who is hotly tipped to be nominated for Best Actor at this year's Academy Awards for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Invictus, said he was not a sports fan but insisted the movie did not concentrate on rugby.

He said at the movie's UK premiere in London's Leicester Square: "I wasn't a rugby fan – I didn't know beans about rugby. I still know little to nothing about rugby.

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"At home sometimes when you get down to the World Series or National Football League play-offs or the NBA play-offs, I might watch. But I'm not an avid sports fan at all."

He continued: "It isn't based on rugby. Everyone keeps saying it's based on rugby – it incorporates rugby, but it's based on Mandela."

Freeman, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Million Dollar Baby in 2004, also worked with Eastwood in the 1992 film Unforgiven. He said collaborating with the director for the third time was the best yet.

He said: "He's my favourite director, so going onto the fourth, fifth and sixth times I think will be probably more fun, because the third time was the most fun, the second time was great fun and the first time was fun."

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The actor also joked that he did not like working with his co-star Matt Damon, who plays South Africa's World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar.

"We don't get on all that good. He's got a big head, he thinks he's good-looking and all that.

Damon, who is also tipped for a Best Supporting Actor nod for his portrayal of Pienaar, said it was an honour to be starring opposite Freeman – who was picked by Mandela himself to play him.

Damon added that he spent a lot of time with Pienaar to ensure he got the role right, and quickly realised the rugby star's status in South Africa. He said: "Hanging out with him in South Africa was funny, because he's like Elvis down there."

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Pienaar, who was also at the premiere, explained: "I spent a lot of time socially with Matt, Morgan and Clint. What they wanted to understand from me was the relationship I had with Madeba (Mandela's clan name) and some of the leadership characteristics in the team."

Damon added: "I think we all wanted to do it because the story is true for one, and really, really uplifting.

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