(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Morgan Freeman says despite his illustrious film career, he "could never have hoped" to portray Nelson Mandela in a movie.

The Oscar-winning American actor has appeared in a host of box office hits including The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby and Se7en.

Morgan played Nelson Mandela in 2009 film Invictus alongside Matt Damon. The biographical sports drama followed the former South African president's appearance at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Morgan says despite playing a number of characters throughout his film career, he was intimidated to be taking on such an iconic part in the picture.

"I've played a general, the head of the CIA, a chauffeur, a detective and the president. I'm not any of those things. I guess I could have been. But I could never have hoped to be [Mandela]," he mused at a Mandela Day celebration at the Four Seasons restaurant.

Morgan started his career in the PBS kids' show The Electric Company. The 74-year-old star still ponders over how he managed to score such legendary film roles following his humble acting beginnings.

"How did a man who played Vincent the Vegetable Vampire on The Electric Company come to be honouring [Mandela]?" he told the New York Post. (C) Cover Media