From the opening scene, 'Invictus' depicts one of the most important moments in South Africa's history.

Rather than taking on the usual good-versus-evil plot which has become all too common on today's cinema screens, the Clint Eastwood-directed biographical drama uses two of the world's biggest screen stars, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, to tell the story of a major historical turning point.

Upon taking office in 1994, the country's first black president Nelson Mandela - portrayed by Morgan - sets about uniting the apartheid-stricken country through its national rugby union team, the Springboks.

Mandela has to convince the club - which has a history of representing racial division and white supremacy - that they need to gain black support ahead of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was being held in South Africa, if they wanted to succeed.

But the responsibility of representing a moment significant to both South African and international history was certainly not lost on Morgan.

The 72-year-old took time out to work with Mandela on making it one of the most accurate roles he had ever undertaken.

Morgan revealed: "When I met him I told him I'm going to need access to you, hold your hand, walk with you, and he said, 'Let's do it'.

"Work for me is fun. I enjoy what I do. So all of the things connected with it are great to do. So doing the research on Mandela was fun. And what makes it the best fun is if you come out the other side having learned or accomplished something."

Despite learning as much as he could about the former president, Morgan found is difficult to master the notoriously tough South African accent.

He said: "About a week before we started shooting I started cramming. I watched a lot of videos of him in his office dealing with people and I immersed myself in that, watching and rewinding over and over again.

"Then when the first day of shooting came and I had to open my mouth and say something, what came out was what I used."

The significance of the sporting event did not escape him, and Morgan noted that he was "proud" to take part in the film and be accepted by the nation.

He said: "This is an important story about a world-shaking event that too few people know about. I cannot think of any moment in history when a nation coalesced so suddenly and completely.

"I was proud to have the opportunity to tell this story.

"South Africans started calling me Mandela's nickname Madiba. I was totally accepted. I remember getting out of the car one time and going into the stadium and someone started going, 'You walk like him! You walk like him! You walk like him!'

"So, you know they were all watching and giving me lifts."

But Morgan is unsure whether or not it is the most important film he has ever made.

He explained: "I don't know. Maybe I haven't made the most important film yet."

Regardless of his own personal opinion, it seems the jury at the 82nd Academy Awards disagree, as he has been nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role alongside Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, George Clooney and Jeremy Renner.

And it's not just Morgan who has been nominated for the, Matt Damon has also picked up a nod for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Francois Pienaar - the rugby team's captain and star player.

Matt always knew it was an opportunity he simply couldn't miss out on.

He said: "Ten years ago, my assistant gave me a gift for Christmas - dinner with Morgan Freeman. I used to talk about him so much that she called his assistant and they organised a sit-down.

"Ten years later, not only do I get a chance to sit across the table from him again but I get to work with him again - in a Nelson Mandela movie; I couldn't pass that up."

The 39-year-old star also jumped at the chance to work with actor-turned-director Clint, 79.

He said: "I've been hoping he'd ask me to be in one of his movies for years. I couldn't ask for more. The guy is remarkable.

"I hope to work with those guys as much as possible - I'd love to work with Morgan again; we're actually looking for something to do together."

Much like Morgan's difficulties at mastering the accent, Matt admitted also had a tough time learning his role - because of the difference in size between him and the rugby player he was portraying.

He said: "The first day I got to South Africa, Francois invited me over to his house to have dinner.

"I rang the doorbell and there he was wearing an apron - and he was taking up the whole doorway. And I said to him, 'I look much bigger on camera'. And we just really hit it off, we stayed up late talking."

Matt also had problems mastering the distinct South African twang.

He explained: "That took about six months. They talk real different down there."

Although they struggled to get to grips with their roles, both Morgan and Matt knew they were onto a winner - just like determined sportsman Francois, who led his team to victory in 1995 much to the delight and unity of his country.

Clint was also drawn to the heart-warming tale from the moment he was approached.

The filmmaker said: "Morgan Freeman rang me up and said 'I've got a really good script' and he didn't even tell me it was about Nelson Mandela.

"So I read the script and I like it very much and I've always admired Mr. Mandela and I was amazed at reading the script and the book about this incident because it seemed so creative - such a creative way to unify a country that was in really deep trouble, on the brink of civil war.

"Mr. Mandela had been in prison for quite a few years so no-one knew what was going to happen here."

While on first glance you might assume the film is only suitable for sports fans, Clint is keen to make clear it is not a movie about rugby.

He said: "People will say - 'How do you feel about doing a film about rugby?' but I didn't approach it as a picture about rugby.

"The rugby was exciting and that was fun to have that in there, but if it had been Nelson Mandela and a Texas hold 'em poker tournament, I suppose I still would have done it because I admire the man."

Despite working on the film for several months, even Morgan admits he is none the wiser when it comes to his understanding of the sport.

He said: "No I'm not a fan of rugby. I still don't know what rugby is about. They do much the same thing as American football, they get a ball and they run into each other with it."

But what does the man himself think of the biopic?

Although Nelson, 91, has not given much away, he seemed pleased with how the award-winning actor captured his mannerisms on-screen.

Morgan explained: "I know that he has seen it. You know, he won't say what he thinks of it. So you have to kind of gather from his reactions.

"I was sitting next to him and when I first came on the screen he said, 'I know this fellow'."

If Mandela is being cagey about his opinion, the rest of the world is not. Oscar nominations, positive critical reviews and instant box office success prove 'Invictus' to be one movie in 2010 that nobody should miss - rugby fanatic or otherwise.

By Steve Leng