Eddie Redmayne (full name Edward John David Redmayne) is an Academy Award-winning English actor known for his transformative performances in films such as The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
He was born on January 6, 1982 in London. His father Richard Redmayne is a businessman and his mother Patricia Redmayne runs a relocation business. Eddie has an older brother named James and also has Scottish ancestry.
As a child, Eddie attended the all-boys independent school Eton College. He was in the same year as Prince William but says he didn’t move in royal circles. He was more focused on drama and music and won numerous school prizes for his acting skills.
What was Eddie Redmayne’s major in college?
Eddie Redmayne studied art history at university, specializing in early modern architecture. He attended Trinity College at Cambridge University.
Early Stage and Screen Career
Although Eddie Redmayne considered becoming an art historian, he was always drawn to performance. In 2002 he starred as Viola in a school production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. That year he also won a modeling contest to be on the cover of Vanity Fair with model Alexandra Schulman.
After graduating from Cambridge in 2003 with 2:1 honors, Eddie Redmayne trained as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His first credited screen role came in 2005 when he guest starred on an episode of Doctors.
Table: Eddie Redmayne’s Early Stage Roles
| Production | Role | Theater | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? | Billy | Almeida Theatre, London | 2004 |
| Hecuba | Polydorus | Donmar Warehouse, London | 2004 |
| The Changeling | Antonio | Donmar Warehouse, London | 2004 |
| Red | Ken | Donmar Warehouse, London | 2009 |
Over the next few years, Eddie Redmayne worked steadily on the London stage and started getting supporting roles in films like Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Savage Grace (2007), and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008). His big break came in 2010 when he starred as Angel Clare in the London stage production of Far From the Madding Crowd.
What was Eddie Redmayne’s first TV guest appearance?
In 2005, Eddie Redmayne made a guest appearance on an episode of the BBC medical drama Doctors. This is credited as his first on-screen acting role.
Hollywood Success and Oscar Recognition
In 2011, Eddie Redmayne made the transition to leading man when he was cast in the costume drama My Week With Marilyn starring Michelle Williams. He played the role of Colin Clark, an assistant to Sir Laurence Olivier who strikes up a friendship with Marilyn Monroe.
Redmayne continued to take on more starring film roles like playing Marius Pontmercy in the 2012 musical movie Les Miserables with Hugh Jackman. To prepare for the singing role, Eddie took vocal lessons with a voice coach.
Table: Eddie Redmayne Oscar and Award Nominations
| Production | Organization | Category | Result | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Week With Marilyn | Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actor–Motion Picture | Nominated | 2011 |
| Les Miserables | Academy Award | Best Supporting Actor | Won | 2012 |
| Screen Actors Guild | Outstanding Performance by Cast in Motion Picture | Won | 2012 | |
| The Theory of Everything | Academy Award | Best Actor | Won | 2014 |
| The Danish Girl | Academy Award | Best Actor | Nominated | 2015 |
However, it was his sensitive portrayal of physicist Stephen Hawking in 2014’s The Theory of Everything that won Eddie his first Academy Award for Best Actor. To prepare for the physically demanding role, Eddie spent four months working with a choreographer and studying ALS disease and how it impacts movement and speech.
What organization did Eddie Redmayne win his first industry award from?
In 2012, Eddie Redmayne won an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Les Miserables. This was his first major industry award.
Fantastic Beasts, Later Films and Personal Life
Following his Oscar win, Eddie Redmayne has continued taking on biopics and unconventional roles like playing transgender artist Lili Elbe in 2015’s The Danish Girl and magizoologist Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts series starting in 2016.
In his personal life, Eddie Redmayne married Hannah Bagshawe in 2014. Hannah works in finance. The couple has two children together – a daughter born in 2016 and a son born in 2018.
Even after achieving Hollywood stardom, Redmayne returns frequently to the London stage for productions like Red which went on to Broadway. He also continues working in films like The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) and has been praised for portraying Emcee in Cabaret in London’s West End.
Conclusion
In his meteoric two-decade career on screen and stage, Eddie Redmayne has shown impressive range and dedication to his acting craft. He has worked steadily in theater, TV, and film – often undergoing extreme physical transformations for biopic roles portraying complex characters.
From his school days doing Shakespeare plays to becoming an Academy Award-winning Hollywood star, Redmayne has proven his ability to captivate audiences. He continues to take artistic risks, returning frequently to the London stage while also working on major movie blockbusters like the Fantastic Beasts series.
Off-screen Eddie Redmayne leads a quiet domestic life as the husband of Hannah Bagshawe and father to their growing family. While he could easily focus on global superstardom, Redmayne remains committed to nuanced acting roles alongside smaller passion projects. His full potential is still yet unknown – leaving much anticipation for what Eddie Redmayne may achieve next in his cinema career.
FAQs About Eddie Redmayne
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about actor Eddie Redmayn:
What is the name of Eddie Redmayne’s wife?
Eddie Redmayne’s wife is named Hannah Bagshawe. She works in a financial field and the couple married in 2014.
Is Eddie Redmayne related to James Redmayne, the British civil and structural engineer?
Yes, the actor Eddie Redmayne is related to engineer Sir James Redmayne – he is Eddie’s great-grandfather.
What chronic health condition does Eddie Redmayne have?
Eddie Redmayne has said in interviews that he lives with eczema and has struggled with the skin condition since childhood.
How tall is Eddie Redmayne?
Eddie Redmayne’s height is 6’0″ (1.83 meters).
Is Eddie Redmayne going to play the Phantom in a movie adaptation of Phantom of the Opera?
As of early 2024, there are currently no official announcements linking Eddie Redmayne to an upcoming Phantom of the Opera film. He has not been confirmed to play the Phantom.
What is Eddie Redmayne’s vocal range and type?
Eddie Redmayne is often cited as a light lyric baritone. His range spans about two octaves from A2 to A4.