Biography of Eddie Redmayne
British actor Eddie Redmayne gained wide popularity and praise from famous film critics for his role as theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the biopic “Stephen Hawking's Universe.” In 2020, he played the magical zoologist Newt Scamander in the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Winner of Oscar, BAFTA, Tony and other prestigious awards.
British theater and film star Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne: “My wife and I’s romance could be described in textbooks!”
On the eve of the premiere of the film “Stephen Hawking's Universe” (in theaters from February 26), Grazia correspondent Dana Lynn met with the leading actor Eddie Redmayne and talked about his scientific knowledge and lifelong love.
Eddie Redmayne
GRAZIA: Nowadays fame and many awards have literally fallen on you. Aren't you afraid that you owe your fame and recognition solely to Hawking ? EDDIE REDMAYNE: I wish I could just answer yes or no, but I can't. Of course, the personality of a genius is fascinating in itself. The man whom doctors gave at most two years to live has reached his eighties and continues to amaze the world with his discoveries. But at the same time, I think that I deserved my share of fame: Professor Hawking was meticulous about the casting and personally approved my candidacy, and after the film was completed, he spoke flatteringly about my work.
GRAZIA: What attracted you to the story? Hawking's biography has already been filmed once, and the main role in it was played very convincingly by Benedict Cumberbatch . E.R.: Yes, it was an excellent biopic, and therefore, having received the script, at first I treated it rather coldly, but the more I read it, the more clearly I realized: this is not a film biography, but a real love story that happened during the tragic circumstances. That’s why I didn’t play a physicist, I don’t understand much about science, but a man whose illness cruelly destroys his fate.
GRAZIA: Did it influence you that during pre-production you were also planning your wedding to Hannah Bagshawe ? E.R.: Of course it did. I tried to make my character feel the same way Felicity Jones The only thing I have to clarify is that Hannah came into my life a long time ago; we started dating when we were still schoolchildren. My wife and I’s romance can be described in textbooks in the section “Long-term pre-wedding relationships.” (Laughs.)
GRAZIA: It turns out that having fallen in love with you, she did not yet know that fate was connecting her with the actor? ER: How could she not have known when I showed up at her school just because our Eton band had been invited to perform on their stage. True, as models, but then I quickly told her about my life plans.
GRAZIA: Is your attraction to the stage a family thing? E.R.: Not at all, our family is just serious. My great-grandfather Sir Richard Redmayne was one of the most famous British engineers in his time; my father was a successful financier. By the way, he advised me to think: if I’m really drawn to the entertainment industry, then why not become a producer? For actors, luck smiles on one in a hundred, but for producers the probability of success is much higher. But when I finished my history course at Cambridge, I realized that I didn’t like any other activity other than acting.
According to Eddie, Stephen Hawking personally chose him for the role in the biopic. And he was not mistaken: the actor received many awards for this work.
GRAZIA: Your pedigree seems to come from the House of Lords... ER: By the way, I studied with Prince William at Eton!
GRAZIA: Moreover! School for aristocrats, Cambridge... How did you get drawn into such a frivolous profession? E.R.: I don’t think she’s frivolous. And it happened when I was twelve years old: I took part in the extras of “Oliver,” which was directed by Sam Mendes . True, I didn’t communicate with the director - there were 800 of us, but I liked the work and the fact that I could completely officially skip classes and sowed the seed of a future decision in my fragile soul. Where it sprouted.
GRAZIA: How did you react when you were first offered to work as a model? E.R.: Actor and model are very close professions, it’s not for nothing that so many actors are successful in advertising. And everything went very easily for me. Richard II at the time , earning £350 a week. Of course, not diamond mountains, but you can live. What depressed me much more about the lack of money was that one critic wrote that I was emotionally suitable for the role of a king, but technically not so much. My mind was focused on how to improve the technique, so when Burberry was offered a contract, I was not particularly tormented by doubts. Moreover, I considered and continue to consider their chief designer, Christopher Bailey , as an amazingly talented person who raised the brand to the skies. So I rushed into a related field without unnecessary suffering, but now I feel that the tension intensifying in each of the industries will force me to make a choice.
Read the full interview with Eddie Redmayne in Grazia magazine!
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Childhood and family. First roles
Eddie was born into a prim British family with great wealth and a long pedigree. The head of the family, Esquire Richard, ran a bank, and his mother, Patricia Redmayne, was the owner of a transport company. Eddie was the middle son - his older brother Jim and his youngest Tommy were also growing up in the family.
Eddie Redmayne's family: parents and brothers
His parents had a hand in the intellectual and creative development of Edward John David (that’s what the actor’s full name is), who often took their children to theatrical performances, which little Eddie simply adored. According to the actor, the very impulse that made him think about his stage future was the Shakespeare play he saw at a young age, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
In his youth, Eddie Redmayne had to play women
The love for the theater, as well as the vulnerability and sensitivity of the filial nature, was eventually noticed by the elder Redmaynes. One day they took Eddie to a theater club in High Wycombe. At the age of 12, Eddie first appeared on the theater stage - he took part in the Sam Mendes musical “Oliver!”, and at 14 he played a modest role in the TV series “Animal Ark” (episode “Bunnies in the Bathroom”). This did not fit with the young actor’s sense of self - he saw himself as a rebel like James Dean! Eddie did not dare to pierce his eyebrows or dye his hair some wild color. He was content to dye his hair with henna before filming. Because of this, throughout the week that the series was being worked on, his hair constantly changed shade, and in the end he was kicked out with a scandal.
Childhood and youth
The biography of Eddie Redmayne begins on January 6, 1982. My father is a financier, and my mother runs a freight transportation business. Eddie is the middle son of Patricia and Richard Redmayne's three children.
The head of the family sent his sons to Eton to receive a decent education. Eddie was lucky enough to study with Prince William. Eddie's older brother studied with the future British Prime Minister, and the younger brother was a classmate of Prince Harry.
Eddie Redmayne with family
The love for theater arose in the young man’s heart after watching an inspired production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The inspiration was realized at a theater club in High Wacombe, where the aspiring actor expressed a desire to go.
The guy combined his studies at Eton with additional lessons in music, art, and choral singing. During his years of study, in the creative biography of Eddie Redmayne, his first experience of dressing up as a woman took place. After Eton, the future actor continued his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he chose to specialize in art history. The subject involved an in-depth study of art history in France and England from the 19th to the 20th centuries.
Eddie Redmayne worked as a model
In his youth, Redmayne began working as a model, which brought in pocket money. The theatrical debut took place in 2002. A casting director from Eton College asked his Cambridge colleague to find a talented student to play the role of Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Dormandy advised him to try Redmayne for the role.
The guy passed the audition, after which he took on the role of an agent. The management of Cambridge College released Redmayne from attending lectures for six months, but obliged him to keep up and catch up on knowledge in his free time. At the end of the semester, Eddie returned to his studies, preparing his thesis and absorbing the necessary knowledge - final exams awaited him.
Eddie Redmayne
The student’s peculiarities (cannot distinguish between red and green colors) did not become an obstacle to successfully preparing a thesis on Yves Klein and his blue color. Redmayne graduated from Trinity College with honors and joined the ranks of the best graduates of the course. After receiving his diploma, Eddie had already decided on his subsequent activities, but left a year to think about it in order to make sure that his decision was correct.
Education
Together with his brothers, Eddie first attended Colet Court Primary School and then entered Eton College. Traditionally, children from the aristocratic families of Great Britain receive knowledge in this educational institution. For example, Prince William studied in the same class with Eddie, older brother Jim misbehaved during breaks with the future Prime Minister of Great Britain, and the younger Tom studied with Prince Harry.
The future actor studied at Eton College
In college, Eddie did not forget about his childhood hobby and began attending acting classes and taking part in performances. At the same time, he first appeared on stage as a woman, playing the role of Viola in Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. Eddie was also involved in musical self-education: he played the piano and sang in the college choir. For special musical merits, he even received a scholarship, while the future actor managed to fulfill the duties of the head of the faculty and participate in fashion shows.
In his youth, Eddie Redmayne worked as a model
However, studying at Eton did not bring Eddie moral satisfaction, and he, risking the wrath of his parents, decided to apply to drama school. Richard and Patricia had a lot of difficulty persuading their son to receive a classical education at Trinity College, Cambridge University. Eddie chose a specialty close to his interests - art history, namely an in-depth study of art history in England and France in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Theater works
Even before graduating from Eton, in 2002, Eddie was invited to the world-famous Globe Theater. It was here that the actor received his first professional award from the Critics' Circle Theater Awards for his role as Edward Albee in the play "The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia." Eddie's work attracted the attention of the public and critics not only for his acting, but also for the provocative nature of the image - he played a son in love with his father.
Eddie Redmayne played on the stage of the best theaters in London
This was followed by work on the stage of the Royal Court Theatre, where Eddie played in Christopher Shinn's play Now or Later. In 2009, viewers saw the talented actor in the play by Michael Grandage, which told the story of the abstract artist Mark Rothko. Eddie played the role of Mark's assistant, Ken, and was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for his supporting role. Subsequently, this drama was also staged on Broadway. Eddie also took part in the American version, which earned him a Tony Award (the theatrical equivalent of an Oscar).
Tony Award Winner
The play itself was awarded six Tony Awards in 2010, including in the category “Best Dramatic Work of the Year.” For Eddie, working in this play turned out to be quite difficult, because he not only had to conduct long, lengthy dialogues on philosophical topics, but also work with paints, and the actor is color blind, so he constantly confused red and green.
It's no secret that Eddie Redmayne is colorblind
After success on the theatrical stage, Eddie decided to turn his attention to cinema, choosing a topic close to him - the history of England. The mini-series “Elizabeth I” with Jeremy Irons and Helen Mirren was a good start to work on the set.
“When I saw myself in the mirror as Lili Elbe, I was shocked”
At the end of January, “The Danish Girl” by Tom Hooper will be released in Russia, a melodrama about the tragic fate of one of the first transsexuals in history: the Danish artist Einar Wegener changed his gender in 1930, turning into a woman named Lili Elbe. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne played the main character and told Lenta.ru about the transformation.
“Lenta.ru”: After the success of “Stephen Hawking’s Universe,” were there any fears that the role in the next project would be less successful?
Eddie Redmayne
: It was more like responsibility. Our producers have been hatching this project for fifteen years and reconsidering the cast many times, so I am honored that the role of Lili Elbe finally went to me. And I generally always worry. But in this case, the fear that I would not be able to play the role properly only spurred me on.
In "The Danish Girl", as in "Stephen Hawking's Universe", you are transformed beyond recognition. Was it difficult to work on the image of Lily?
I was helped by Alex Reynolds, a movement choreographer who had studied me well on the set of Stephen Hawking's Universe and knew what I was good at and what I wasn't. Alex, first of all, helps me to relax internally. And although movement is an external manifestation, it must still come from within. In general, working on any image largely consists of the plasticity of movements, especially the hands, because in life this is a very large part of ourselves. For example, at the beginning of the film I wanted to show how Lili’s essence manifests itself in Einar’s shell. Maybe it's the way she sleeps? I tried to research this. It was also interesting to add some nuances to Lily’s appearance as she transformed - for example, when Lily first appears in society in a woman’s dress and wig, everything about her is exaggerated. This is such a transitional age. Gradually her image becomes more natural.
Eddie Redmayne
Photo: Ferdaus Shamim / Global Look
When you first saw yourself in the mirror as Lily, how did you feel?
Shock! Because it was a copy of my mother. In fact, I had played women before - first in school classical plays, and then as Viola in Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Lily, to put it mildly, has an extraordinary destiny.
From my point of view, she was an open-minded person and believed that life is only worth something if you can be yourself. At first glance, this seems like such a simple, natural thing, but Lily, in order to decide on this, requires extraordinary courage and fortitude, in this she is a true pioneer of her era. Both director Tom Hooper and I were very inspired by her story.
Still from the film “The Danish Girl”
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You have already starred with Tom Hooper before - in the series “Elizabeth I” and the musical “Les Miserables”. How was it working with him this time?
Working with someone you know well and trust completely is a big deal, especially when you only have a month or two to shoot. In general, to be a good film actor, you need to feel relaxed in front of the camera, but on the contrary, everything connected with the filming process terribly constrains me. Therefore, before filming, in order to gain courage, I need a little freedom - to experiment and find my own approach to the image. Tom always gives me this opportunity. In addition, it is absolutely impossible to hide anything from him - he notices everything you try to do and then agrees with it. Or not.
Tom Hooper said that both you and he spent about a year preparing for filming.
Yes, this time we rehearsed for quite a long time, and I started with self-education: I read a lot about Lili and her relationship with Gerda Wegener, her diaries published after her death. In addition, I met many transsexual women of different generations and their partners. All these people told me their stories - down to the smallest detail, down to very intimate details about how they came to this - so that I could use this in working on the image of Lily and, perhaps, find something in tune with myself .
What was the main thing for you in this story?
Of course, this is the story of a specific person - the path that he went through. But if you think about it, each of us has some kind of barrier inside us that prevents us from becoming ourselves, from truly opening up. Should I accept this or try to change myself? I think we should ask ourselves this question more often.
“The Danish Girl” is released in Russian theaters on January 28.
Significant career milestones
In 2006, Eddie tried his hand at the spy thriller The False Temptation. The film also stars Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie and Oleg Stefanko.
Eddie Redmayne in the movie The False Temptation
The next work was the role of Alex in the detective drama “Reading Minds”. The following year, 2007, Eddie appeared on screen in two films - “Savage Grace”, in which he played a gay man who is trying to persuade his own mother (Julianne Moore) into a sinful relationship, and the historical drama “The Golden Age” with Cate Blanchett and Clive Owen.
Eddie Redmayne photo shoot for Interview Magazine
The English history theme continued the following year with the drama The Other Boleyn Girl, starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana, and the film adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, in which Redmayne played the title role. In the same year, Edward took on another challenging role in the film “The Yellow Handkerchief” - he played teenager Gordy, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome and is in love with Kristen Stewart's character.
Still from the film “The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness”
In 2009, Eddie took part in the filming of the historical film “1939” and the drama “Oxide”. This was followed by work in the historical series "Pillars of the Earth" and the thriller "Black Death" in 2010, and in 2011 Eddie starred in the film about Marilyn Monroe - "7 Days and Nights with Marilyn." Eddie Redmayne in the show “Good Day LA” In 2012, Redmayne was invited to the film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Miserables”. A whole galaxy of Hollywood actors took part in the film with him: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter. Eddie got the role of the rebellious student Marius.
Marius from Les Misérables
Afterwards, Redmayne did not appear on screens for a whole year, but in 2014 he impressed with his performance in the film “The Universe of Stephen Hawking”. For the main role in this film, Eddie was awarded a number of awards, which are an honor for every actor: BAFTA, Oscar, Golden Globe and, what was most important for Eddie, Stephen Hawking himself gave a positive review of the film.
Eddie Redmayne and Stephen Hawking
In the same year, the actor starred in an unusual genre for himself - the fantasy action film Jupiter Ascending, starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum. In 2020, Eddie proved that for him there are no roles beyond his talent - in the film “The Danish Girl” he played a transgender man, the husband of a famous artist, for whom he agreed to pose in women’s clothing.
"The Danish Girl": Eddie Redmayne as a transgender
In the same year, the actor’s services on the theater stage were awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
The actor received an Oscar quite young
Eddie Redmayne: interview about personal life and career
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Last updated: 11/24/2018 “They’re blue, right?” Redmayne glances down at his boots, which are low-top velvet sneakers from Tom Ford. Wonderful thing! But even in the dimly lit, gloomy room of the Soho membership club, you can see that they are not blue, but black. The actor looks at the corduroy trousers and says: “What color are my trousers then? Right! They are also black. What about the sweater? Bottle green. God! I could swear my entire outfit was blue!”
Continuing with the theme of highlights from Eddie Redmayne's personal and professional life, interviews are an excellent method of publicizing the story. If you haven't already guessed what's wrong with the actor's eyes, he's colorblind. This is a visual feature that brings a lot of inconvenience. The actor is under close public attention. In September, at the premiere of the film, with his participation in the title role, “The Theory of Everything,” the actor appeared in a bright emerald suit. Hannah Bagshaw, his wife, was scared when she saw her husband in such a colorful image. “You don’t wear something like that...” she said with genuine horror visible on her face. "I know. It’s green,” he replied. “No, Eddie, it’s not green,” Hannah answered quickly. “But it’s... green!”
The green suit caused quite a stir that night. This is a double-breasted linen jacket with trousers from Burberry's upcoming spring collection. Most of the headlines were devoted to the striking image, but the 32-year-old talented actor still attracted much more attention. This is a real highlight in the life of Eddie Redmayne, because his career before the release of The Theory of Everything was based on several roles in films that focused on his appearance. For example: “My Week with Marilyn” and the role of the hero-lover; “Les Miserables” and the actor in the role... Look at the films with his participation. But performing in the latest film work is a ticket to becoming an actor of the highest “A” class.
The film tells the story of Professor Stephen Hawking, who, with the love and support of his first wife Jane, defies the obstacles encountered on his way to the top of the academic world. He tracked the rise of his career and his progressing illness. The actor immediately agreed to this important role. The film begins with the hero as a professor riding a bicycle through the cobbled streets of Cambridge. The ending is a professor in a wheelchair and unable to speak due to progressive paralysis. But the final image of the film is handled so cleverly that the viewer is unlikely to notice that it was filmed for a general audience. The film was not shot in chronological order - a revelation from an interview with Eddie Redmayne.
“On the first day of shooting, we shot three scenes,” says the actor, deftly stirring sugar into a cup of coffee. “The first scene is the beginning of the film and the preliminary diagnosis of the main character. The second is Stephen's use of two canes. The third is a professor in a wheelchair. I was scared. It felt like I was being asked to write a sentence in permanent ink with three main words at the beginning, middle and end of the sentence. I had to get up early to start filming, but I couldn’t sleep, different thoughts came to me.”
The first meeting with Mr. Redmayne took place at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, just two days before the premiere of “The Theory of Everything.” He noted that the filming was difficult and intense. The actor ate a lot of protein and actively did push-ups to gain the required weight.
Eddie Redmayne is currently working on a documentary about art during the First World War. He returned to his roots, appearing in the film as an art historian. In the role of Professor Hawking, he is a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Unlike the hero-professor, he preferred the study of art rather than science. The man graduated from the university in 2003 with a degree in art history. He wrote his final dissertation on J. Klein, a French artist from the middle of the last century. The creator invented the bright shade of ultramarine. Redmayne specialized in Venetian architecture and surrealism, but was never involved in the art world. By the time he graduated, he achieved success in his acting career.
“After playing a lot of different characters, it takes me a while to just remember who I am.”
Feature documentaries aside. He is still in demand as a model. He worked with Burberry, like other famous young talents. For example: Douglas Booth, Emma Watson, Cara Delevingne. The actor also takes an active part in modeling evening wear that is trendy this season. He had the honor of being the "first recipient of breakfast in bed" at the then unopened hotel in Mayfair (with hosts Chris Corbyn and Jeremy King). "Jeremy's son is an actor," Mr. Redmayne says. “Jeremy creates his own 'places', and this would be relevant for a themed restaurant or hotel. These ideas are logical and consistent. Made with passion."
Redmayne recently lost a lot of time, but usefully, preparing for the main season's award. Following the premiere of The Theory of Everything, the actor was declared the winner for Best Actor in 2015, receiving an Oscar. “Please don't misunderstand me. This is a wonderful compliment, but... Other actors deserve this award.” He seems to be denying his leadership. Is The Theory of Everything a biopic? In it, the main character struggles with something he doesn’t agree with. Although the actor does not recognize the similarity of characters with the main character he recently played, it still exists.
February is coming, and the Academy will have its own opinion on the film. The last word will, of course, belong to Professor Hawking. “I met him and he hadn’t seen the movie yet,” Eddie said over dinner a few months ago. The actor told Hawking: “Stephen, please, once you see The Theory of Everything, let me know what you think about the film. I hope you enjoy it." To this the scientist replied: “I’ll let you know what I think. It will either be good or vice versa.”
Judging by the moments described below, Stephen Hawking will not answer the actor “... or vice versa.” At the secret premiere in Toronto, the screenwriter noticed that after the film ended and the lights in the theater turned on, the nurse accompanying the professor wiped a tear from his cheek.
Actor Redmayne was also at the private premiere of the film, standing on stage with his colleagues, wearing the Burberry costume that later created a sensation. It seemed that due to the bright stage lighting, the costume had lost its rich color, looking gray-green. But in fact, Eddie thought the jacket was blue, Cambridge style. But blue and green are not so far apart colors! This can be forgiven for the main character.
Source: MrPorter
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Fantastic Beasts
In 2020, Eddie played the main role in the adapted film adaptation of the book “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” by the famous English writer JK Rowling. Ezra Miller, Zoe Kravitz, Ron Perlman, Colin Farrell and Jon Voight (Angelina Jolie's father) also took part in the filming. Shortly before the release of the first part, the writer announced the release of at least four more parts of the film, which means that Redmayne will have a lot of work in the coming years. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." Trailer It is noteworthy that long before this, Eddie tried to get the role of one of the members of the Weasley family (these are his favorite characters from the Potter books), but did not make it to the casting. So he took the announcement of a prequel with a script from Rowling herself as a second chance given to him by heaven.
Still from the film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Before auditioning for the role of Newt Scamander, Eddie watched all the Harry Potter films. He himself was, in his words, a modest fan, but his brother was a real expert, and when Eddie was approved for the role, he literally jumped for joy. a week before work began on the first part of Beasts, Redmayne met with JK Rowling, who gave him detailed tips on his character. It turned out that Newt decided to become a magical zoologist for a reason - he was once very much offended by people, and since then he has been looking for shelter in his world, among magical creatures. But as the story progresses, he will have to learn to trust people.
Magazine: Eddie Redmayne on The Danish Girl
In the film The Danish Girl, British actor Eddie Redmayne played a transgender man who was the first in the world to undergo sex reassignment surgery. The actor told Vogue UA about the difficult immersion in the role
This story took place in 1926 in Copenhagen. Once, the Danish artist Einar Wegener, at the request of his wife, also an artist, put on a woman’s dress in order to pose for her as a model. Portraits of Wegener as a woman became popular, and his wife Gerda continued the experiment, and Einar himself began to live under the name Lile Elbe. A few years later, the artistic experiment resulted in a medical experiment: the man realized that he wanted to change his sex, and in Germany he underwent the world's first surgical gender correction. A few years later, Lily died from complications.
It took 15 years for a film based on this story to reach the big screen. In 2000, David Ebershoff's book was born - naturally, it became a bestseller; a couple of years later, a script appeared, which Nicole Kidman herself took on, who dreamed of playing Lila Elbe. Kidman soon abandoned the project, and the script fell into the hands of director Tom Hooper in 2007. “Reading the script, I cried three times, although I’m not at all sentimental,” admits the director.
Hooper knew for sure: Eddie Redmayne should play Leela Elbe. Now we can already appreciate how prescient he was eight years ago, when Redmayne had not yet had his big roles - neither in Les Miserables nor in Stephen Hawking's Universe, for which he received an Oscar. Lili Elbe is a heroine with a tragic fate, and that is why this role is extremely difficult. Here you cannot slip into hyperbolism, you cannot go into travesty, you cannot allow yourself even a fraction of exaltation - you need to always find the right balance.
Yes, I know that Tom Hooper invited me to this film, among other reasons, because there is something feminine in my appearance
And also - to have a noble appearance and turn into a beauty without rouged cheeks. Redmayne was able to do this: he has huge green eyes with curled eyelashes, plump lips, beautiful thin hands, and the freckles scattered across the actor’s face give him naivety and childishness. Playing a woman is not at all a problem for Redmayne. “Yes, I know that Hooper wanted to work with me, partly because there is something feminine in my appearance. “I look a lot like my mother, and my first theater role was Viola in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.”
But that's not the only reason Redmayne agreed. The fact is that for transgender people around the world, Lili Elbe, who lived a hundred years ago, is an icon, an example of how you can be honest with yourself in spite of everything and at any time. For Redmayne, this role is an honor, a challenge and an opportunity to talk about civil rights and LGBT issues. “I spent two years talking with transgender people, listening to their stories, reading books. I learned, for example, that today about 40% of transgender people commit suicide.” Director Lana Wachowski, a good friend of the actor who several years ago underwent gender reassignment surgery: she turned into Lana from Larry, also helped Redmayne immerse himself in the topic.
Tom Hooper calls Redmayne a great actor and says that no one could have played the role better. Eddie does have one important trait: he is a chameleon actor. The transformation of a man into a woman in the film is shown subtly and delicately: here Redmayne’s hero, at that time still Einar, touches the delicate silk of a dress, here he picks up stockings to put them on, here he comfortably wraps his neck in a fur boa - and by the dreamy expression on his face It becomes clear to Einar that it is at this moment that he turns into Lili.
Costume and makeup artists helped Redmayne a lot in creating the image. She and make-up artist Ian Sewell began coming up with makeup a year before filming, because the result had to be magnificent. It was necessary to show that transformations with the hero occur gradually. In addition, it had to be a real woman, not an artificial one, so the makeup could not be overdone - and the artists played with volume and shadows in order to avoid hyper-feminization. According to Jan Sewell, Redmayne was constantly “on” and studying every detail. “One day his wife was present on set, and I noticed Eddie watching her while she was putting on lipstick. He literally ate her with his eyes.” Redmayne takes numerous compliments from his colleagues calmly. “Acting is a pursuit of excellence. And the realization that you will never achieve perfection,” smiles the 33-year-old actor.
The costumes also helped tell the story of Lili Elbe. When Redmayne's character first appears on screen (still as a man), he is dressed in a heavy dark suit, from under which the collar of a starched shirt peeks out. “This is exactly how the Danes dressed in the 1920s: baggy “formal” suits with starched collars that crunched. Einar wears this suit like armor."
“What this man did in 1931 was a huge act of courage,” says Redmayne. – This was before they started using antibiotics: then the properties of penicillin had just been discovered and there were huge risks of infections. Lily went against all odds to find herself. We are making this film to remind the world of her. This is a film about the boundaries that lie between us and the best versions of ourselves, and how we overcome them."
Personal life of Eddie Redmayne
In December 2014, Eddie formalized his relationship with Hannah Backshave, a famous journalist.
In 2020, their daughter Iris Mary was born. The actor met his wife at Eton College, but then their relationship never managed to break beyond friendship. Moreover, after Eton, he entered Cambridge, and she went to Edinburgh. 10 years later they ran into each other at a charity event and started talking. Very soon an engagement ring appeared on the journalist’s finger. The lovers had their wedding in a club, closed from prying eyes.
Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah
Since the age of 26, Eddie has been collaborating with the luxury clothing brand Burberry, and in 2016 he signed an agreement with the Prada fashion house as the new face of the brand. The actor was also repeatedly recognized as one of the best-dressed men according to Vanity Fair magazine.
The actor is the face of the fashion brand Burberry
After Eddie received the Oscar, his parents began renting out their villa on the French coast. In the advertisement they wrote that this is where little Edward spent his childhood.
Eddie Redmayne spent his childhood in a villa on the Cote d'Azur
Having achieved success, Eddie does not forget his old friends. He maintains a friendly relationship with actor Jamie Dornan, with whom he shared an apartment in Los Angeles at the beginning of his career.
Eddie Redmayne and Jamie Dornan have been friends for a long time
Despite his star status, Eddie does not consider it shameful to sometimes take a ride on the subway.
Eddie Redmayne often takes the subway
In addition to his passion for theater and cinema, Eddie loves to watch sports competitions. In 2020, he visited Rio, where the Olympic Games were held.
Eddie Redmayne with his wife
Eddie Redmayne is one of the most talented actors of our time. Inconspicuous in appearance, at 33 years old, he is an Oscar winner, a Tony Award winner, and a winner of Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.
Biography of Eddie Redmayne
The actor was born in London. After finishing primary school, Eddie and his brothers went to study at Eton College. He was lucky to be a classmate of Prince William, but Redmayne's success in the acting field is not at all connected with a successful acquaintance. The future Oscar-winner was always shy, but very emotional, he was drawn to various arts - while studying in college, he was a soloist in the choir, played the piano excellently, and took acting lessons. Eddie Redmayne graduated from the Faculty of Art History at Cambridge.
Despite his success in musical activities, Eddie was most attracted to the theater. From the age of 8, from the moment he watched the production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with his parents, he dreamed of becoming an actor.
Eddie Redmayne has played many significant roles in his career:
- The production of “Twelfth Night” became the debut for the actor;
- production of “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?” earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the Laurence Olivier Award;
- Eddie Reidman received a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his role in the play Red;
- participation in the film “The Theory of Everything” was marked by such awards as an Oscar statuette, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA.
Eddie Redmayne - sexuality
People started talking about the fact that Eddie Redmayne is gay after he played a homosexual in the production of Now or Later. Later, he played the role of a gay character in the production “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?” In one of his first films, “Reading Minds,” the hero he portrayed also has homosexual tendencies. And the film “The Danish Girl,” where Eddie Redmayne played the role of a transgender man, could not help but give rise to rumors - the image turned out to be too vivid.
In fact, suspicions have no basis in evidence. While a college student, Eddie dated Tara Hacking, his childhood friend, for about 8 years. Endless separations associated with acting separated the couple. But the then-beginning actor was lonely for a short time. In 2012, he fell in love with Hannah Backshave.
Eddie Redmayne and Hannah Backshave
Eddie met his future wife at Eton College. But then they were only classmates. In addition, fate separated them then - he continued his education in Cambridge, she in Edinburgh. The next meeting took place only ten years later at a charity evening. Eddie Redmayne has already become a recognizable actor, and Hannah Backshave is a famous journalist.
Their relationship developed quickly; in 2014, The Times published a message in which the actor asked the hand of Hannah Backshave's father - this is an old English tradition. The father was not against the popular son-in-law, and a few months later the engagement took place, in honor of which the groom gave his bride a beautiful engagement ring. Eddie Redmayne married Hannah Backshave on Remembrance Day, surrounded by his closest family and friends at a private club.
Eddie Redmayne now
In 2020, the cartoon “Wild Ancestors” was released, in which the actor voiced one of the characters, Doug. But Eddie devoted the rest of his time to working on the second part of Fantastic Beasts. The Potter characters appeared in this film - young Dumbledore (Jude Law) and his friend and then rival Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), as well as transfiguration professor Minerva McGonagall (Fiona Glascott).
Eddie Redmayne returned to the role of Newt Scamander in the second part of Beasts.
According to Redmayne, the sequel turned out to be much darker.
