Eddie Redmayne | Success Story of the Leading English Actor

Eddie Redmayne is one of the industry’s most reputed actors. He has been a part of the entertainment industry for over two decades. Eddie rose to fame during the 2010s after appearing in blockbuster movies like My Week with Marilyn, Les Misérables, The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl, and the Fantastic Beasts film series. Eddie has won the prestigious Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and a Tony Award for his outstanding performances. Recently, he starred in the third installment of the blockbuster Fantastic Beasts franchise. It is one of the year’s most successful films.

About

Eddie Redmayne is an English actor from London, England. He is famous for his versatile and convincing acting skills. Eddie gained worldwide recognition after portraying deceased physicist Stephen Hawking in the biographical drama The Theory of Everything. His role earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. In his career, Eddie has worked with iconic artists like Emma Watson, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Channing Tatum, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Jessica Chastain, and Judi Dench. In 2015, he received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for contributing to the drama services.

Early Life

On the 6th of January 1982, Eddie John David Redmayne was born in Westminster, London, England. His father, Richard Redmayne, is a corporate finance businessman. In contrast, his mother, Patricia Burke, owns a relocation business. Eddie has an elder and a younger brother. He also has two half-siblings. For schooling, Eddie attended The Eaton House Group of Schools. Later, for preparatory education, he went to Colet Court. From a young age, Eddie decided that he wanted to become an actor. Eddie enrolled at Jackie Palmer Stage School to learn acting at age ten. The acting school’s principal was quick to notice young Eddie’s talent. 

Eddie attended the prestigious Eton College in Berkshire, England, for higher studies. At college, he was on the same rugby team as Prince William. While Eddie was at Jackie Palmer Stage School, he also discovered his love for singing. After completing his studies at Eton, Eddie earned a choral scholarship to attend the prominent Cambridge University. At Cambridge, he studied the History of Art at Trinity College. Eddie’s first onstage appearance was at age eleven. He played a minor role in Sam Mendes’ production of Oliver. However, he did not get a chance to meet the legendary artist.

Beginning of Career

In 1998, Eddie made his small screen debut with Animal Ark, a children’s book series. Later, in 2002, while studying at Cambridge, Eddie made his professional stage debut. He portrayed Viola, the protagonist in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. After that, Eddie got a role in Edward Albee’s play The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? In 2004, he received the Outstanding Newcomer Award for his performance at the 50th Evening Standard Theatre Awards. As a result, Eddie started gaining recognition in the industry. Soon after that, he landed his first big-screen role. In 2006, Gregory J. Read cast him as Alex Forbes in the Australian thriller Like Minds. The same year, Eddie portrayed Edward Wilson Jr. in the star-studded American spy movie The Good Shepherd. It was a commercial success. In 2008, Eddie began his modeling career with fashion giant Burberry. He modeled with the renowned actor and model Alex Pettyfer.

Pathway to Success

In the late 2000s, Eddie began getting more promising roles in movies and plays. He starred in significant projects like Red, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Savage Grace, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Yellow Handkerchief, and Glorious 39. However, it was in 2011 that Eddie gained broader recognition in the industry. Simon Curtis cast him in the biographical drama My Week with Marilyn. The film was a massive critical and commercial success. There was no looking back for Eddie after the movie’s success. In 2012, he starred in the epic musical drama  Les Misérables. The film garnered unparalleled success. Both My Week with Marilyn and  Les Misérables earned Academy Award nominations. The latter was a winner of three Oscars.

Worldwide Recognition

After gaining considerable recognition as an actor, Eddie landed his most prominent project. James Marsh cast him as the legendary physicist Stephen Hawking in the biographical drama The Theory of Everything. Eddie spent over six months preparing himself for the iconic portrayal. He watched every interview footage of the late physicist. The film became one of the year’s most significant commercial and critical hits. The role earned Eddie his first-ever Academy Award nomination and the award itself. Eddie also won the prestigious BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Actor. His global popularity grew further during the 2010s with movies like The Danish Girl and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Eddie Redmayne became one of the industry’s most reputed actors through these memorable films.

Also read: Benedict Cumberbatch | Success Story of the Phenomenal Actor