Eddie Redmayne has added a Best Actor award to his belt after winning for his role in the Stephen Hawking biopic, "The Theory of Everything." The actor talks about feeling anxious stepping into the role of the "A Brief History in Time" author and scientist.
According to Daily Mail, "The Theory of Everything" came among the top winners at this year's Golden Globe Awards held on January 11. Redmayne won the Best Actor in a Drama, while Johann Johannsson, an Icelandic composer, won for Best Score.
Playing the role of Hawking was no easy feat for Redmayne, who confessed that the role came with "so many levels of anxiety." In an interview with The Telegraph, Redmayne says, "You're playing someone that people know, he's also an icon, he's also living, he's a scientist of extraordinary talent."
Redmayne mentions having to lose the weight he needed to gain for "Jupiter Ascending" in order to portray Hawking. "It's a weird thing, but you sort of begin to lose track of who you are," the actor details.
Also to prepare for his role, The Telegraph reports Redmayne reading up to the second chapter of "A Brief History of Time" by Hawking, working with neurologists, and meeting with sufferers of the same disease Hawking suffered. Redmayne also devoted some time to watching footages of Hawking and talking to students of the scientist.
"The physical aspects of the role were particularly grueling: Reymayne depicts in precise and painful detail the deterioration of Hawking's body caused by the onset of motor neurone disease, which robbed him of movement and eventually the ability to speak," The Telegraph explains.
After filming for "The Theory of Everything," Redmayne did not work immediately, stating that it took a while for him to recover.
The newly-wed actor also mentioned in his acceptance speech that he had to cut his honeymoon with wife Hannah Bagshawe short to get to Los Angeles, E! Online details. "I thank the HFPA for giving me and us a night at the end of our honeymoon we will remember," Redmayne says.
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