Eddie Redmayne has been one of the most celebrated actors of 2015 and he is set to return to the big screen at the beginning of 2016 with his latest film The Danish Girl.
Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl
The Danish Girl sees Redmayne take on the role of Lili Elbe, who goes on a ground-breaking journey as a transgender pioneer as he reunites with filmmaker Tom Hooper; this is their second feature film together.
Redmayne is already in the Best Actor mix at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards and looks set to pick up another Oscar nomination. To celebrate his return, we take a look at his top three performances so far.
- The Theory of Everything (2015)
When you are looking back at Redmayne's best movie performances, you can only start with his role as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Hard to believe that a year has already passed since the release of this movie and it was the role that sent Redmayne's star rocketing.
The Theory of Everything was a biopic movie that followed Hawking from his university days, where he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease - something that was to change his life forever.
This is a powerful movie about battling against the odds as well as an incredible love story between Stephen and his first wife Jane - played wonderfully b Felicity Jones.
The physical transformation that Redmayne goes through to take on this role if phenomenal - but it is the emotional journey that both Redmayne and Jones go on as Stephen and Jane that packs the greatest punch in the film.
There is a wonderful bond between Redmayne and Jones and is it their central performances that really drive this film forward. It is a wonderful character study about an iconic figure as well as a wonderful love story; a love that is well and truly put to the test.
Redmayne was the toast of the festival circuit earlier this year, as he won Best Actor at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Baftas, and at the Oscars. It was the first Oscar nomination of his acting career. We are going to have to wait and see if he can make it two wins on the trot.
- Les Misérables (2013)
It was back in 2013 that Redmayne teamed up with filmmaker Hooper for the first time as he brought musical Les Misérables back to the big screen. This was the first film for Hooper since he enjoyed Oscar success with The King's Speech.
Redmayne took on the role of Marius in the film and was joined on the cast list by Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter.
Les Misérables is a wonderful ensemble performance from the cast and Redmayne is one of the actors who really does shine. Redmayne shows off his singing abilities as Marius and he is one of the actors who really excels in the singing moments of the movie.
Redmayne has a great on screen relationship with Amanda Seyfried and their relationship is one of the most important in the second half of the movie. Together, Redmayne and Seyfried are perfect and the musical numbers they have together are just terrific.
Redmayne really captures the conflict of Marius beautifully; does he stay with Cosette or does he take his place on the barricade and fight for what he believes in - even if that means death? He is a conflicted character, he is a character filled with uncertainty and Redmayne gets that across wonderfully well.
Les Misérables was a critical and commercial success when it was released in 2013 and went on to be nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture.
- My Week with Marilyn (2011)
It was back in 2011 when Redmayne started to really make a name for himself on the big screen as he teamed up with Michelle Williams for My Week With Marilyn.
My Week With Marilyn is based on the memoirs by Colin Clark, who was an employee of Sir Laurence Olivier and worked on his film The Prince and the Showgirl - where he met and befriended Marilyn Monroe for the first time.
Redmayne took on the role of Clark in the film, Williams was on board as Monroe and Simon Curtis was in the director's chair making his feature film debut.
It is Williams who is the heart and soul of this movie as she gives a charming and magnetic performance as Monroe; capturing her star quality as well as her vulnerability and insecurity. However, Redmayne does give a wonderful supporting performance as Colin Clark.
There is a wonderful bond between Williams and Redmayne as Clark get pulled further and further into Monroe's world and she became dependent on him.
Curtis has shot a really beautiful movie that captures that heart and the essence of a bygone era - there is a certain amount of magic in this film as we see some of the greatest stars brought to life on the big screen
My Week With Marilyn was a huge critical hit when it was released at the end of 2011 and went on to pick up two Oscar nominations and three Golden Globe nods.
Other Redmayne performances to check out include Glorious 39, Black Death and TV series Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The Pillars of the Earth.
The Danish Girl is released 1st January 2016.
Tagged in Les Miserables Eddie Redmayne