The five movies that inspired Eddie Redmayne to be an actor
Since making his feature film debut in 2006, Eddie Redmayne has become a staple on our screens. He has proven his aptitude for theatre in several Shakespeare adaptations. In addition to a role in Cabaret, he has delved into drama with The Trial of the Chicago 7 and The Theory of Everything, landing a ‘Best Actor’ win, and even took on the blockbusting wizarding world as the lead in the Fantastic Beasts series.
Long before he was winning Oscars and leading franchises, Redmayne first found his love for film through Robin Hood. Speaking with A.frame about the five movies that inspired his career, the Fantastic Beasts star picked out the film for its prevalence in his childhood. “I could pretty much deliver every line of that movie,” he boasted.
The Disney film still holds importance in Redmayne’s life even now, as it has become a favourite he still watches with his children. “When you have kids that there are those few movies that you are desperate for your children to love as much as you do,” he stated, “and fortunately, they do.”
Another film that has maintained its relevance throughout Redmayne’s career is Cabaret. Directed by Bob Fosse, the beloved musical had an impact on the actor from its very first shot, which he suggests is “etched onto [his] retina”. With the statement that the movie catalysed his decision to become an actor, it seems like a full circle moment that Redmayne will return to the stage next year to take on the role of The Emcee in the show.
Redmayne’s earliest pick comes from director George Stevens in 1956 with Giant, which marked James Dean’s final film performance. Redmayne was particularly taken by his use of physicality, which seems to have maintained its importance in his own acting, from working with a movement director and choreographer behind the scenes of The Theory of Everything to embodying the dorkiness of Newt Scamander.
The actor rounds out the list with two picks from the early years of the 21st century, just before Redmayne embarked upon his career. Ha names Paweł Pawlikowski’s My Summer of Love and Jacques Audiard’s The Beat That My Heart Skipped. He picks out one particular scene from the latter, in which Roman Duris takes a nervous pause before playing the piano, a moment in which Redmayne saw himself reflected on screen. “I thought that it was an insight into the power of film in a very intimate moment,” he declared.
Ranging from folktale adaptations to modern neo-noir, Redmayne’s list is just as varied and curated as his own filmography. It’s not difficult to see how each choice impacted his own acting and career choices, from channelling James Dean to appearing in Cabaret.
Find the full list of films below.
Five movies that inspired Eddie Redmayne:
- Giant (George Stevens, 1956)
- Cabaret (Bob Fosse, 1972)
- Robin Hood (Wolfgang Reitherman, 1973)
- My Summer of Love (Paweł Pawlikowski, 2004)
- The Beat That My Heart Skipped (Jacques Audiard, 2005)
