Eddie Redmayne has quickly become one of the most sought-after Hollywood actors. After starring as Edward Wilson Jr. in The Good Shepherd, Redmayne has gone on to work with some of the finest filmmakers in the industry. In 2015, Redmayne won an Oscar for Best Leading Actor following his performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Of course, Redmayne also headlines the Fantastic Beasts series as Newt Scamander.
Redmayne can currently be seen in The Aeronauts, which reunites him with his Theory of Everything costar Felicity Jones. To properly prime you for the picture, let’s do a deeper dive on Redmayne’s filmography. Here are the 10 Best Eddie Redmayne movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes!
The Danish Girl (68%)
Redmayne followed up his Oscar-winning campaign in 2015 by boldly stepping into the role of Lili, aka The Danish Girl.
The film charts the romantic exploits of artists Lili Elbe (Redmayne) and Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander), two Danish trailblazers for transgender rights. Redmayne earned his second Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Elbe, while Vikander won an Oscar for Best Leading Actress as Wegener. The film was nominated for four total Academy Awards.
Les Miserables (69%)
Redmayne was afforded the chance to showcase his pipes in the musical adaptation of Les Miserables in 2012. While his costar Anne Hathaway and crew earned most of the awards, critics still enjoyed Redmayne’s turn as Marius.
The classic Victor Hugo tale follows impoverished Parisian Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), who, after breaking parole, is hunted by infamous lawman Javert (Russell Crowe). While on the run from police Valjean vows to look after a young orphan girl as a favor to a friendly factory worker.
The Yellow Handkerchief (66%)
In just his fifth feature film of his career, Redmayne turned heads and won hearts opposite Kristen Stewart in the sweeping romantic road film, The Yellow Handkerchief.
The film follows three wayward loners who suddenly cross paths in Louisiana. Redmayne plays Gordy, a strange traveler who finds Martine (Stewart) in his convertible one day. As the two set off across the American landscape, they meet recently released ex-con Brett (William Hurt) and begin a journey of self-discovery the three will never forget.
Black Death (71%)
From The Yellow Handkerchief to Black Death, Redmayne inhabits one colorful character after another!
Costarring Sean Bean, Black Death follows an impressionable monk, Osmund (Redmayne), during the first wave of the Bubonic plague. Osmund is sent to investigate reports of people returning from the grave and determine the veracity of the accounts. As Osmund nears the truth, he must contend with the evil sorcery of the local village rulers, Hob (Tim McInnerny) and Langiva (Carice Van Houten).
The Aeronauts (72%)
Redmayne reunites with his Theory of Everything costar Felicity Jones for the real-life tale of The Aeronauts, a high-flying inspiration currently playing in theaters worldwide. Will you be attending?
The movie focuses on the advances made in hot-air-balloon travel in 1862 under the watch of scientist James Glaisher (Redmayne) and female pilot Amelia Rennes (Jones). As the two venture to fly higher than anyone in recorded history, a series of challenges is presented in midair that threatens their very existence.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (74%)
Redmayne may have won the role of a lifetime by starring as Newt Scamander in JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It’s certainly among his most lucrative!
Tangentially touching on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the film follows Scamander, a writer who inadvertently stumbles on a clandestine sect of wizards and witches in NYC’s underground. The film was nominated for two Oscars, winning one for Best Costume Design. Despite a lesser-received sequel, the third film in the series is due in November 2021. Will you be watching?
The Theory Of Everything (79%)
If Newt Scamander is Redmayne’s role of a lifetime, so far, the performance of his life easily goes to his depiction of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
The heartfelt biopic chronicles the brilliant mind of Hawking and the insurmountable odds he overcame after receiving a fatal diagnosis. His romance with eventual wife, Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones), showed what a huge heart Hawking had to pair with his unparalleled mind. Redmayne won a much-deserved Oscar for Best Leading Actor.
Thomas & Friends: Sodor’s Legend Of The Lost Treasure (80%)
Despite attracting far fewer eyeballs than his other films, those who indulged (or heard) Redmayne in Thomas & Friends: Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure liked what they saw!
In both US and UK versions, Redmayne voiced the character of Ryan, one of Thomas’ titular friends. The story concerns Thomas and his pals unearthing buried treasure on a hidden pirate ship, and the dogged attempt to save their discoveries from the greedy clutch of Sailor John (John Hurt). All good fun!
Early Man (81%)
One doesn’t often associate such refined British thespians as Redmayne with the animated family fare, but critics fell in love with his character in Early Man. Go figure!
In the film, Redmayne plays Dug, a prehistoric caveman who must bring his village together to take on their arch-nemesis, Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston). Dug must do so with the help of best-friend Hognob (Nick Park, who also directed the film) while traversing the landscape filled with ancient beasts and now-extinct monsters.
My Week With Marilyn (83%)
According to Rotten Tomatoes, My Week With Marilyn is the top-rated Redmayne movie to date. Do you agree with their assessment?
In one of the juiciest roles of his career, Redmayne plays Colin Clark, a personal assistant to Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). The film documents the tumultuous relationship between Olivier and costar Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) as they work together on the film The Prince and the Showgirl. While Monroe takes center stage, the story is told through the eyes of Clark.
