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The British actor, 33, took home the Academy Award for best
actor for playing Hawking and the disabling complications of a
motor neuron disease, known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS, over
the course of 30 years.
The Oscar came as little surprise following Golden Globe, SAG
and British BAFTA trophies for his performance, which catapulted
Redmayne from a relative unknown in Hollywood to its newest and
most modest star.
"I am fully aware that I am a lucky, lucky man," Redmayne said
as he held the gold statuette on stage. "This belongs to all of
those people around the world battling ALS."
Redmayne spent seven months preparing to play Hawking, mastering
his physical decline into almost total paralysis as well as his
dry wit, mischievous glint and lady's man charm. He met the
author of "A Brief History of Time" just days before filming
began.
Hawking, now 72, gave his blessing to the film, even though it
is based on the memoir of first wife Jane who married the young
genius when he was given two years to live.
Before "The Theory of Everything," the freckle-faced Redmayne
was best known as an up-and-coming actor in movies such as "My
Week with Marilyn" and the musical "Les Miserables," in which he
played the rebellious young lover, Marius.
Educated among Britain's elite at Eton College and Cambridge
University, Redmayne made his professional acting debut in
London in 2002 at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Eight years later he won Britain's top stage award, an Olivier,
for his role in the play "Red" and followed it with a Tony award
when the play transferred to Broadway.
Redmayne has also worked as a Burberry clothes model, and he
topped the 2015 list of GQ's magazine's 50 best-dressed British
men.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant and Lisa Richwine; Editing by Sandra
Maler and Ken Wills)
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