Spotlight On: Eddie Redmayne

As this talented actor transitions from musicals to challenging roles, like Stephen Hawking in the awards season contender ‘The Theory of Everything,’ here’s a  look back at his impressive career so far.

Retitled 'Murderous Intent' for its American release, this Australian psychological drama cast Redmayne as a boarding school student who responds to roommate's morbid habits with fear and fascination.

Redmayne appeared in this controversial, critically divisive film based on the infamous Baekeland family. He plays young Antony Baekeland, who suffered from schizophrenia and was drawn into an incestuous relationship with his mother (played by Julianne Moore).

A remake of the 1977 Japanese film, this drama stars William Hurt as an ex-convict who hitches a ride with two teens (Redmayne and Kristen Stewart) for a journey of self-reflection. The few that turned out for this film couldn’t stop talking about Redmayne’s performance.

The actor makes a notable appearance at the tail-end of this historical drama. His William Stafford provided Scarlett Johansson's Mary an escape from the intrigue and danger of King Henry's court.

This drama has the distinction of being the late Patrick Swayze's final film role. Redmayne appears as part of an ensemble cast, all united by interconnected conflicts on Christmas Eve. As a mortician in love with a single mom (Jessica Biel), Redmayne manages to standout amongst the supporting players.

If ‘Downton Abbey’ were re-imagined as a conspiracy thriller, the result might be something like this period drama. Redmayne played one member of the illustrious but troubled Keyes family in the build-up to World War II.

Redmayne’s resume has yet to meet a period piece it didn’t like. In ‘Black Death,’ the actor takes a trip to Medieval times – alongside ‘Game of Thrones’ Sean Bean – playing a pious, love-struck monk. His character soon teams up with Bean’s heroic, noble knight in this action/horror mash-up.

This Marilyn Monroe biopic was set during the 1957 filming of ‘The Prince and the Showgirl.’ Here, Redmayne plays an aspiring filmmaker who scored a job driving around Ms. Monroe (Michelle Williams) for one hectic week. The movie received some critical and awards attention, with Redmayne’s subtle work earning significant praise.

This much-anticipated adaptation of the popular stage musical firmly put the actor – and his voice talents – on Hollywood’s radar. As Marius, the young revolutionary who falls for the daughter of Jean Valjean, Redmayne more than holds his own opposite stars Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.

In what may be his most impressive performance to date, Redmayne portrays famous physicist Stephen Hawking in this biopic that traces Hawking’s career, family life, and battle with ALS.

Fans are eager to see Redmayne take a villainous turn in the upcoming sci-fi epic from the Wachowskis. Can the siblings recapture the appeal of the original ‘Matrix’ film? Having Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis along for the ride can’t hurt their chances.