Eddie Redmayne
A chameleonic actor who disappears into physically demanding roles, from a pioneering physicist to a tormented transgender artist.
Born 1982 (age 44)·English actor·Birthday: January 6·Millennials
Biography
Eddie Redmayne possesses a rare and delicate intensity, an ability to morph his entire physical being to channel the inner lives of extraordinary figures. He didn't burst onto the scene; he meticulously built a stage career in London's West End, earning praise for his nuanced work before Hollywood took notice. His Oscar-winning turn as Stephen Hawking was a masterclass in controlled transformation, conveying a towering intellect through the smallest flicker of his eyes. He followed this with another physically arduous and emotionally raw performance as Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl, securing his reputation for fearless commitment. Whether singing his heart out in Les Misérables, leading a magical franchise in Fantastic Beasts, or playing a chilling serial killer in The Good Nurse, Redmayne approaches each role with a research-driven, almost painterly attention to detail, making the unbelievable palpably human.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Eddie was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
- Received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Red.
- Nominated for a second Academy Award for his leading role in The Danish Girl.
- Played the central role of Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts film series.
Did You Know?
He and Prince William were contemporaries at Eton College.
He is a model and has been a face for Burberry fragrance campaigns.
He has a degree in History of Art from Trinity College, Cambridge.
He is colorblind.
“The joy of acting is that you can lose yourself in another character and actually be paid for it.”
