'Eddie and I spent many years being turned down together': Felicity Jones and Theory Of Everything co-star Redmayne talk about their struggle to make it

By Rebecca Davison for MailOnline

Published: 13:28 EST, 10 February 2015 | Updated: 13:46 EST, 10 February 2015

They've won critical acclaim for their roles as Professor Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane in The Theory Of Everything, but success hasn't come easy for Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones.

Talking to Yahoo, Felicity, 31, said their friendship came about partly from experience rejection together as they tried to carve out a name in the tough acting industry. 

She told the site: 'Eddie and I have spent many years auditioning for film and TV projects together, and being turned down together. And then commiserating together. But this was the first time we’d worked together.'

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'We were turned down together': Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne talk about their close bond and enduring rejection in a new interview 

'We were turned down together': Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne talk about their close bond and enduring rejection in a new interview 

With both stars being nominated for a BAFTA - and Eddie securing the coveted Leading Actor Award, he admits that his success his hard to get his head around. 

'Does anyone ever feel comfortable in it? Yeah, I am [perplexed]. I’m not going to lie,' he said. 

But it's fair to say his hard work and the research that went into the role of Stephen, paid off immeasurably - Eddie, 33, spent four months visiting an ALS clinic.  

Plum role: The pair star together in The Theory Of Everything - Eddie plays Professor Stephen Hawking in the biopic
Plum role: The pair star together in The Theory Of Everything - Eddie plays Professor Stephen Hawking in the biopic

Plum role: The pair star together in The Theory Of Everything - Eddie plays Professor Stephen Hawking in the biopic 

He added: 'I’d go to the clinic, and the doctor would meet the patients and say, "There’s a guy playing Stephen Hawking here. Would you be interested in talking to him?"

'I’m so in their debt. All of them had been given a death sentence of some description, of two to 10 years. And yet across the board they were living their lives fully and passionately and with great humour, and it was greatly inspiring.

'I’m one of these people who gets caught up in the anxieties and foibles of the most banal stuff. So it was a great reminder that we only have one life and how we all have obstacles in front of us, but how you want to overcome them is what defines us.'

Researching the role: Eddie, 33, spent four months visiting an ALS clinic in order to learn about Stephen's debilitating condition 

Researching the role: Eddie, 33, spent four months visiting an ALS clinic in order to learn about Stephen's debilitating condition 

The down-to-earth pair are united in the way they express gratitude for employment. 

Felicity muses: 'Early on, you’re so happy to get a job. You need to pay your rent, so you work in all sorts of things. Each film or each part demands something completely different from you. 

'So it’s that thing where if you have too many plans and strategies, they never work out anyways. It’s got to be instinctive. My main thing is to work with interesting, talented directors. You learn so much from them. That’s where I feel more comfortable and happy working.' 

Grateful: Felicity, who plays Stephen's wife Jane, said: 'Early on, you’re so happy to get a job. You need to pay your rent, so you work in all sorts of things'

Doing them justice: Eddie and Felicity as Professor Stephen Hawking and wife Jane in The Theory Of Everything

Doing them justice: Eddie and Felicity as Professor Stephen Hawking and wife Jane in The Theory Of Everything

And when Eddie was asked if his next role can live up to his performance as Hawking, he exclaimed: 'Oh, God, I don’t think I can ever think that way. 

'If our dream is to create interesting stories and play interesting people, they don’t come more extraordinary than Stephen and Jane. 

'I think it’s so rare in one’s lifetime to get the opportunity to tell one of those. I feel really lucky for that. I try not to think of my jobs as competitive with each other. Just retaining employment, frankly, is a wonderful thing.'

Acclaimed: The pair were both BAFTA nominated for their roles, with Eddie nabbing the Leading Actor Award 

Acclaimed: The pair were both BAFTA nominated for their roles, with Eddie nabbing the Leading Actor Award 

Happy: Eddie told the site: 'If our dream is to create interesting stories and play interesting people, they don’t come more extraordinary than Stephen and Jane'

Happy: Eddie told the site: 'If our dream is to create interesting stories and play interesting people, they don’t come more extraordinary than Stephen and Jane'

 

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