Eddie Redmayne reveals Sir Ian McKellen inspired him to become an actor... as he admits his family 'weren't massively into film'
Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne has revealed how Sir Ian McKellen inspired him to become an actor, as he was named the new ambassador of the film education charity Into Film.
The 33-year-old star, who won the best actor Oscar for his performance as astrophysicist Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything, said watching McKellen's portrayal of King Richard III in the 1995 big-screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's play sparked his passion for stage and movies.
Redmayne, who studied at Eton College in the same year as Prince William, said: 'When I heard about Into Film, one of the things that I thought was so extraordinary was how little of that I had when I went to school.'
Scroll down for video
Inspiration: Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne says Sir Ian McKellan inspired him to become an actor
The Cambridge graduate explained: 'I went to probably the most privileged school in the country, and there, somehow because our country - because of Shakespeare - we have this extraordinary theatre legacy and we all feel like it's very important and wonderful - and it is - but what I found is that I got into Shakespeare when I saw a film version of it with Gandalf playing Richard III, and that was when I first got really interested in theatre and in film.'
Passion for film: Eddie said watching McKellen's portrayal of King Richard III in the 1995 big-screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's play sparked his passion for stage and movies
The London-born star made his major stage debut in 2002 as Viola in the Shakespeare's Globe production of Twelfth Night. He has also played King Richard II in the Donmar Warehouse production of Shakespeare's play, Richard II, as well as roles in films such as Les Miserables, My Week With Marilyn and Jupiter Ascending.
Redmayne, who next plays transgender artist Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl and is set to play 'magizoologist' Newt Scamander in the upcoming Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, admitted he did not watch many films when he was growing up.
'My life is film, but it wasn't when I was a kid. My family weren't massively into film, I didn't see a huge amount myself when I was at school - theatre was the thing,' he said.
'I always thought that film was entertainment, it wasn't something you could learn from and my God, I was mistaken.
'So since then I've been trying to up my film literacy and it's been an extraordinary adventure and it continues to be. Often with film we love watching it because it's immersive and it's entertaining ... but if you look a bit harder and you ask the questions after, it can be so inspiring. It's an amazing time to be supporting Into Film.'
Redmayne first worked with the UK charity when he joined pupils last year at Westminster Academy to launch Into Film, which aims to educate children and young people aged five to 19 about the benefits of movies. It is supported by the BFI with Lottery funding.
The actor, who married publicist Hannah Bagshawe in December 2014, said the film version of some of his roles can help bring a book to life.
Ambassador: Eddie was interviewed by Eronita Beuiri as he was named the new ambassador of the film education charity Into Film
'I've done some adaptations of famous books but quite difficult books, whether it was Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, which is a massive tome of a thing, which is terrifying and difficult to read, or Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, which again is a brilliant book, and I've had so many people write to me, subsequent to seeing those films, saying it has made them curious to learn more about that period or to read the book,' he explained.
'To really see the specifics and the original material, I think film can be useful in that sense.'
Into Film CEO Paul Reeve said he is 'absolutely thrilled' to have Redmayne as its ambassador.
'As a hugely respected artist, and with his clear love of film and genuine enthusiasm for enabling young people to engage with it, he is a brilliant advocate for what we do. We hope his involvement in Into Film will inspire young people from all corners of the UK,' he said.
Making an impression: Eddie explained 'What I found is that I got into Shakespeare when I saw a film version of it with Gandalf playing Richard III, and that was when I first got really interested in theatre and in film'
- MTV star Chanel West Coast arrested for fight at LA hotspot
- Kelly Osbourne backpedals after off-colored comment on Trump
- Shocking moment Northern California cop pulls gun on man
- Harrowing moment police officer shot dead unarmed black man
- Two men took who synthetic marijuana turned dangerous
- Alleged road rage attackers run over man with his own car
- Kansas town mourns bat boy with 'infectious spirit'
- Mass Brooklyn Bridge road rage brawl stops traffic
- Family Jack Russell Terrier teaches baby how to crawl
- Alaskan woman attacked by bear while jogging with colleague
- Road rage brawl erupts between Uber driver and passenger
- Life jacket found in Georgia could belong to missing teen
- National Enquirer runs DEATHBED photo of Bobbi Kristina in a...
- ISIS executes 19 girls for refusing to have sex with...
- 'I've been on TV for 17 seasons': MTV's Ridiculousness star...
- Tom Brady's diva demands: How millionaire quarterback moaned...
- Pictured: Brave jogger, 20, who fought off a bear with...
- PICTURED: Mad Max cinema gunman, 29, who attacked audience...
- EXCLUSIVE: Dentist who killed Cecil the lion hires armed...
- The nightmare aftermath of Hiroshima: Parents carry burned...
- Drugged, tied up and locked up for six months: Inside...
- EXCLUSIVE: Joe Jackson, 87, suffered stroke after 'taking...
- EXCLUSIVE: Wracked with guilt over Bobbi Kristina's death,...
- Hungry pet shocks its owner by copying baby and saying...