Eddie Redmayne, best known for his role in ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Theme’ and his Oscar-winning performance in ‘The Theory of Everything’, has spent a significant amount of time reflecting on the complexities of his career choices.
In a candid discussion with actor Penn Badgley on the Podcrushed podcast, Redmayne opened up about the controversies surrounding his portrayals in certain roles. While he reflects on his past roles, he believes he would not take them on now.
Eddie Redmayne Regrets Playing A Trans Woman In ‘The Danish Girl’
Eddie Redmayne talked about his turn as the Emcee in ‘Cabaret’ and his portrayal of Lili Elbe, a transgender woman, in ‘The Danish Girl’. “I have a history of parts that I’ve played that have been problematic in some of those choices,” Redmayne admitted.
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“And I’ve spent a lot of time ruminating on those things and wondering what I would do differently,” he added. The 2015 film ‘The Danish Girl’ garnered him critical acclaim and his second Oscar nomination. However, it also drew backlash for casting a cisgender actor in a trans role.
Moreover, the actor expressed regret over taking the role of a cis male. “No, I wouldn’t take it on now,” he said in a 2021 interview. “I made that film with the best intentions, but I think it was a mistake,” he explained. Redmayne’s reflections on his past choices reveal an actor who has learned from his mistakes.
Moreover, his commitment to understanding and adapting shows growth. “I’ve learned my lesson,” he said. “And I didn’t take the part on without knowing exactly what I was doing.” The path to growth is rarely straightforward and Eddie Redmayne is definitely on it.
Eddie Redmayne’s Bold Take On Emcee In ‘Cabaret’
Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of the Emcee in the 2021 West End Broadway revival of ‘Cabaret’ stirred new discussions about queer-coded roles and their portrayals. He was aware that casting him, a cisgender, heterosexual man, in an iconic part frequently seen as queer would provoke criticism.
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“When I was cast, people assumed I was taking an iconically queer role, and whilst I absolutely understand that discussion, I also think that character is descriptionless and deserves any form of interpretation,” he explained. Despite the initial backlash, Redmayne approached the role with a unique vision.
He further emphasized the ambiguous and sinister nature of the character. “My take on the Emcee, rather than being the victim, was as the perpetrator,” he said. Eddie crafted a version of the Emcee that evolves from a mischievous figure to an emblem of complicity.
“He starts in this world where he lulls audiences in and skewers them, people who have paid a lot of money to be slapped in the face a bit,” Redmayne explained. “Gradually, this Puckish figure rises into the Aryan perpetrator.” While some audiences were skeptical of this fresh take, others found it compelling.
A lot of people praised Redmayne’s layered performance. He acknowledged that part of his learning has been understanding the nuances of portraying roles that intersect with marginalized experiences. “I was upset by the backlash when it was announced, but I had faith in my own take on the role,” he reflected.
