“Theory of Everything” star Eddie Redmayne praised late physicist Stephen Hawking in a touching tribute
Revolutionary physicist Stephen Hawking passed away on March 14th, 2018 at the age of 76 after a lifelong battle with ALS. Since the announcement of his death, the tributes have began pouring in. One of the most moving tributes comes from the actor who brought Hawking’s genius and resilient spirit to the big screen. Eddie Redmayne took home an Oscar in 2014 for his portrayal of Hawking in The Theory of Everything. The actor sweetly remembered the late physicist on Wednesday, March 14th:
“We have lost a truly beautiful mind, an astonishing scientist and the funniest man I have ever had the pleasure to meet, Redmayne said in a statement (via People.com). “My love and thoughts are with his extraordinary family.
Not only did Redmayne have the privilege of sharing Hawking’s story on film, but the two met, and Hawking approved of Redmayne’s performance.
“I thought Eddie Redmayne portrayed me very well,” Hawking shared in a Facebook post several years ago. “At times, I thought it was me. Seeing the film has given me the opportunity to reflect on my life. Although I’m severely disabled, I have been successful in my scientific work. I travel widely and have been to Antarctica and Easter Island, down in a submarine and up on a zero gravity flight. One day I hope to go into space.”
Similarly, Redmayne’s co-star Felicity Jones (who portrayed Hawking’s first wife Jane in the film) released a statement with some kind words after his passing.
"So sad to hear of Stephen’s death. Stephen Hawking pushed the boundaries of who we are and what we believe, Jones wrote. "An extraordinary human who could bring humor to the most despairing moments and find hope in the unknown. He showed the world that anything is possible. My thoughts are with his wonderful family in this difficult time.
The Theory Of Everything did a beautiful job documenting Hawking’s life before and during his ALS diagnosis, his tenacious mind and spirit, and his groundbreaking research on the Big Bang theory. Information on how to watch the film online can be found here.
