Eddie Redmayne has found his niche. Similar to Keira Knightley, who after Bend It Like Beckham managed to star exclusively in period dramas, Redmayne has a knack for biopic storytelling.
The 34-year-old British actor won the Academy Award last year for Best Actor after his moving portrayal of Stephen Hawkins in The Theory of Everything.
You can watch his acceptance speech below. Post continues after video.
Now, Redmayne has received his second Oscar nod (along with praise for his chameleon-like talents) for his role as Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl.
The biopic centres around Elbe, a transgender artist who lived in Denmark in the early 20th century and was one of the first ever recipients of a gender reassignment surgery.
Yet, it’s the film’s little-known star, Swedish native Alicia Vikander, who plays Elbe’s wife, Gerda that surprises as the films secret weapon.
27-year-old Vikander's portrayal of Gerda commands the audience to be on her side from the opening credits. She's likeable, humourous, charismatic, and genuinely happy with her husband's success as an artist despite curators shunning her work.
In the first few minutes she tells the story of how the pair met at art school, where she asked him out. This inner confidence is a wonder to watch, but is also that much more gut-wrenching to see it be broken down bit by bit as she attempts to make sense of her world shifting.
Watch the trailer for The Danish Girl below. Post continues after video.
