Eddie Redmayne was gutted Stephen Hawking was not considered well enough to attend the Academy Awards.
The 33-year-old actor, who starred as the theoretical physicist in ‘The Theory of Everything’, collected the Best Actor gong at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles last night (22.02.15), but was disappointed he wasn’t able to share his success with Hawking, who was banned from travelling to the event by medics.
Redmayne, who’s developed a friendship with Hawking and his family, confessed: "He’ll be missed."
Anthony McCarten – the film’s scriptwriter – explained that Hawking, who suffers from motor neurone disease, was not considered fit to fly to the ceremony, saying: "Stephen has been told by doctors he is not well enough to fly here."
Earlier this month, Hawking attended the British Academy Film Awards in London, where he witnessed Redmayne collect the award for Best Actor.
After the event in the British capital, Redmayne, Hawking and other members of the Professor’s family spent time together, enjoying the success of the James Marsh-directed film.
Meanwhile, speaking in Los Angeles, Redmayne said Hawking would be "honoured" by the film’s Oscars success.
Redmayne overcame competition from Michael Keaton, Bradley Cooper, Steve Carell and Benedict Cumberbatch to win the prestigious Best Actor prize.
Eddie Redmayne ‘gutted’ about Stephen Hawking’s Oscars absence
