From Magic Tricks to Awkward Kisses: 14 Facts About Eddie Redmayne

14 Fun Facts About Eddie Redmayne That'll Make You Love Him Even More

Eddie Redmayne isn’t just another Hollywood star—he’s a mix of posh schooling, unexpected career twists, and an obsession with magic. From nearly playing Spider-Man to casually tackling Prince William in rugby, his journey is anything but ordinary. And just when you think he’s done it all, he stuns audiences in The Day of the Jackal, his latest hit series.

This modern adaptation of the classic thriller has been a massive success, earning high ratings and rave reviews. Critics have praised Eddie’s chilling performance, proving once again that he can master any role he takes on.

But beyond the awards and iconic roles, there’s so much more to Eddie. Let’s dive into 14 fun facts about the man behind the characters!

1. He Went to School With Prince William 🎩👑

Before he was winning Oscars and casting spells in Fantastic Beasts, Eddie Redmayne was rubbing shoulders with royalty. He attended Eton College, one of the UK’s most elite schools, where he was classmates with none other than Prince William. And get this—they weren’t just passing acquaintances; they were actually on the same rugby team! Imagine casually tackling the future King of England during gym class.

Eddie has joked in interviews that while he was "a bit of a scrawny kid," Prince William was already quite athletic and had a "competitive streak." But despite his royal classmate, Eddie wasn’t exactly the most popular guy at school. He described himself as an “awkward overachiever” who was more into art and drama than sports.

While they weren’t besties, it’s wild to think that Eddie went from sharing a classroom with the future King to becoming Hollywood royalty himself. Maybe one day, we’ll see him at Buckingham Palace for an official Fantastic Beasts screening.

2. He Was Almost Spider-Man 🕷️🎥

Before Andrew Garfield landed the role of Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man, Eddie Redmayne actually auditioned for the part. But let’s just say… it didn’t go well.

Eddie revealed in an interview that when he went in to audition, he figured he needed to nail the classic “surprised Spidey” face—y'know, the one Peter Parker makes when he first discovers his powers. So, in the middle of his audition, he randomly widened his eyes, trying to look shocked and heroic. Unfortunately, the casting directors were not impressed.

“I remember doing this weird wide-eyed thing,” Eddie recalled, “and they were just like… ‘Thank you.’” No follow-up, no second take, just a polite British rejection.

It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Andrew Garfield in the role, but can you picture Eddie Redmayne swinging through New York, slinging webs, and awkwardly flirting with Gwen Stacy? While it wasn’t meant to be, things worked out just fine—Eddie went on to win an Oscar, and Andrew got to be an iconic Spidey.

3. His First Kiss Was a Total Disaster 💋😳

Eddie may be a charming leading man now, but his first kiss? Yeah, not so smooth.

In a painfully relatable moment, Eddie once shared that his first kiss was, in his own words, an “absolute disaster”. He was super nervous, probably sweating bullets, and went in way too aggressively. Instead of a magical movie moment, it ended up being, well... messy.

“The girl literally told me afterward that it was disgusting,” Eddie admitted. Oof. Imagine your first kiss ending with a verbal review—and not a good one.

It’s hilarious to think that someone once cringed at kissing Eddie Redmayne, considering he later went on to star in some of the most romantic films ever (Les Misérables, The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl). But hey, we all start somewhere. If anything, it just proves that even the most swoon-worthy actors have their awkward teenage moments.

4. He Has Face Blindness (Kinda) 😵‍💫👀

Ever met someone, had a whole conversation, and then completely forgot their face five minutes later? Well, Eddie Redmayne deals with that all the time.

He has a condition called prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, which makes it really hard to recognize people’s faces—even if he’s met them multiple times. In Hollywood, where networking is everything, this has led to some seriously awkward moments. Imagine having to reintroduce yourself to famous co-stars over and over again.

Eddie has said that he sometimes just pretends to recognize people because he doesn’t want to seem rude. So, if you ever see him nodding along at an event, looking slightly confused, there’s a good chance he’s internally panicking because he has no idea who he’s talking to.

Honestly, if Eddie Redmayne ever forgets your face, don’t take it personally—it’s literally a medical condition. If anything, it just adds to his awkward, endearing charm.

5. He Got His Role in Fantastic Beasts on the Toilet 🧻🦉

Landing a major Hollywood role is usually a glamorous moment—except when you find out while sitting on the toilet. Yes, Eddie Redmayne discovered he had been cast as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them while literally in the bathroom.

In an interview, Eddie confessed that he had been waiting for weeks to hear back about whether he got the role. He was so anxious that when his phone finally rang, he answered it immediately—without realizing he was still in the middle of some very personal business.

“I was literally on the loo when they called,” Eddie laughed. “So, I was trying to sound really cool and professional, but in reality, I was just sitting there thinking, ‘This is not how I pictured this moment.’”

Honestly, imagine being cast as the lead in a Harry Potter spinoff while on the toilet. Talk about humble beginnings. But hey, whether it’s in a fancy Hollywood office or a bathroom stall, a win is a win.

6. He Can Sing, But He's Super Insecure About It 🎶😬

Eddie Redmayne absolutely killed it as Marius in Les Misérables, but fun fact—he was terrified of singing in front of other people. Like, full-blown panic mode.

Even though he trained for months and worked with professional vocal coaches, Eddie has admitted that he always felt like the weakest singer in the cast. To be fair, he was sharing the screen with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried, all of whom have major musical theater experience. But still—he totally held his own.

During the Les Mis filming process, director Tom Hooper made things even more intense by having the actors sing live on set instead of pre-recording their vocals. Eddie was basically out there raw-dogging Broadway-level songs in front of a huge film crew. No pressure, right?

Despite his nerves, he nailed it, and his performance in Les Mis remains one of his most emotional (and underrated) roles. But yeah, if you ever run into Eddie at a karaoke night, don’t expect him to grab the mic anytime soon.

7. He's Besties With Robert Pattinson 🦇✨

Okay, imagine this: Eddie Redmayne and Robert Pattinson—two of Britain’s most awkwardly charming actors—being besties. Sounds like a fever dream, right? But nope, it’s totally real.

Before they were famous, Eddie and Rob were just two struggling actors trying to make it big. They used to crash at each other’s places, go to auditions together, and even share the same rejections. In fact, they both auditioned for Twilight, and while Rob got cast as Edward Cullen, Eddie didn’t even make it past the first round. (Honestly, can you imagine Eddie as a sparkly vampire?)

Eddie has said that he and Rob used to roam around LA together, desperately trying to land roles while being broke as hell. Fast forward a few years, and now one’s an Oscar winner, and the other is Batman. Talk about a glow-up.

Even today, they still support each other’s careers—and let’s be real, a Redmayne-Pattinson collab needs to happen immediately.

8. His Wife Thought Fantastic Beasts Was About Pokémon 🎮🦄

When Eddie told his wife, Hannah Bagshawe, that he had landed a major role in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, her first reaction was… pure confusion.

She thought the movie was somehow related to Pokémon and assumed Eddie would be running around catching little animated creatures. Honestly? A fair assumption. Let’s be real—if you hear the title Fantastic Beasts, it does sound a bit like some Pokémon spinoff.

Hannah even admitted later that she didn’t fully understand what the Wizarding World franchise was about, so when Eddie told her he was playing a magizoologist named Newt Scamander, she was like, “Cool… but does that mean you’re battling Pikachu?”

Thankfully, she eventually figured it out and has been super supportive of his role in the Harry Potter universe. But we can all agree—Eddie Redmayne in a Pokémon movie? Not the worst idea.

9. He Almost Died Filming Jupiter Ascending 🚀🔥

We all love Eddie for his period dramas and magical adventures, but let’s not forget the chaotic mess that was Jupiter Ascending. This 2015 sci-fi movie was… something. It had space royalty, flying wolfmen (shoutout to Channing Tatum’s weird CGI), and Eddie playing a whispering, over-the-top villain named Balem Abrasax.

But what most people don’t know is that Eddie almost got seriously injured while filming. During one of his big villainous monologues, a stunt went horribly wrong, and he was nearly set on fire.

Eddie was wearing an insanely elaborate costume, and at one point, pyrotechnics on set went a little too wild, making him way too close to actual flames. He later admitted that while the movie itself wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, the experience was terrifyingly real.

Moral of the story? Sci-fi villains have a dangerous job.

10. He's Obsessed With Magic Tricks 🎩✨

If you thought Eddie Redmayne’s commitment to playing a wizard in Fantastic Beasts was just acting, think again—he’s genuinely obsessed with magic tricks.

Apparently, while prepping for his role as Newt Scamander, Eddie became lowkey addicted to sleight-of-hand magic. He spent hours learning card tricks, coin tricks, and other illusions, just for fun. And now? He whips out magic tricks randomly at parties, on set, and probably while waiting in line at Starbucks.

Even before Fantastic Beasts, Eddie was lowkey a magic nerd. He used to watch magic shows as a kid, and now that he’s technically a part of the Wizarding World, he’s fully embracing his inner magician.

Honestly, imagine being at a party, and Eddie Redmayne just casually pulls a rabbit out of his sleeve. That’s the kind of energy we need in 2024.

11. His Parents Didn't Believe in His Acting Career 🎭🙃

Imagine telling your parents you want to be an actor, and their first response is, “Are you sure? How about banking instead?” That’s exactly what happened to Eddie Redmayne.

Before he became an Oscar-winning star, Eddie’s parents were lowkey skeptical about his career choice. They loved him, of course, but they didn’t think acting was a “real job”—which, let’s be honest, is a super common Gen Z struggle too. His dad even pushed him toward finance, suggesting he work in banking because, y’know, job security.

But Eddie was determined. Instead of playing it safe, he stuck with acting, took small roles wherever he could, and grinded for years before finally breaking through. And now? He’s won an Academy Award, starred in Harry Potter spinoffs, and has worked with Hollywood’s biggest names.

Safe to say, his parents have definitely changed their minds. Moral of the story? Chase your dreams, even if your parents don’t get it at first.

12. He Had a Wildly Embarrassing Fashion Phase 👕😂

Eddie Redmayne is now known for being a total style icon—he’s rocked some of the best suits on the red carpet, and designers love dressing him. But believe it or not, he wasn’t always this stylish. In fact, he went through a deeply tragic fashion phase in his early years.

During college, Eddie was that guy who thought layering way too many clothes was the move. He once admitted that he was obsessed with bright-colored corduroy pants, strange oversized coats, and accessories that absolutely didn’t match. If TikTok had been around back then, he would’ve been roasted so hard.

Thankfully, he eventually figured out his fashion game (shoutout to his wife, Hannah, who probably helped). Now, he’s literally a Burberry model and consistently tops “Best Dressed” lists. Talk about a glow-up.

So, if you’re currently looking back at your own questionable fashion choices, don’t worry—if Eddie Redmayne could go from fashion disaster to red carpet king, there’s hope for all of us.

13. He's Too Awkward for Social Media 📵🙈

Eddie Redmayne is one of the few celebrities who has zero social media accounts. No Instagram, no Twitter, not even a lowkey finsta. And the reason? He says he’s too awkward to handle it.

In an interview, Eddie admitted that social media stresses him out. He’s convinced he’d either post something embarrassing or forget to update it entirely. He even said, “I would just be that person who posts once a year and then disappears.”

Honestly? Kind of relatable. Imagine Eddie trying to post a casual selfie but overthinking the caption for three hours before giving up. That’s the energy we’re working with.

But let’s be real—if Eddie did join social media, his TikTok would be pure chaotic gold. Just picture him posting magic tricks, awkward behind-the-scenes moments, and struggling to figure out filters. We need this to happen.

Until then, we’ll just have to rely on paparazzi pics and red carpet interviews for our Eddie content fix.

14. He Got His First Acting Role Because of a Crush 💕🎭

We all do dumb things for a crush, but Eddie Redmayne? He literally became an actor because of one.

Back in school, Eddie had a massive crush on a girl who was really into drama club. Desperate to impress her, he decided to audition for the school play, thinking it would be his way in. And guess what? He got the part!

The crush? Nothing happened. She didn’t even end up noticing him like that. But Eddie? He discovered his true passion for acting, and that one decision set him on the path to Hollywood stardom.

Moral of the story? Sometimes, unrequited crushes lead to Oscar-winning careers. So, next time you’re about to do something embarrassing for someone you like, just remember—it could accidentally make you famous.

So there you have it—Eddie Redmayne, the awkward king of talent, magic tricks, and embarrassing first kisses. Whether he’s starring in Oscar-winning movies or dodging fire on sci-fi sets, he remains one of the most lovable actors of our time.

Stay tuned for more chaotic celeb facts and Gen Z deep dives at Woke Waves Magazine!

#EddieRedmayne #HollywoodFacts #FantasticBeasts #GenZCulture #CelebrityTrivia