Eddie Redmayne Almost Had a Meltdown Before Filming 'Theory of Everything'

Eddie Redmayne looks slick in his suit on the cover of The Mr Porter Post‘s latest issue.

Here is what the 32-year-old Theory of Everything actor had to share with the mag:

On almost having a meltdown before filming began: “The first scene was at the start of the film, pre-diagnosis. The second was when Stephen was using two walking sticks. By the third, he was in his second wheelchair. I was terrified. It was like I’d been asked to write a sentence in permanent ink starting with one word at the beginning, one at the middle and one at the end. I was having a complete meltdown – it was four in the morning, I was getting picked up at five, and I hadn’t slept. I was thinking, ‘I can’t start a job like this’.”

On the Oscar buzz for his work: “Please don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful compliment… I just hope it serves to get the story out to more people…”

On Stephen Hawking’s reaction to the movie: “I met him again just before he saw the film. I said, ‘Stephen, I hope you enjoy it, and please let me know what you think.’ A minute or two passed as he typed away with his eye-tracking software. Then, in that famous, vaguely robotic voice, he replied: ‘I will let you know what I think. Good, or otherwise.’”

For more from Eddie, visit MrPorter.com!