Eddie Redmayne Calls Role In This Award-Winning Film ‘A Mistake’

Actor Eddie Redmayne is a 39-year-old English actor and model. The “Theory of Everything” star has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a British Academy Film Award.

Although some fans know him best for playing the title role of Newt Scamander in the “Harry Potter” spin-off film trilogy, “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them,” other fans know him for his role in the award-winning 2015’s biographic romance “The Danish Girl,” which also starred Amber Heard and Alicia Vikander.

Now, however, Redmayne is saying that taking on the role of one of the first recipients of gender reassignment surgery was "a mistake."

In a new interview with the U.K. publication, the Sunday Times, Redmayne expressed regret for accepting the role.

When asked if he would accept the role if it was offered to him today, he said that he would not, adding, “I made that film with the best intentions, but I think it was a mistake.”

He continued, “The bigger discussion about the frustrations around casting is because many people don’t have a chair at the table. There must be a leveling, otherwise, we are going to carry on having these debates.”

Fans were divided on Redmayne calling his decision to accept the role “a mistake.”

“He shouldn't apologize, but I understand where he comes from,” one fan wrote.

“He did a brilliant job in the Danish girl. I agree with him, most queer/trans folk don't get the roles bc they don't have a seat at the table. And yes you can argue there's plenty of ppl available. Do you sacrifice telling an important story for sub-par acting?” another asked.

“Eddie Redmayne should not have to apologize no more than Lin Manuel Miranda casting POC in the role of White historical figures,” another said. “This also typecasts trans actors by implying they can only play trans roles.”

Another fan offered their opinion, writing, “This is just foolish. When does it stop? They're actors. By the very nature of the profession, they're playing people other than who they really are. If you make a movie about soldiers, will only people who have served in the military be allowed to play those roles? I guess we can't do any more historical dramas since nobody alive was born before like 1900. So how would they really know what it was like?”

“Having actually seen The Danish Girl, I think Redmayne probably should have passed on the role anyway,” another commented.

Redmayne, who has been married to PR executive Hannah Bagshawe since 2014, has been cast as Emcee in a London production of “Cabaret.”

Fans are calling the casting into question, as the role has often been played by actors who identify as LGBTQ+, including Alan Cumming and Joel Grey, who originated the role in 1972.

"Of all the characters I’ve ever read, this one defies pigeonholing," Redmayne explained. "I would ask people to come and see it before casting judgment."

He told Vogue that "I hope when people see the performance, the interpretation will justify the casting.”