Famed cosmologist Stephen Hawking, 73, was "happy" to lend voice to "Theory Of Everything" actor Eddie Redmayne, 32, his trademark synthesized voice "to give him a bit of a boost in his efforts to win an Oscar," CNN has learned.
Hawking explained that his voice was slurred before he lost it, which is why only those close to him could understand it. He said, "But with the computer voice, I found I could give popular lectures."
Due to the degenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Hawking lost his ability to speak in 1985 permanently. Through an electronic speech synthesizer, he now communicates in instantly recognizable tones.
"Although it gave me an American accent, I have kept that voice, because it's now my trademark," said Hawking as he gave a personal guided tour to London's Science Museum to Adaeze Uyanwah, 24, from Los Angeles. Beating more than 10,000 entrants, Uyanwah was named London's Official Guest of Honor.
Also, Hawking joked, "Unfortunately, Eddie did not inherit my good looks."
For his transformation into Hawking in "The Theory Of Everything," Redmayne was nominated for Best Actor against "Birdman" actor Michael Keaton, "Foxcatcher" actor Steve Carrell, "American Sniper" actor Bradley Cooper and "The Imitation Game" actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
Playing Hawking's wife, the author of "Travelling To Infinity: My Life With Stephen" on which "The Theory Of Everything" was based, is Felicity Jones.
Directed by James Marsh and written by Anthony McCarten, "The Theory Of Everything" also stars Emily Watson, Sophie Perry, Finlay Wright-Stephens, Tom Prior, Alice Orr-Ewing, Simon McBurney, Paul Longley, David Thewlis and Christian McKay among others.