Eddie Redmayne from the movie "The Theory of Everything," a film adaptation of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking's memoir written by his wife, won the award for Best Actor during the 87th Annual Oscars Awards that took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on the evening of Feb. 22, Sunday.
The British actor was in very tight competition with Michael Keaton of "Birdman." The star gave a long and very humbling speech as he could not contain his gratefulness for the award.
According to E! News, Redmayne was given a very sweet kiss by his wife Hannah Bagshawe before going up to the stage to accept his award and was also given a tight and big hug from the presenter actress Cate Blanchett. Redmayne's speech radiates his mixed emotions about winning the award.
He opened his thank-you speech with the statement: "Thank you, thank you. Thank you to the Academy." He goes on to say he does not think he is capable of articulating how he is feeling at the moment and that he is fully aware he is a lucky man. "This Oscar-wow!"
He also recognized people battling ALS or the Lou Gehrig's disease as he said the Oscar award belonged to them, according to Reuters. Also, it belongs to the "exceptional family" of the Hawkings specifically Jane, Stephen, Jonathan, and the three Hawking children. He shared he will be the custodian of the award as he will look after it and will polish it pointing out he will wait on it hand and foot.
He also thanked Felicity Jones, the leading lady of Redmayne in the movie, and the director of the film James Marsh. This is Redmayne's first Oscar award while Jones was nominated for best actress but lost to Julianne Moore who won for her performance in the movie "Still Alice."
Redmayne reportedly mastered Hawking as per his physical decline and his dry wit for seven months in order to give justice to the role he was set to play. Hawking actually gave Redmayne his blessing days before the Oscars took place.