There’s a reason why “The Theory of Everything” actor Eddie Redmayne doesn’t appear in “The Hobbit” trilogy. His voice and mannerisms may have something to do with it.
On BBC America’s “The Graham Norton Show” Saturday, Redmayne explained he was given the chance to audition to play Bilbo Baggins. Redmayne found YouTube videos and studied actor Holm who portrayed Bilbo Baggins in “The Lord of Rings” trilogy.
Redmayne acted out how his audition went with a high-pitched voice and awkward hand movements. His rendition sent show guests Anna Kendrick (“Cake”) and Liam Neeson (“Taken 3”) into a laughing fit.
“I thought I was being brave … Before the word Baggins could come out of my mouth, she said, ‘No-no-no-no-no, own voice. Own voice,’” Redmayne said. “I never got a call back.”
After the audition recap, Kendrick said people always hear the stories of actors who do something brave to snag a role.
“But they never tell you the stories about the actors who did something mad and they’re like, ‘What the…?’ And then, that’s you,” Kendrick exclaimed.
Here’s another clip of Redmayne and Kendrick from the episode: