Eddie Redmayne Explains How He Lost Out on ‘The Hobbit’

Eddie Redmayne lost out on the lead role in The Hobbit trilogy because he went too far in trying to become Bilbo Baggins at his audition.

The Les Miserables star was offered the chance to try out for a part in the franchise, but he failed to impress the casting directors with his over-the-top mannerisms and quirky voice.

He tells British TV host Graham Norton, “After the Lord of the Rings they were auditioning for The Hobbit and I was sent an audition for Bilbo Baggins and… I went to this audition and I had been really rigorous about it and didn’t want to do my usual boring thing.

“So I went on Youtube and I found Ian Holm, who played him (Baggins) in the Lord of the Rings, and I tried to copy his character. The casting director put on the camcorder and I started reading the scene (in a very animated manner).

“I thought I was being brave and before the word ‘Baggins’ had come out of my mouth, she (casting director) said, ‘Oh no, no, no! (Do it in your) own voice’. I never got a call back.”

Martin Freeman landed the role as Baggins in the trilogy, which closed with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, released last month.

Photo Credit:Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

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