Hawking delighted at Redmayne winning Oscar

Stephen Hawking has expressed his delight at Eddie Redmayne scoring the Best Actor Academy Award.

“Congratulations to Eddie Redmayne for winning an ‪Oscar for playing me in The Theory of Everything Movie,” Hawking posted on Facebook. “Well done Eddie, I’m very proud of you.”

In his acceptance speech, Redmayne dedicated the award to all those, like Hawking, living with Motor Neurone Disease, reports independent.co.uk.

“I am fully aware that I am a lucky, lucky man,” he said.

“This Oscar belongs to all of those people around the world battling ALS. It belongs to one exceptional family. I will be its custodian and I will promise you I will look after him.”

The Theory of Everything follows a young Hawking and his struggle with the degenerative condition. It also focuses heavily on his relationship with ex-wife Jane Wilde, played by Felicity Jones.

Hawking had previously said Redmayne’s portrayal of him was so realistic that he mistook the actor for himself.

“I thought Eddie Redmayne portrayed me very well,” the physicist, who admitted he shed a tear when he first saw the film, said.

“At times I thought he was me. I think Eddie’s commitment will have a big emotional impact.”

Redmayne beat competition from The Imitation Game's Benedict Cumberbatch, American Sniper's Bradley Cooper and Foxcatcher's Steve Carell to win the prize.