Eddie Redmayne doesn't enjoy having to train for a role

Eddie appears on Friday's episode (25.10.24) of 'The Graham Norton Show' alongside Paul Mescal, who said he found training for the role of Lucius in 'Gladiator II' enjoyable in the long run because it enabled him to cut out his bad habits.

Speaking about his role in 'Gladiator II', Paul, 28, said': "I ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things.

"I was working with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said: 'There is a canvas to work with.'

"He went to town, and I saw him every day. It was fun. I did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned."

But when asked how he got in shape for his latest role, 'The Theory of Everything' star Eddie firmly disagreed with Paul on the notion that training can be "fun".

Eddie said: "I profoundly disagree with Paul - it was not fun, it was horrendous.

"You read a scene in the script that says: 'He is topless, sinuous and ripped, and you think, 'Oh f***, here comes the chicken diet.'"

Eddie also admitted that after growing up with the original 1973 'The Day of the Jackal' film, he didn't want to "butcher something" he loved.

He said: "I grew up with the original Edward Fox film and I loved it.

"When the scripts arrived, I thought: 'I don't want to touch this, I don't want to butcher something I love,' but it has been updated and has a very contemporary feel while retaining that old school, analogue spy quality."