Stephen Hawking reacts to Eddie Redmayne winning the Best Actor Oscar for being him in The Theory Of Everything

The physicist said he was 'proud' of the British actor's success

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking (Getty Images)

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.

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

Eddie Redmayne gets excited by the word 'Oscar' on stage at the Academy Awards (Getty Images)

“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 that 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.