Day of the Jackal star Eddie Redmayne says he wouldn't make a very good spy

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Eddie Redmayne says despite all the training he did for his role as a deadly assassin in The Day of the Jackal he doesn’t think he would make a very good spy.

The Oscar-winning actor, who plays the lead in the new TV adaption of Frederick Forsyth’s famous novel, admits although he learned lots of espionage tips while filming the show he would never cut it as an assassin.

Eddie, 41, who stars alongside Matilda and Captain Marvel actress Lashana Lynch in the much-hyped Sky series, said: “I’m not sure I would ever make a very good spy. I have learned some really handy tips though. I learned that if you are being chased, have your hand in your pocket so you can use the butt of the phone as a weapon if you need it.

“You can also use change as some sort of shrapnel to throw in your attacker’s face. The other thing I learned was about how some soldiers carry tampons to stent the bleeding if they are shot. Those are the things that I have learned.”

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The dad-of-two, who is married to PR executive Hannah Bagshawe, added: “I worked with a brilliant military espionage advisor called Paul Biddiss. He taught me lots of techniques, like how to walk down the street and see people in car window reflections and in car mirrors.

“I had to walk through Covent Garden in London in disguise and he would send me photos of people I was meant to track. I was tracking this one person thinking I was doing really well and staying completely undetected until a group of tourists stopped me and asked for a selfie. That was a little bit embarrassing.”

The new series, which is airing on Sky Atlantic and NOW , follows The Jackal (Redmayne) an elusive assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee.

He soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.

Forsyth’s Jackal character was previously brought to life in the acclaimed 1973 film adaptation which starred Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale.

Eddie, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Steven Hawking in The Theory of Everything, admits he is a big fan of both the book and the movie and says he was over the moon when he landed the role in the series.

The former Eton pupil, who was born and raised in Westminster, London, said: “It was a dream role really. The Jackal isn’t just a spy and an assassin, he’s really an actor in the way he takes on different guises and personalities in order to stay undetected.

“He changes his hair, he uses crutches.... anything he can to change his appearance. I loved the theatricality of the character and that special quality that you only really find in Seventies thrillers.

“The Jackal is so charismatic and enigmatic while also being pretty ruthless. What I love about this version is that there is no moral ambiguity. It’s a story of two characters ruthless, tenacious, passionate and meticulous professionals who are incredible good at what they do but are also flawed individuals. It’s a fascinating dynamic.”

Eddie, who played Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts film series, added: “I loved the book and I had seen the 1973 film over-and-over. It was one of the films my family always seemed to watch on rotation. It was Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing and Day of the Jackal.

“Those were the three films we always watched on VHS when I was probably too young really. I’m not sure why. So I was very familiar with the story and with Edward Fox as The Jackal.”

Eddie, who is dad to Iris, eight and Luke, six, reveals he loved all the disguises he had to wear for the role despite having to spend four hours in the makeup chair.

He said: “It was a lot of time spent in makeup and working with the most brilliant prosthetic artists. The prosthetics take about four hours to put on and take two hours to take off so it was a lot.

“But it’s such an integral part of the character. Seeing the process he goes through to stay undetected and then having that moment when he peels of the mask for the big reveal is something I really love about the role.

“We really wanted to retain the DNA of the character from the book and the film and that kind of craftsmanship of what he does. He’s still very much analogue rather than digital in our version while it also feels entirely fresh.”

Eddie, who has starred in some massive movies including the film adaption of Les Miserables, admits he often gets recognised in the street.

He said: “I get spotted a bit but saying that I get to go to the supermarket without too much fuss. When people recognise me they tend to ask me about Fantastic Beasts and also Theory of Everything. It’s usually one of those two but then also some Danish Girl and, if they have worked in the medical industry, The Good Nurse. A few, Les Mis fans too.”

Eddie, who attended Cambridge University, knew he was destined for the stage from a young age. He said: “I started acting at school and then when I was at university it was the 400th anniversary production of Twelfth Night.

“They were looking for a guy to play Viola, a girl. That has led to many an awkward part since. But my first real step in to film or television was in a thing called Elizabeth with Helen Mirren which Tom Hooper directed.”

He added: “I would love to direct one day. I do try to learn from the directors I work with and I do have opinions that directors are either accepting of or not. But so far I’ve not found the right thing. I might never find the right thing, that’s the fear. At some point I have got to stop meddling and actually just do it myself.

“For now I’m excited about people seeing The Day of the Jackal. I would love to do more spy thrillers. I’m quite into being an assassin after this. I really enjoyed it.”

The Day of the Jackal is now on Sky Atlantic and NOW

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