Eddie Redmayne's Oscar wears underpants.

Eddie Redmayne

Eddie Redmayne

The 34-year-old actor picked up the coveted Best Actor statuette for his performance in 'The Theory of Everything' in 2015 and he has the trophy on display in his house, but has ensured its modesty is protected from prying eyes.

He said: "My Oscar is in my apartment in London next to the sofa looking really shiny and almost unreal.

"And it has underpants on it that were sent to me by Jimmy Kimmell. White velcro underpants with a blue lining."

Eddie is a huge fan of other British stars, though he has no idea why he and his countrymen are so popular in Hollywood right now.

Asked why they are so popular, he told heat magazine: "Oh gosh I have no idea. But we're very lucky and long may it continue.

"I admire so many - Ben Whishaw is a genius. Andrew Garfiel, Ben Cumberbatch. Jack O'Connell - I think he is amazing. There's a big long list."

The 'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' actor has always been a fan of the 'Harry Potter' film and book series and thinks they make great "escapism" for people.

He said: "My little brother got me into the books and then the films became this great escape every year or two, where you could just go and bathe in JK Rowling's world and forget all your troubles.

"It became kind of a ritual, I loved them.

"I think it's the two worlds living side by side. It's the escapism of that.

"It's like we all live our own lives and the idea there's a parallel world going on somewhere that you could shift into or move within - it just heightens reality doesn't it? In a way that is great for one's mind. It's escapism and imagination."