'Danish Girl' director Tom Hooper commends Eddie Redmayne's skill

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Director Tom Hooper said actor Eddie Redmayne's preparation for his role as a transgender woman in The Danish Girl was "extraordinary."

Discussing his latest movie with colleagues during the Hollywood Reporter's Director Roundtable, Hooper revealed Academy Award-winning actor Redmayne prepped for the role for a year before filming.

"He did a lot of outreach to members of the transgender community and met trans women and men and was very inspired by their stories," Hooper said.

Redmayne is up for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor, it was announced earlier this month. In response to the news, the Theory of Everything actor said he is "damn lucky," to have landed his leading role of Lili in Danish Girl, Out reports. "I am hugely grateful to Tom Hooper, Alicia Vikander, and our incredible cast for this truly unique collaboration."