Eddie Redmayne admits he ditched his smartphone in a bid to ‘live in the moment’

Life-changing: Eddie Redmayne ditched his iPhone in a bid to free up his days
Jason Merritt/Getty
Jennifer Ruby13 January 2016
The Weekender

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Eddie Redmayne spent most of last year without a smartphone as he attempted to ‘live in the moment’.

Despite being one of the most in-demand stars on the planet, the Oscar-winner decided to ditch his iPhone and revert to an analogue handset.

Speaking at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2016, Redmayne told The Independent that the change made him feel ‘more alive.’

He said: “I tried switching back to a simple, old-fashioned handset in place of a smartphone.

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“It was a reaction against being glued permanently to my iPhone during waking hours.”

“The deluge of emails was constant and I found myself trying to keep up in real time, at the expense of living in the moment.”

Redmayne added: “I love the idea of a more analogue phone in theory. During the day, I felt far more alive.”

Although the lack of a smartphone freed up his days, Redmayne has now switched back to an iPhone as he found himself glued to his computer.

“I was tied to my laptop answering emails for two hours first thing every morning and last thing at night instead, which was a different kind of intrusion," he said.

“I wasn’t very popular with [his wife] Hannah, so today I’m back on my iPhone and trying to master a healthier relationship with it.”

Redmayne is currently promoting new film The Danish Girl and has received a Best Actor BAFTA nomination for the role.

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