A MAN with motor neurone disease helped an Oscar-winning actor prepare for his role after a surprise visit from the star during a routine hospital appointment.

Glenn Phillips from Watford helped actor Eddie Redmayne research his part for the film Theory of Everything, in which he plays theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

His mother, Doriel, from Bournemouth said Mr Redmayne met her son on a research visit to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.

“Glenn goes up every few months to the hospital to see his consultant,” Mrs Phillips explained.

“It was around August 2013 when Glenn was told a group of people wanted to observe him and sit in on his consultation. He didn’t know who they were or that Eddie Redmayne was part of that group.

“Less than two weeks later, he received a call from Eddie saying he would like to come and visit him at his bungalow,” Mrs Phillips said.

The disease, which affects neurones in the brain and spinal cord, causes loss of mobility and difficulty with speech, swallowing and breathing.

“He was very interested in the early stages of the disease, which Glenn had at the time, as apparently there’s not much footage of Stephen Hawking using his walking stick.

“He stayed for about three hours. He was very, very thorough and completely immersed himself. He was most interested in Glenn’s hands, how they worked and how he wrote. That’s where it started for him, in the hands.

“Eddie also watched him go up and down the stairs and how he held a pencil. He really tried to turn his body into Stephen Hawking’s body. It must have been very painful,” she added.

Mr Phillips was later invited by the actor to join him at the UK premiere of the film in London, which was held last December.

However, the specialised taxi which had been ordered to take him there failed to turn up, so he was unable to go.

Mr Redmayne organised a private screening at Universal Studios instead so Glenn and his friends and family could see the film.

Mrs Phillips said: “Eddie is very sincere and thoughtful. He’s not just taken from Glenn; he’s given back to him. He’s a lovely young man and he deserved his Oscar.”