New king hails Michael Grandage's reign at Donmar

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The 29-year-old actor told how Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi, with whom he has just starred as Marilyn Monroe's young confidant in the film My Week With Marilyn, sent good luck messages for his first night as Richard II.

They had all worked for the Donmar in recent years themselves so, he said, "Marilyn felt like a Donmar production."

Redmayne admitted he was conscious of the responsibility of leading Grandage's final production at the tiny Covent Garden venue he has turned into a hit factory. Josie Rourke, currently artistic director of the Bush, takes over in the new year.

"Michael has had such an astounding 10 years. I saw all his plays here so I did not want to let the side down," Redmayne said. "I wouldn't have had the balls but Michael had such faith in me to play the part."

Grandage, 49, said it seemed right to leave now and Richard II had been chosen very carefully: "It is about handing over."