Watch Eddie Redmayne demonstrate his awkward "The Hobbit" audition

Many a British actor appeared in the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films over the years, so why wasn't Eddie Redmayne ever one of them?

Turns out, he did have a shot at appearing in "The Hobbit" trilogy. And, according to him, he blew it.

Appearing on "The Graham Norton Show," Redmayne revealed that he once auditioned to play Bilbo Baggins. The part ultimately went to Martin Freeman, and once you watch Redmayne's version you'll see why he says he didn't get a callback.

If it's any consolation, he did make Anna Kendrick laugh. And he's up for a Golden Globe this weekend (and is a likely Oscar contender) for his role in "The Theory of Everything," so he probably isn't too upset about missing out on Middle-earth.