British actor EDDIE REDMAYNE was convinced his LES MISERABLES director TOM HOOPER would never hire him again as he once lied to him during an audition at the start of his career.

Redmayne was desperate to land a part when he tried out for Hooper's 2005 TV movie Elizabeth I, which starred Dame Helen Mirren.

The role required a certain amount of equestrian ability and Redmayne admits he regretted lying about his horse-riding skills

after he was almost killed during a dangerous battle scene.

He tells Deadline.com, "I first met Tom on an audition for the HBO miniseries Elizabeth I, and he asked, 'Eddie, have you ever ridden a horse?' To which I said, 'Yes.'

"Two weeks later, Helen Mirren is playing Elizabeth, there are 47 stunt horsemen behind me, I've got spurs attached to my feet and I'm like, 'At what point do I admit having never ridden a horse?'

"They call 'Action!' and I almost kill myself. Tom shouts, 'You're a b**ody liar, Redmayne!' It has taken seven years for him to consider employing me again!"

Hooper went on to cast Redmayne as Marius in his latest movie, the big-screen adaptation of hit Broadway musical Les Miserables.