Actor Eddie Redmayne has met with members of the transgender community to prepare for his role as the first man to undergo a sex change operation.

The Les Miserables star has been cast as Danish painter Einar Wegener in The Danish Girl.

Wegener changed her name to Lili Elbeunderwent and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 1931.

Redmayne is gearing up to begin filming in January (15) and has been talking with members of the transgender community and slipping into women's clothes and makeup to prepare for the role.

He tells Eonline.com, "There are many people who have written Ph.D's on Lili's story. Even though it is period and under completely different circumstances than today, I'm meeting many women from the trans community and hearing their experiences."

He adds, "I have put on dresses and wigs and makeup. I'm beginning to embark on that and trying to find out who she is."