Eddie Redmayne has saved co-star Felicity Jones from a major wardrobe malfunction at the New York premiere of their film The Theory Of Everything.

According to E! News, the pair were on an escalator at the Museum of Modern Art's Titus Theatre when the train of Felicity's long Elie Saab gown got caught in the mechanism.

As the black lace threatened to tear and leave Felicity blushing, Eddie swiftly stepped in and swept the skirt out of the way, preventing a fashion disaster.

In the film Eddie plays physicist Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease when he was 21, while Felicity plays his ex-wife Jane Wilde.

There is already plenty of Oscar-buzz surrounding Eddie, but modestly played it down at the premiere.

Eddie said: "The stakes were so high from the word go, from the second we got the part.

"They were such inspiring people," he added, referring to Stephen and Jane. "The fact that they enjoyed the film was a great award. I think their story is a wonderful story and I would love people to go and see it. So any buzz and kind words, of course, it's like properly flattering. I hope it encourages people to go see it."