‘Fantastic Beasts’ actor reported on South Whidbey

It’s unclear if any fantastic beasts have been set loose on South Whidbey, but a known expert in such matters was rumored to have been spotted.

Around Christmas, social media began bursting with claims that people had seen British actor Eddie Redmayne and his family around Langley, Bayview and Freeland. Many posts appeared on the I Love Langley Facebook page, in which people mentioned sightings of the freckled 37 year old around Good Cheer, brunching at The Flower House Cafe and perhaps even buying his own groceries at Payless Foods.

The actor, who is known for his starring roles in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “The Theory of Everything and “Les Misérables,” is married to Hannah Bagshawe. According to a 2015 Record story, Bagshawe’s grandmother is a longtime South Whidbey resident.

Although some of the posts were answered with confusion or indifference to his presence, many South Whidbey residents seem to be quite taken with Redmayne. One commenter noted that he was “even more handsome in person.”

Some posted their favorite movies that he’s starred in, and others encouraged Whidbey natives to leave the man be.

“There are so many photos in my feed of him tonight,” one comment said, “I’m starting to think the whole of South Whidbey has a serious crush.”