Felicity Jones puts herself in “a slightly suicidal, depressed state” by drinking loads of red wine to prepare for a crying scene.

The Theory of Everything star – who has been nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her role in the movie – practices weeping on demand while standing in front of a mirror but joked drinking a fair bit of alcohol the night before she needs to break down in tears on camera can also help because she feels sad on the day of filming.

She said: “Weeks before you’re trying to practice and you’re looking in the mirror and you’re trying to stare because the ideal situation is to get that single tear that rolls down the face.

“I just resorted to the night before just drinking loads of red wine because then the next day you’re sort of in a slightly suicidal depressed state. For some reason red wine has this effect.”