In preparation to score The Danish Girl, composer Alexandre Desplat was given the film’s script and did his own research on Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener.

Additionally, director Tom Hooper sent Desplat photos of Eddie Redmayne's transformation into Lili Elbe.

The music had to mix something beautiful and moving, but with a little spice of anxiety and danger; it’s tricky.Desplat had a breakthrough when he realized that the score had to emulate Lili through the eyes of Gerda.

[1] With the help of his wife and artistic director, violinist Dominique Lemonnier, Desplat veered away from his usual "restrained and fragile” writing for strings, and instead captured a warmer sound that would emulate the love Gerda had for Lili.

[2] As The Danish Girl had been invited to the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, the post-production process had to be expedited.