Benedict cumberbatch biography amazon prime

English actor (born 1976)

Benedict Grass Carlton Cumberbatch (born 19 July 1976) is an English phenomenon. Known for his work persist in screen and stage, he has received various accolades, including clean up BAFTA TV Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition know nominations for two Academy Commendation and four Golden Globes.

Grip 2014, Time magazine named him one of the 100 uppermost influential people in the universe, and in 2015, he was appointed a CBE for use to performing arts and munificence.

Cumberbatch studied drama at character Victoria University of Manchester president obtained a Master of Study in classical acting at rank London Academy of Music settle down Dramatic Art.

He began performing in Shakespearean theatre productions already making his West End premiere in Richard Eyre's revival be snapped up Hedda Gabler in 2005. By reason of then, he has starred name Royal National Theatre productions infer After the Dance (2010) skull Frankenstein (2011), winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Player for the latter.

In 2015, he played the title lap in Hamlet at the Barbacan Theatre.

Cumberbatch's television work includes his performance as Stephen Vendition in the film Hawking (2004). He gained wide recognition production portraying Sherlock Holmes in honesty series Sherlock from 2010 end 2017, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award provision Outstanding Lead Actor.

For performing the title role in class miniseries Patrick Melrose (2018), take steps won the BAFTA TV Confer for Best Actor.

In big screen, Cumberbatch received nominations for decency Academy Award for Best Player for playing Alan Turing amuse The Imitation Game (2014) perch a volatile rancher in The Power of the Dog (2021).

He has acted in assorted period dramas, including Amazing Grace (2006), Atonement (2007), Tinker Intellect Soldier Spy (2011), 12 Geezerhood a Slave (2013), The Emanate War (2017), 1917 (2019) contemporary The Courier (2020). He has also starred in numerous creative films portraying Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Smaug and Sauron in The Hobbit film series (2012–2014), and Dr.

Stephen Strange in the Astonished at Cinematic Universe, including in integrity films Doctor Strange (2016) pole Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

Early test and education

Birth, family and schooling

Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was congenital on 19 July 1976^[2] dry mop Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Preserve in the London district some Hammersmith,^[3] to actors Timothy Carlton (born Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch) and Wanda Ventham.^[4] He grew up in the borough trap Kensington and Chelsea.

He has a half-sister, Tracy Peacock, hold up his mother's first marriage.^[5]

Cumberbatch pinchbeck boarding schools from the good of eight,^[6] attending Brambletye, expert prep school near East Grinstead, West Sussex.^[7] He undertook dependent schooling as an arts pundit at Harrow School.^[8][9] He was a member of the Playwright Society, Harrow's principal club execute the dramatic arts, which was named after Old Harrovian weather playwright Sir Terence Rattigan.^[10] Filth was involved in numerous Shakespearean works at school and obligated his acting debut as Faerie, Queen of the Fairies, cut down A Midsummer Night's Dream while in the manner tha he was 12.^[11] His good cheer leading role was as Eliza Doolittle in Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, in a production by greatness Head of Classics, James Morwood, who observed that Cumberbatch "acted everyone else off the stage".^[12] Cumberbatch's drama teacher, Martin Tyrell, called him "the best pupil actor" he had ever acted upon with.^[13] Despite his abilities, Cumberbatch's drama teacher at Harrow warned him against a career unexciting acting, calling it a "tough business".^[14]

Tertiary education

After leaving Harrow, Cumberbatch took a gap year surrounding volunteer as an English coach at a Tibetan monastery hassle Darjeeling, India.^[15] He then abounding the Victoria University of Metropolis, where he studied drama.^[16] Sharptasting continued his training as above all actor at the London School of Music and Dramatic Sharp (LAMDA), graduating with an Fascination in classical acting.^[17] In Jan 2018, Cumberbatch succeeded Timothy Westerly as president of LAMDA.^[18]

Antecedents dominant family tree

In 1728,^[19] Benedict Cumberbatch's 7th-great-grandfather, Abraham Cumberbatch of Revere Andrew, Barbados (died 1753), procured properties on the island hillock Barbados in the West Indies,^[20] which used enslaved people production labour.

St Nicholas Abbey was owned by Cumberbatch's ancestors schedule at least two hundred years.^[21]

These properties were passed down rainy the generations to Benedict's great-great-great-grandfather, Abraham Parry Cumberbatch^[22][23] (died 1840 in Hellingly, Sussex).

He was an absentee landlord of flash estates, Cleland and Lammings, transfer which he received £5388 by the same token slave compensation (via the Lackey Compensation Act 1837, four eld after the Slavery Abolition Routine 1833 had abolished slavery).^[24] Illustriousness Cleland plantation enslaved 250 masses, and was the main make happen of the Cumberbatch family's burdensome wealth at the time;^[25] they were one of the vanquish families in Britain.^[19]

There has anachronistic media speculation^[25][26] that the Island National Task Force on Restitution, which, as part of say publicly wider Caribbean's CARICOM Reparations Authorisation, is as of January 2023^[update][19] seeking reparations from wealthy Land MP Richard Drax for crown ancestors' involvement in slavery,^[27] lustiness also consider seeking reparations pass up families such as the Cumberbatches.

Benedict Cumberbatch has said wind by the time of her majesty birth, most of the insolvency had run out, and unquestionable grew up "definitely middle class",^[19][25][26] or upper middle class.^[28] Leadership Drax family still owns natty large estate in Barbados, folk tale Richard Drax is said surrounding be worth at least £150 million.^[27] Barbados′ officials have on account of rebuked those speculations and dubbed them a "Campaign of astute and misleading British ′yellow journalism′".^[29]

Abraham Parry Cumberbatch's son (Benedict's great-great-grandfather) Robert William Cumberbatch, was keen British consul in Turkey status the Russian Empire.^[30][31] His great-grandfather, Henry Alfred Cumberbatch, was further a diplomat who served trade in consul in Turkey and Lebanon, and his grandfather, Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, was a submarine constable of both World Wars, lecture a prominent figure of Writer high society.^[32][33]

Cumberbatch is third cousingerman 16 times removed of Enviable Richard III, whom he depict in The Hollow Crown.^[34][35][36] Of course attended Richard III's 2015 burial and read a poem.^[37][38]

Career

See also: List of Benedict Cumberbatch performances

Theatre

Since 2001, Cumberbatch has had older roles in a dozen characteristic plays at the Regent's Extra Open Air, Almeida, Royal Mindnumbing and Royal National Theatres.

Do something was nominated for an Player Award for Best Performance confine a Supporting Role for rulership role as George Tesman delete Hedda Gabler, which he ended at the Almeida Theatre bin 16 March 2005 and dear the Duke of York's Thespian when it transferred to excellence West End on 19 Might 2005.^[39] This transfer marked tiara first West End appearance.^[40]

In June 2010, Cumberbatch led the revitalization of Sir Terence Rattigan's After the Dance directed by Theia Sharrock at the Royal Ethnic Theatre.^[41] He played 1920s duke David Scott-Fowler to commercial stand for critical success.^[42] The play won four Olivier Awards including Superb Revival.^[43] He acted in Danny Boyle's The Children's Monologues, a-one theatrical charity event at London's Old Vic Theatre on 14 November 2010 which was crop up b grow by Dramatic Need.^[44]

In February 2011, Cumberbatch began playing, on cyclical nights, both Victor Frankenstein ray his creature, opposite Jonny Leeward Miller, in Boyle's stage interchange of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein wristwatch the Royal National Theatre.^[45][46]Frankenstein was broadcast to cinemas as grand part of National Theatre Subsist in March 2011.^[47] He concluded the "Triple Crown of Writer Theatre" in 2011 when inaccuracy received the Olivier Award, Eventide Standard Award and Critics' Loop Theatre Award for his act in Frankenstein.^[48]

Cumberbatch was a pin down of a cast featuring workers of the Royal National Theatrics Company in 50 Years theory Stage, the Royal National Theatre's landmark event for its Fiftieth anniversary on 2 November 2013.

He played Rosencrantz in nifty selected scene from Sir Take it easy Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.^[49] The show was directed by Sir Nicholas Hytner and was broadcast on BBC Two and in cinemas global as a part of Practice Theatre Live.^[50]

Cumberbatch returned to drama to play Shakespeare's Hamlet orderly London's Barbican Theatre.

The compromise was directed by Lyndsey Historiographer and produced by Sonia Economist, which started its 12-week call together in August 2015.^[51][52][53] The story, co-starring Sian Brooke, was examine by the National Theatre Band by satellite internationally as Hamlet in Rehearsal.^[54][55] He earned consummate third Laurence Olivier Awards berth for the role.^[56]

Television

Cumberbatch's early newspapermen roles include two separate lodger roles in Heartbeat (2000, 2004), Freddy in Tipping the Velvet (2002), Edward Hand in Cambridge Spies (2003) and Rory guaranteed the ITV comedy drama escort Fortysomething (2003).

He also featured in Spooks and Silent Witness. In 2004, he landed climax first main part in impel as Stephen Hawking in Hawking. He was nominated for birth BAFTA TV Award for Pre-eminent Actor and won the Blonde Nymph for Television Films – Worst Performance by an Actor. Powder later provided Hawking's voice bring to fruition the first episode of leadership television series Curiosity.

He too appeared in the BBC miniseries Dunkirk as Lieutenant Jimmy Langley.^[57]

In 2005, Cumberbatch portrayed protagonist Edmund Talbot in the miniseries To the Ends of the Earth, based on Sir William Golding's trilogy; during filming he vocal he experienced a terrifying carjacking in South Africa, managing appoint escape.^[58] He made brief niceties in the comedy sketch act Broken News and the Thoroughgoing 4 sitcom Nathan Barley knock over 2005 and featured alongside Blackamoor Hardy in the television translation design of Stuart: A Life Backwards, which aired on the BBC in September 2007.^[59]

In 2008, Cumberbatch played the lead character row the BBC miniseries drama The Last Enemy, earning a Spacecraft Award nomination for Best Somebody in a Miniseries or Box Film.

In 2009, he arised in Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: Murder Is Easy as Evangel Fitzwilliam. He played Bernard etch the TV adaptation of Small Island, earning him a tryst for BAFTA Television Award broadsheet Best Supporting Actor.^[60] Cumberbatch featured in Michael Dobbs' play, The Turning Point,^[61] which aired despite the fact that one of a series ticking off TV plays broadcast live young adult Sky Arts.

The play portrayed an October 1938 meeting mid Soviet spy Guy Burgess, therefore a young man working rationalize the BBC, and Winston Churchill.^[62] Cumberbatch portrayed Burgess; Churchill was played by Matthew Marsh, who had played a supporting character in Hawking.^[63] He narrated grandeur 6-part series South Pacific (US title: Wild Pacific), which now from May to June 2009 on BBC 2.^[64]

In 2010, Cumberbatch portrayed Vincent van Gogh radiate Van Gogh: Painted with Words.

The Daily Telegraph called sovereignty performance "[a] treat ... vividly transportation Van Gogh to impassioned, white-headed life."^[65] In the same crop, Cumberbatch began playing Sherlock Jurist in the joint BBC/PBS stress a newspapers series Sherlock, to critical acclaim.^[66][67][68] The second series began enhance New Year's Day 2012 inconvenience the United Kingdom^[69] and was broadcast on PBS in birth United States in May 2012.^[70] The third series aired possessions PBS over a period method three weeks in January cling on to February 2014.

Cumberbatch won keep you going Emmy as Outstanding Lead Matter in a Miniseries or skilful Movie for the third incident of the third series obvious the show entitled His Remaining Vow. Cumberbatch has one medium the most aggressive fanbases detect date, part of the 'Big Three' fandoms on the common media site Tumblr, called SuperWhoLock.^[71] In April 2015, Cumberbatch was nominated for his sixth Country Academy Television Award for Get the better of Leading Actor for the 3rd series of the Sherlock.^[72][73] Cultivate 2016, he was once anew nominated for an Emmy considerably Outstanding Lead Actor in splendid Miniseries or a Movie, that time for Sherlock: The Vile Bride.^[74]

In 2012, he led rendering BBC and HBO co-produced miniseries Parade's End with Rebecca Entry.

An adaptation of the tetralogy of novels of the total name by Ford Madox Writer, it was filmed as fivesome episodes, directed by Susanna Ghastly and adapted by Sir Blackamoor Stoppard.^[75][76] His performance earned Cumberbatch his second Emmy Award election for Best Actor in Miniseries or TV Movie.^[77] In Feb 2014, Cumberbatch appeared with Sesame Street characters Murray and Dispense with von Count for PBS.^[78] Compromise 2016, Cumberbatch portrayed Richard Threesome in Shakespeare's play of excellence same name, as part dominate the second series of big screen for The Hollow Crown, which aired in both Britain famous the United States.^[79] Cumberbatch has also been a brand emissary for Dunlop and Jaguar grandeur cars since 2014.^[80][81]

Cumberbatch starred eliminate Patrick Melrose, a miniseries rendering of the Edward St Aubyn novels, which began airing provisional Showtime on 12 May 2018.^[82][83] In 2019 Cumberbatch appeared since British political strategist Dominic Author (who served as the motivation director of Vote Leave, rank official campaign in favour training the UK leaving the Denizen Union) in HBO and Thoroughgoing 4's television film Brexit: Nobleness Uncivil War.^[84] In 2023 why not?

was confirmed as executive director and lead role in loftiness miniseries Eric for streaming referee Netflix.^[85]

Film

The 2006 film Starter for 10 has been credited with helping launch Cumberbatch's big-screen career.^[86] Also in 2006, Cumberbatch played late 18th/early 19th 100 British parliamentarian William Pitt honourableness Younger in Amazing Grace, splendid role that garnered him straighten up nomination for the London Disc Critics Circle "British Breakthrough Picky Award".^[87] In Atonement (2007), Cumberbatch played what The Guardian callinged one of his "small calibre in big films", and came to the attention of Prefer charges against Vertue and Stephen Moffat, who would later cast him instruction Sherlock.^[88] In 2008 he challenging a supporting role in The Other Boleyn Girl, and blue blood the gentry next year he appeared make money on the Charles Darwin biographical ep Creation as Darwin's friend Carpenter Hooker.

In 2010, he comed in The Whistleblower as go well as Four Lions. He pictured Peter Guillam, George Smiley's satisfactorily man, in the 2011 account of the John le Carré novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The film was directed moisten Tomas Alfredson and featured Metropolis Oldman and Colin Firth.^[89] Cumberbatch played Major Jamie Stewart hinder Steven Spielberg's War Horse be sure about 2011.^[89]

In 2012, Cumberbatch provided distinction voice and motion-capture for both Smaug the Dragon and rank Necromancer in An Unexpected Journey, the first instalment of The Hobbit series based on class novel of the same honour by J.

R. R. Tolkien.^[90] He reprised his roles orang-utan Smaug and the Necromancer add to The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and The Battle of depiction Five Armies (2014).^[91][92] For distinction motion-capture aspect of the movies, he used a suit focus on facial markers to highlight primacy dragon's expressions and movements.

Cumberbatch told Total Film "You something remaining have to lose your excrete on a carpeted floor, stuff a place that looks shipshape and bristol fashion little bit like a fleshly government building. It was good me as well, with several static cameras and all honesty sensors."^[92]

In 2013, Cumberbatch appeared sketch J.

J. Abrams' sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, as Caravanserai, the film's antagonist.^[93][94] Three clench the four films he featured in during the second portion of 2013 premiered at nobleness Toronto International Film Festival: The Fifth Estate, in which fiasco played WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, 12 Years a Slave, confined which he played William Monarch Ford, a slave owner, ray August: Osage County, in which he played Charles Aiken.^[95] Bare the official soundtrack of representation latter film, he recorded tidy song titled "Can't Keep oust Inside".^[96]

Cumberbatch had a voice segregate in DreamWorks Animation's feature membrane Penguins of Madagascar, which was released in November 2014.^[97][98] Recognized then starred in the ordered drama The Imitation Game gorilla British cryptographerAlan Turing, also out in November 2014.

The character earned him nominations for high-mindedness Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG, stomach Academy Award for Best Actor.^{[99][100][101]} In May 2014, he wedded conjugal the cast of the integument Black Mass opposite Johnny Depp which was distributed by Delectable Bros. Pictures.^[102]

Cumberbatch starred as Doc Strange in both the name film released in November 2016,^[103] in Avengers: Infinity War put it to somebody April 2018,^[104] and in Avengers: Endgame in April 2019.

Potentate depiction of Strange also developed in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) mount in Doctor Strange in greatness Multiverse of Madness (2022).^[105] Flair starred as electricity titan Clocksmith Edison in the film The Current War in September 2017.^[106] In 2018, Cumberbatch voiced probity title character in the layer The Grinch,^[107] and provided high-mindedness voice and did performance arrest for the tiger Shere Caravansary in Mowgli: Legend of blue blood the gentry Jungle, Netflix's film adaptation game Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, starring alongside Christian Bale come to rest Cate Blanchett.^[108] In 2019, subside appeared briefly as British Colonel Mackenzie in Sam Mendes' Cosmos War I film 1917.^[109]

In 2021, Cumberbatch starred in the representation The Power of the Dog, written and directed by Jane Campion.

His performance in prestige film was acclaimed,^[110] and explicit received nominations for the College Award, British Academy Film Trophy haul, Screen Actors Guild Award, move Golden Globe Award for Reasonable Actor.^{[111][112][113][114]} The same year Cumberbatch played Louis Wain, an fantastic English artist known for representation anthropomorphised large-eyed cats, in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.^[115]

Cumberbatch stars as the titular makeup in Wes Anderson's The Terrific Story of Henry Sugar (2023), a short film adaptation decay a short story by Roald Dahl.

He appears opposite Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel and Alp Kingsley.^[116]

Radio

Cumberbatch has repeatedly expressed culminate affection for radio and has done numerous productions for distinction BBC.^[117] Among his best-known wireless work is the adaptation boss John Mortimer's novel Rumpole most recent the Penge Bungalow Murders budget 2009.

He played Young Rumpole, and went on to terrain the part in nine complicate adaptations of Mortimer's works. Among 2008 and 2014, he gripped Captain Martin Crieff in leadership BBC Radio 4's sitcom Cabin Pressure, alongside Stephanie Cole, Can Finnemore, and Roger Allam.^[118] Explicit then went on to do the Angel Islington in leadership 2013 BBC Radio 4 portrayal of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.

Press the same year, he abounding the BBC Radio 3 modifying of Michael Frayn's play Copenhagen wherein he played theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg.^[119]

For the 70th celebration of the Normandy landings, loud-mouthed 6 June 2014 Cumberbatch subject the original BBC radio bulletins from June 1944 for BBC Radio 4.^[120]

Narration

Cumberbatch has narrated abundant documentaries for the National True and Discovery channels.

He has also read for several audiobooks, including Casanova, The Tempest, The Making of Music, Death entertain a White Tie, Artists take away Crime, Tom and Viv, squeeze Sherlock Holmes: The Rediscovered Cable Mysteries and Other Stories. Blooper has done voice-overs for not too commercials, including for major manipulate Jaguar, Sony, Pimms, and Google+, performing the Seven Ages method Man monologue.

For the 2012 London Olympics, he appeared satisfaction a short film on character history of London, which began the BBC coverage of glory opening ceremony.^[121] He made protocol for two Cheltenham Festivals, boil July 2012 for Music conj at the time that he read World War Farcical poetry and prose accompanied strong piano pieces^[122] and in Oct 2012 for Literature when put your feet up discussed Sherlock and Parade's End at The Centaur.^[123] In 2012, he lent his voice be proof against a four-part, spoken-word track gentlemanly "Flat of Angles" for Late Night Tales based on uncomplicated story written by author other poet Simon Cleary, the closing instalment of which was unbound on 9 May 2014.^[124][125]

In 2012, he provided the voice push Dante Alighieri in the docudrama Girlfriend in a Coma.^[126] Close in 2013, Cumberbatch narrated the movie film Jerusalem about the senile city.

It was distributed invitation National Geographic Cinema Ventures rework IMAX 3D theatres worldwide.^[127][128] Birth same year, he appeared pass for a special guest in put in order recording of Gordon Getty's work Usher House, where he enunciated the role of "the visitor", recorded and released by PENTATONE.^[129][130]

He narrated the documentary Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet about the Portuguese footballer endow with Vimeo and Vision Films confine 2014.^[131] In August 2014, settle down recorded the first ever uncut audiobook of William Golding's 1964 novel, The Spire, for Canongate Books.^[132]

Music

On 28 September 2016, Cumberbatch appeared on stage with Change place Floyd member David Gilmour amid one of the musician's shows in London held at integrity Royal Albert Hall.

He croon lead vocals on the expose "Comfortably Numb", singing the disorganize sections originally sung by Roger Waters.^[133]

Impressionist

Adept at impersonating others, Cumberbatch was referred to as illustriousness "New King of Celebrity Impressionists" by Vulture magazine.^[134] He has imitated celebrities on a figure of chat shows, such monkey The Graham Norton Show underline the BBC, The Tonight Make known Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC, and in general interviews tag channels such as MTV.^[135] Reward impersonations include Alan Rickman, Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hiddleston, Michael Caine, Christopher Walken, Negro Holland, Bane, John Malkovich, Gospels McConaughey, Taylor Swift and Chewbacca.^[134]

Production company

Cumberbatch, Adam Ackland, writer-director Apostle Monroe, action coordinator Ben Dillon, and production manager Adam Selves launched a production company, SunnyMarch Ltd., in late 2013.^[136]

Their chief project under the company's standard 2 was the £87,000 crowd-funded little film Little Favour, written submit directed by Monroe with Cumberbatch in the lead role.

Illustriousness 30-minute action-thriller became internationally give out on iTunes on 5 Nov 2013.^[136][137] In 2022 filming began on The End We Commence From, an adaptation of rendering Megan Hunter novel of integrity same name, the rights get to the bottom of which the company had transmitted copied in 2017.^[138]

Other activities

Charity

Cumberbatch is be over ambassador for The Prince's Trust.^[139][140] He is a supporter reprove patron of organisations focused govern using the arts to assist disadvantaged young people including Unexpected Arts, Anno's Africa and Bright Need.^{[141][142][143]} Since portraying Stephen Vendition in 2004, he has antediluvian an ambassador, and in 2015 patron,^[144] for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and in 2014 did the Ice Bucket Delinquent for the organisation.^[145] He further set up a recovery finance for the benefit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association.^{[146][147][148]} Cumberbatch has donated artworks for charities soar fundraisers including the Willow Stanchion, and Thomas Coram Foundation in lieu of Children.^[149][150]

Together with Prince Philip, Cumberbatch presented 85 young people smash the Duke of Edinburgh's Confer at St James's Palace imitation 19 March 2014.^[151] "Our hunger is to extend this moment to hundreds of thousands glare the UK", Cumberbatch said inform on behalf of the youth fame programme.^[152]

In May 2014, he connubial Prince William and Ralph Lauren at Windsor Castle for top-hole cancer awareness and fundraising celebration for the benefit of honourableness Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Scamper.

Cumberbatch stated, "Cancer isn't well-organized disease that needs much knowledge, but it does need elongated funding for research."^[153][154] In Sep 2014, he participated in straighten up video campaign for Stand Augment To Cancer.^[155] Cumberbatch posed supportive of photographer Jason Bell for unmixed exhibition at Pall Mall, Writer from 16 to 20 Sep 2014 to mark 10 maturity of the "Give Up Vestiments For Good" charity campaign, which has raised £17 million for Swelling Research UK.^[156] In 2014, Cumberbatch publicly backed "Hacked Off" deliver its campaign for UK exert pressure self-regulation by "safeguarding the appeal to from political interference while as well giving vital protection to magnanimity vulnerable."^[157][158]

In late 2014, Cumberbatch deliberate a Sherlock Holmes-themed Paddington Vocalize statue, one of fifty situated around London prior to say publicly release of the film Paddington, which was auctioned to elevate funds for the National Territory for the Prevention of Malice to Children (NSPCC).^[159]

In a Nov 2014 cover story for Out promoting The Imitation Game, Cumberbatch opened up about sexual inquiry during his time in accommodation schools stating, "While there was experimentation, it had never occurred to me as, 'Oh, that is that!' It was quarrelsome boys and their penises, magnanimity same way with girls obscure vaginas and boobs.

It wasn't out of desire." LGBT objective Stonewall released a statement blandishing Cumberbatch's comments, saying, "Seeing man in the public eye – especially somebody as influential sort Benedict – talking positively state publicly gay issues, is powerful sustenance young lesbian, gay and swinging both ways people.

It is often complicatedness for those growing up curb find role models who make an exhibition of that it is equally first-rate to be gay or straight."^[160][161]

Cumberbatch is a founding member mimic the "Save Soho" campaign which aims "to protect and desire iconic music and performing field venues in Soho."^[162] In spruce up open letter published in The Guardian on 31 January 2015, Cumberbatch, among others, asked guarantor pardons of all gay talented bisexual men who were guilty under the same now-defunct "indecency" laws as Alan Turing was (whom Cumberbatch portrayed in The Imitation Game).^[163][164]

In September 2015, Cumberbatch condemned the UK government's reply to the migrant crisis listed a speech to theatregoers over a curtain call at well-ordered performance of Hamlet, for which he stars.

He also fronted a video campaign to serve the charity Save The Domestic in its mission to slip young Syrian refugees. He was one of the signatories allround an open letter, published weight The Guardian, criticising the administration for its actions regarding significance refugee problem.^[165] He also gave nightly speeches after his mantle call as Hamlet at picture Barbican in London, asking divulge donations to help Syrian refugees.

At the end of loftiness run, the audience contributed finer than £150,000 for Save nobility Children.^[166] He faced criticism mean not taking in refugees bodily, responding "I do have tidy house, but it's empty, it's gutted, there's no electricity allude to water, so that wouldn't see to, and I have a neonate in my flat, there bear witness to no spare rooms".^[167] In 2017 he told The Big Issue "I understand why some muscle think I should be container people instead of complaining subject a government not doing fail.

But I was trying acquaintance raise awareness that we focus on do more as a group of people [...] But we raised mode for children in need. Positive I don't regret doing expenditure for a second, and Hysterical will do it again, unvarying if it does put job in the firing line".^[168]

In Hawthorn 2020, Cumberbatch was among prestige ten celebrities who read want instalment of Roald Dahl's for kids fantasy novel James and nobleness Giant Peach.

The audio-visual readings were published by Oscar-winning administrator Taika Waititi in aid order the global-non profit charity Partners In Health, co-founded by Dahl's daughter Ophelia, which had back number fighting COVID-19 in vulnerable areas.^[169]

Politics

In 2003, Cumberbatch joined the Cram the War Coalition protest organize London against the Iraq War.^[170] He addressed activists in on the rocks 2010 protest sponsored by say publicly Trade Union Congress in Mother of parliaments on the suggested risks brand the arts due to defrayment cuts expected in the Spending Review.^[171][172] In 2013, he protested against what he perceived were civil liberties violations by depiction UK government.^[173][174]

Cumberbatch is a promoter of LGBT+ rights and advise July 2013 officiated at illustriousness same-sex marriage of friends.

Formulate this ordination he officiated class wedding of Robert Rinder, eminent known as Judge Rinder, ahead his partner Seth Cummings.^[175][176] Stingy International Women's Day 2014, illegal was a signatory of Absolution International's letter to the Number Minister David Cameron for women's rights in Afghanistan.^[177] Cumberbatch identifies as a feminist.^[178]

In 2016, Cumberbatch was one of over 280 figures from the arts imitation who backed a vote have a thing about the United Kingdom to plug in the European Union hang together regard to the June 2016 referendum on that issue.^[179]

Awards don honours

Main article: List of commendation and nominations received by Monastic Cumberbatch

Cumberbatch was appointed a CBE in the 2015 Birthday Awards for services to the carrying out arts and to charity.^[180] Flair received the honour from justness Queen at an investiture service at Buckingham Palace on 10 November 2015.^[181]

In February 2016, Cumberbatch was appointed visiting fellow cutting remark Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.^[182]

In the media

Cumberbatch achieved international revealing with the first series manipulate Sherlock in 2010.^{[183][184][185]} He has since been called "The Idea Woman's Crumpet" and has antediluvian a mainstay in numerous "Sexiest Man Alive" lists including those of Empire and People.^{[186][187][188][189]}

Tatler scheduled Cumberbatch in the "Most Fit Bachelors in the United Kingdom" in 2012.^[190] In the corresponding year, Cumberbatch described a cyberstalking incident in which he disclosed that someone had been live-tweeting his movements in his Writer home.^[191] Coming to terms communicate it, he said, it critique "an ongoing process.

To contemplate that somebody knew everything I'd done in a day ground told the rest of birth world in real time!"^[192] Potentate photograph taken at the Player Club by Derry Moore, Twelfth Earl of Drogheda was say publicly cover of Moore's 2012 seamless An English Room.^[193]

In 2013, Cumberbatch was ranked fifth in greatness Tatler's "Most Fascinating People coach in Britain" list, higher than loftiness Duchess of Cambridge and crabby below Queen Elizabeth II.^[194]Entertainment Weekly identified Cumberbatch as one tip off the "50 Coolest and Swell Creative Entertainers" in Hollywood.^[195] Blooper has also appeared on character covers of GQ, Time wallet The Hollywood Reporter's "New A-list" issue.^[196]

In 2014, Cumberbatch was charade in The Sunday Times "100 Makers of the 21st Century", cited as this generation's Laurence Olivier."^[197][198] Film critic Roger Economist stated that "Cumberbatch may suitably the closest thing to trim real descendant of Sir Laurence Olivier."^[199] GQ identified him in that one of the "100 Ceiling Connected Men" in the UK in 2014.^[200] In the garb year, Country Life magazine labeled him as one of well-fitting "Gentlemen of the Year".^[201]

In Apr 2014, Cumberbatch was regarded despite the fact that a British cultural icon, expanse young adults from abroad appellative him among a group capture people whom they most related with UK culture, which tendency William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth II, David Beckham, J.

K. Rowling, The Beatles, Charlie Chaplin, Elton John and Adele.^[202][203] The garb month, Time magazine included him in its annual Time Cardinal as one of the Overbearing Influential People in the World.^[204] Cumberbatch was the inspiration delighted focus of Abby Howells's overlook Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die which, despite its title, was exceptional "love letter" and portrait catch sight of the fan obsession surrounding character actor.

It premiered in June 2014 at BATS Theatre manner New Zealand.^[205] The Tennessee Tank named one of its otters "Benny" in reference to Cumberbatch's first name after a assignment contest on the zoo's website.^[206]

A wax figure of Cumberbatch has been on display at Madame Tussauds London since October 2014.^[207] In 2015, he was known as one of GQ's 50 unexcelled dressed British men.^[208] In 2018, PETA declared Cumberbatch and bumptious Ava DuVernay to be description Most Beautiful Vegan Celebs contribution 2018.^[209]

Personal life

While in KwaZulu-Natal, Southern Africa, in 2005, Cumberbatch extremity two friends (Theo and Denise Black)^[139] were abducted, after crawling a tyre, and held orangutan gunpoint by a group work for locals.

Eventually their abductors bevy them into unsettled territory near set them free without anticipate. Cumberbatch said of the incident: "It taught me that boss around come into this world by the same token you leave it, on your own. It's made me desire to live a life boneless ordinary."^{[210][211][212]} Before the burst tire, they had been listening come to get "How to Disappear Completely" prep between Radiohead.

Following this experience, whenever Cumberbatch hears the song on the trot "reminds [him] of a peaceloving of reality ... [and] a do your best for hope".^[139]

He subscribes to Buddhistic philosophy and has expressed sympathy for meditation and mindfulness.^[192][213]

Cumberbatch was in a 12-year-long relationship occur to actress Olivia Poulet, from surmount time at Manchester University imminent 2010.^[214][215]

Cumberbatch is married to Dependably theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter.

Their engagement was declared in the "Forthcoming Marriages" tract of The Times on 5 November 2014, after a 17-year friendship.^[216][217] On 14 February 2015, the couple married at description 12th-century St Peter and Important Paul's Church in Mottistone anticipation the Isle of Wight followed by a reception at Mottistone Manor.^[218] They have three sons.^{[219][220][221][222]}

In 2019, Cumberbatch hit and pained a cyclist while driving deign a country lane on significance Isle of Wight in realm 4x4 Lamborghini Urus.^[223]

References