Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch71 posts

Benedict Cumberbatch is an English actor born in London in 1976. After playing a variety of TV and film roles he gained international recognition in Sherlock, the BBC’s adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. Since then he has appeared in Star Trek: Into Darkness, 12 Years a Slave, and has voiced animated characters such as the dragon Smaug in The Hobbit series. He continues to act in theater productions.

27 Oct, 2015

Post-Hamlet anti-government speech

Makes Statement

Cumberbatch tells a London Hamlet audience to ‘f-ck the politicians’ amid criticism of ministers over their handling of the migration crisis in Europe. He has been giving nightly speeches after his curtain call, reading a poem called Home by Somali poet Warsan Shire, which includes the line:

No one puts children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land

He urges theatregoers to donate money to Save the Children which helps Syrian refugees, raising more than £150,000. Cumberbatch tells theatregoers of a friend’s experience volunteering on the Greek island of Lesbos, where 5,000 people had been arriving every day.

Everywhere on the horizon there was nothing but boats and on the shoreline nothing but lifejackets. We are saying, as citizens of the world, we see you … and at least some help is coming.

Benedict Cumberbatch giving a speech for refugees from Syria after Hamlet

11 Sep, 2015

Help Is Coming charity release

Crowded HouseSave The ChildrenFundraising

Crowded House re-releases Help Is Coming, introduced by Cumberbatch, to raise money for refugees fleeing to Europe to escape conflict. The fund-raising video features footage from refugee camps and shows people attempting to travel to a country of sanctuary. Crowded House’s Neil Finn and Capitol Records have agreed to donate all the royalties to Save The Children.

Crowded House - Help Is Coming (with an introduction by Benedict Cumberbatch)

8 Aug, 2015

Urges fans not to record Hamlet

Makes Statement

Cumberbatch asks fans not to video his performance in Hamlet.

I can see cameras, I can see red lights in the auditorium, and it may not be any of you here that did that, but it’s blindingly obvious. It’s mortifying, and there’s nothing less supportive or enjoyable as an actor being on stage experiencing that. And I can’t give you what I want to give you, which is a live performance that you’ll remember, hopefully in your minds and brains —whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent — rather than on your phones. This isn’t me blaming you. This is just me asking you to just ripple it out there, in the brilliant beautiful way that you do with your funny electronic things.

Benedict Cumberbatch urges fans not to take photos during Hamlet play

13 Jun, 2015

Son born

Sophie HunterBirth

Cumberbatch and Hunter welcome their first child, a boy. Rep:

Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter are delighted to announce the arrival of their beautiful son. We would kindly ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during these next few precious weeks

1 Apr, 2015

Chocobatch

Ad AppearanceOther Awards

Cumberbatch is chosen by poll over David Tennant, Idris Elba, Sean Bean and Damian Lewis to be made into life-size chocolate statue. A team of eight sculptors worked on the piece, which contains the equivalent of 500 bars of chocolate. Sculptor:

The striking thing about Benedict is that he’s got quite a thin face but he’s got a large head. So trying to get that look right is quite tricky.

BENEDICT CHOCOBATCH | Benedict Cumberbatch gets chocolate makeover!

Originally Benedict Carlton

Interview

Cumberbatch tells reporters the origins of his name:

I started off as Benedict Carlton, which is my middle name, my grandfather’s name. Cumberbatch sounds like a fart in a bath … It is even funnier in an English accent. But an agent who was wiser than me told me it was a good name. People have had fun with it and they continue to!

5 Dec, 2014

Cast as Doctor Strange

Cumberbatch is cast as Doctor Stephen Strange, who after suffering a terrible car accident discovers alternate dimensions and becomes the next Sorcerer Supreme, in Marvel Studio’s Doctor Strange. The film, directed by Scott Derrickson, is set to release November 4, 2016.

Stephen Strange’s story requires an actor capable of great depth and sincerity. In 2016, Benedict will show audiences what makes Doctor Strange such a unique and compelling character.

28 Nov, 2014

The Imitation Game

Jason Bateman

In this thriller, directed by Morten Tyldum, Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, the genius British computer scientist. He cracks the German Enigma Code which helps the Allies win WWII. Co-starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode.

Not many people know the whole story, that he invented the computer, broke the Enigma code, was prosecuted for being a homosexual and underwent a year of oestrogen injections before dying in 1954. The irony and sickness of it was extraordinary! He wasn’t shouting from the rooftops or trying to start a cause, he was just a man who was gay. He’s such a quiet hero.

The Imitation Game - Official UK Teaser Trailer

20 Nov, 2014

Time cover

Magazine Cover

benedictCumberbatch appears on the cover of Time magazine’s annual “genius” issue as Nazi code breaker, Alan Turing, who he portrays in The Imitation Game. Cumberbatch discusses his admiration of Turing.

This man’s achievements are extraordinary. Everything that’s been thrown at computers—all of it has only managed to work because of his idea of creating something universal in the first place.

13 Nov, 2014

Plays imitation game

Cumberbatch imitates eleven celebrities in 60 seconds during an interview with MTV’s Josh Horowitz. The challenge is related to Cumberbatch’s upcoming film The Imitation Game.

Benedict Cumberbatch's Celebrity Impressions | The Imitation Game | MTV After Hours

23 Aug, 2014

Ice Bucket Challenge: Benedict Cumberbatch

Ice Bucket ChallengeDonation

Cumberbatch accepts the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge after being nominated by Tom Hiddleston. He completed the challenge only after providing a brief statement on the importance of the organization. As an Motor Neurone Disease Association Ambassador, completes the challenge not one but over 4 times.

Please donate by texting  ICED55 followed by the amount you’d like to pledge to  70070. It’s an important cause.

He nominates Kylie Minogue, Harvey Weinstein, and Lewis Hamilton.

Benedict Cumberbatch's Ice Bucket Challenge for #MND

10 Jul, 2014

Emmy nomination

Nomination

Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Sherlock: His Last Vow. The Emmy awards will be held on August 25th and will air on NBC.

San Diego Comic-Con

Cumberbatch is slated to take part in his first San Diego Comic-Con. While he is there, he will be promoting The Penguins of Madagascar. There are rumors that he will participate in Peter Jackson’s panel promoting The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. The 90-minute Penguins panel is set to take place at the convention center’s Hall H on July 24, starting at 11:30 a.m. 

12 Jun, 2014

Sherlock Season 4 premiere possible delay

Martin FreemanSherlock

The busy schedules of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman may delay Sherlock’s Season 4 premiere release. Cumberbatch is currently working on his character, Smaug the Dragon, for the Hobbit trilogy. In addition to the Hobbit, Cumberbatch may take on another character for another movie. Sherlock‘s producer is not worried about the possible schedule conflicts with his actors and tells reporters that they will do what they can without sacrificing the quality of the show.

The Penguins of Madagascar

Film Appearance

1402260457002-main-PENGUINS-MADAGASCAR-MOV-jy-5096-In the animated film The Penguins of Madagascar, Cumberbatch voices the character of agent Classified – the head of a covert protective force of animals. In this film, Classified must team up with the Madagascar penguins to take down Octavius and save the animal kingdom.

I don’t know what it’s like to be a penguin, but I do know what it’s like to be a super-duper-smooth classified agent.

6 Jun, 2014

Reads news from D-Day

Patrick StewartToby Jones

1402062421020BBC Radio 4 broadcasts re-recorded D-Day radio bulletin announcements to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy. This project included actors Sir Patrick Stewart, Toby Jones and Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch reads the 8 a.m. news warning of oncoming attacks and instructing listeners on what they should do in preparation for what is to come.

5 Jun, 2014

The Imitation Game

Cumberbatch will play Alan Turing in the biopic, The Imitation Game. The story is set in World War 2 with Cumberbatch as a British code breaker. For the role, he had to perfect the character’s stutter and study his life. It is set to release in November 2014.

He’s an exceptional man…I hope this film does justice to this unsung hero.

2 Jun, 2014

Hay Festival letters

benedictcumberbatchAt the Hay Literary Festival 2014, Cumberbatch performs several dramatic readings of various notable correspondences – including a letter written to a suicidal fan by Iggy Pop, a note from Richard Avedon to his father and interactions between Bessie Moore and British serviceman, Chris Barker.
However, the finale of the evening comes when the actor performs a reading of a letter written by author Kurt Vonnegut to a teacher that had ordered 32 of the school’s Vonnegut books burned due to their “obscene language” and subject matters.
29 May, 2014

Nominated for Critics’ Choice Award

Nomination

Cumberbatch is nominated for a Critics Choice Television Award for his work in Sherlock: His Last Vow. He will be going up against co-star and friend Martin Freeman who has been nominated for his work in Fargo. The awards will be announced on June 19t at 8PM EST on The CW.

21 May, 2014

Replaces Guy Pearce in Whitey Bulger film

Casting

After scheduling issues with Pearce, Cumberbatch is tapped to take on the role of Billy Bulger, Whitey Bulger’s brother and Massachusett’s State Senator. The project is based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob written by Boston Blobe reporters Dick Lerh and Gerard O’Neill. This movie has been in the works since 2004 and will feature Johnny Depp in the leading role of the ruthless gangster.

20 May, 2014

Sherlock coat exhibited

Sherlock

Benedict_Cumberbatch_s_coat_and_dressing_gown_to_feature_in_Sherlock_Holmes_exhibitionA Sherlock Holmes exhibit at the Museum of London will display many items linked with the literary character – including the coat and dressing gown worn by the actor in the BBC series Sherlock.

Sherlock Season 4 confirmed

Mark GatissMartin FreemanSherlock

Mark Gatiss, co-writer of Sherlock,  confirms that there will be a fourth season of the show. He reveals that production dates are nearly fixed and that shooting dates are close to being agreed upon. Due to the popularity and demand for Sherlock stars – Cumberbatch and Freeman – it is likely that the show will air some time in 2016.

17 May, 2014

Will star in ‘Yellow Birds’

Casting

The actor will star in the Iraq war-drama Yellow Birds, based on the 2012 National Book Award finalist by Kevin Powers.  Cumberbatch will play an Army sergeant that takes two young soldiers under his wing. The book, based on Powers’ personal experiences in the Iraq War, has been called “the All Quiet on the Western Front for America’s Arab wars” by Tom Wolfe.

6 May, 2014

Attends Met Gala 2014

The actor attends the Met Gala 2014. The gala is a large fundraising event curated by Vogue editor Anna Wintour to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum. This year’s theme was “white tie” and many critics commented that Cumberbatch was the sole attendant to truly adhere to and “nail” the theme. This was the first time he has made an appearance at the event.

Benedict Cumberbatch at the Met Gala 2014 - The Dresses of Charles James - Vogue

28 Apr, 2014

Plus Camera Film Festival

The actor attends the Plus Camera Film Festival in Poland to promote his short film Little Favor. The film is the story of two secret service men, Wallace and James, who served together in Iraq. James saved the life of Wallace in the Middle East, but later returns to ask a favour in return. After the screening of the film, Cumberbatch takes part in a Q&A session with fans. He is then surprised with an award for supporting independent film.

KRONIKA FESTIWALOWA 11.05.2014

16 Apr, 2014

Golden Nymph Award nomination

Nomination

The actor is nominated for a Golden Nymph Award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock. The series also received an award nomination for Best Series. The awards will be announced in June.

7 Apr, 2014

Will play Richard III

Cumberbatch will perform the lead role in BBC and Neal Street Production’s “Richard III”. This performance is part of an ongoing series of Shakespeare’s history plays and centers around the cunning Richard as he viciously works his way up the hierarchy on his way to being king.

I can’t wait to work with Dominic Cooke again to bring this complex, funny and dangerous character to life…
6 Apr, 2014

BA Highlife

Interview

The actor appears in BA Highlife – a magazine made free in BA flights. In it he talks about London and provides tips on where to wander, eat, drink and take in the sights.

London is my favourite city in the world. I was born there, I live there and many of my friends do too. It’s one of the most exciting cities in the world, inspiring and so incredibly cosmopolitan. I am incredibly proud to say I come from London.

26 Mar, 2014

Hosts Laureus World Sport Awards

Cumberbatch hosts the 2014 Laureus World Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur. The show starts with a tribute to the passengers of flight MH370 and a speech from Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak. The actor then takes over, paying tribute to Laureus Patron Mandela and the journey he took to change the world through sport.

Laureus World Sports Awards 2014 - The Highlights

Will play Hamlet

Cumberbatch will play the title role in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The show will run for 12 weeks from August to October at the Barbican Theatre in London and be under the direction of Lyndsey Turner.

14 Feb, 2014

National Theatre 50th anniversary

The National Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary with various performances of important theatrical pieces. Cumberbatch, NT alum, performs a scene from Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead alongside of actor Kobna Holbrook-Smith. The performance is aired on PBS on February 14th.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Rosencrantz in Tom Stoppard Play | Great Performances | PBS

4 Feb, 2014

Sesame Street

TV Appearance

The actor made a special guest appearance on the children’s show Sesame Street. With help from The Count, he uses his mathematical and deductive skills to defeat his arch-nemesis “Murry-arity”.

Benedict Cumberbatch and the Sign of Four (or is it Three?)

27 Dec, 2013

August Osage County

Film Appearance

Cumberbatch plays the role of “Little Charlie” in this movie-rendition of the stage play August Osage County. The story centers around a mother and her dysfunctional, broken family that are reunited after a crisis. Cumberbatch plays a shy, sensitive character that is berated and abused by various members of the family for being somewhat slow and his ill-fated romantic entanglement.

He’s a pretty tragic figure but rather a beautiful soul. He’s not particularly supported at home, yet his father is very tolerant and kind towards him. He’s one of those people who hasn’t found his purpose and times running out – so his mother despairs. I think that’s where her anguish comes…. and other things, as the plot reveals.

August Osage County Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Meryl Streep Movie

8 Nov, 2013

12 Years A Slave

Film Appearance

Performs in this historical drama based on the 1853 slave narrative memoir Twelve Years A Slave by Solomon Northup. Cumberbatch took on the role after stating that he personally felt ashamed that his ancestors were slave owners. 

I am incredibly proud to be part of that film. I do think it’s an important piece of work not only as a historical document of a true story but as a truly brilliant piece of cinema from Steve McQueen and it was just wonderful to be a part of it to be honest.

12 YEARS A SLAVE - Official Trailer (HD)

5 Nov, 2013

Little Favor

Film Appearance

Cumberbatch stars in a short, Iraq war-themed thriller by Patrick Victor Monroe. After hearing about the project and reading the script, the actor is taken by the material and decides to attach himself to the director’s Indiegogo campaign. Because of his influence, the project raises 3x the original goal of $40,000. Cumberbatch plays Wallace, a former British military office that is saved during the Iraq war by his American counterpart. Little does he know that James will eventually return, requesting payback.

Little Favour Official Trailer Starring Benedict Cumberbatch

18 Oct, 2013

The Fifth Estate

Film Appearance

Cumberbatch plays WikiLeaks’ founder and editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, in a thriller, The Fifth Estate. Based in part on the book WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange and the World’s Most Dangerous Website by Domscheit-Berg, this film focuses on the darker and more dangerous aspects of “journalism” and media.

No matter how you cut it, he’s done us a massive service, to wake us up to the zombielike way we absorb our news.

THE FIFTH ESTATE Official Trailer

18 Jul, 2013

Emmy nomination

Nomination

Cumberbatch is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards for portraying Christopher Tietjens on Parade’s End.

This nomination is a wonderful early birthday present.

2013 Emmy Award nominees announced

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