Benedict Cumberbatch on gays in Hollywood and teenage experiments

Biography of Benedict

Fate itself told Benedict Cumberbatch to become an actor. He was born into the family of British actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham. And despite the fact that his father persistently dissuaded his only son from this thankless profession, Ben began to take an active interest in art at the age of 12: while studying at the prestigious Harrow closed school, he appeared on stage in theatrical improvisations, and on weekends he watched productions of the London Amadeus Theater .

At school, Cumberbatch managed to find a common language with all his classmates, but this did not save him from the offensive nickname “Cucumber” (the actor’s surname Cumberbatch is similar to the English word “cucumber”). Later, when Benedict began actively acting in films and on TV, his parents suggested that he shorten his long, unpronounceable last name or take a pseudonym, but he insisted on keeping his cozy name.

Thanks to his parents and good education, the boy was raised in accordance with English concepts of gentlemanly behavior and honor. Therefore, Ben always had an easy-going character and a gentle disposition, which later came in very handy on the set - he found a common language with almost all his colleagues and directors.

Benedict received the basics of his future profession at the University of Manchester (where he studied acting) and at the London Academy of Musical and Dramatic Art.

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Elegant hooligan

Cumberbatch is considered a serious and intelligent actor. To maintain this image, Benedict prefers a strict English style of dress.

On the red carpet, the actor can be seen in a black tie tuxedo with satin lapels, and for ordinary cocktails he wears colorful and varied suits. In any case, his clothing should have some element of Spencer Hart, such as a jacket or tie. The company's creative director Nick Hart sells entire sets of his clothes to Cumberbatch. On the set of Sherlock, Benedict also wore suits from Spencer Hart.

The actor loves to wear scarves and caps, but not sports baseball caps. His hats always go well with tweed jackets, cardigans, jumpers and shirts. Cumberbatch prefers Coppola caps, which were once worn by commoners in Sicily. It was from there that the fashion for them began. In addition, the actor’s collection contains a lot of checkered eight-bladed boots, which, by the way, were also worn by the famous detective. Cumberbatch wears them on the street, but he wears scarves for any occasion.

In everyday life, the actor can be found in a striped T-shirt and jumper, a wrinkled shirt with suspenders and a suit without a tie. When he's being hooligan, he can go out in public in a jacket, shorts and rubber slippers.

Star Trek actor

Before becoming an actor, Benedict managed to work as an English teacher in a monastery in Tibet (it was after this that he became seriously interested in Bikram yoga) and as a perfumer in a London store. It was, rather, not a way to make money, but an attempt to get to know yourself and your true desires. He tried not to rush things, and the decision to become an actor was a thoughtful choice.

Benedict is one of the few modern actors who has harmoniously managed to combine work in theatre, TV and cinema. Intelligence, aristocratic manners and good education helped the star get the roles of geniuses, artists and even prime ministers. He played in many London theatres, including the Royal National Theatre. Cumberbatch was named best actor for his role in the production of Frankenstein, and for the television films Hawking and Marple: Killing is Easy he was nominated for the prestigious BAFTA Award. Benedict also managed to star in episodes of the popular English films Atonement, The Other Boleyn Girl and Tailor Tailor Tailor Soldier Spy.

But real fame came to Cumberbatch after the BBC series Sherlock, the first episode of which aired in the summer of 2010. The story of a world-famous couple - detective Sherlock Holmes and his faithful companion Dr. Watson - received a new development thanks to screenwriters Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, who made modern London the setting. The creators of the show, and the actors themselves, were worried that Londoners would not forgive them for the fact that Victorian England was so easily replaced by the 21st century with its liberated morals and the power of the technological process. However, after the release of the first episode, social networks were flooded with enthusiastic statuses about the new version of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle. And the tall, blue-eyed brunette (by the way, for the sake of this project Ben dyed his hair, because his natural hair color is red) was liked by women so much that Benedict, to his surprise, received the title of sex symbol from many glossy British magazines. Even Cumberbatch’s parents finally came to terms with their son’s acting calling and played the main character’s parents in one of the episodes of the series.

Hollywood found out about Benedict’s merits and began inviting him to films with famous directors. He landed a role with Steven Spielberg in the Oscar-nominated film War Horse; starred in the second and third parts of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy and ended up in the highest-grossing film in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek Into Darkness. In 2013, two Oscar-nominated films starring Cumberbatch were released - “August” and “12 Years a Slave.” In the same year, Benedict was named actor of the year in his native England.

"Patrick Melrose" (2018)

Photo: kino.rambler.ru

In 2014, in an interview, Benedict Cumberbatch, answering a question from fans about which literary character he would like to play, named Patrick Melrose from the books of Edward St. Aubryn. A few years later, his dream came true, and he received the main role in a mini-series based on the writer’s books. Each of the five episodes is dedicated to one of the stories about Patrick - from childhood traumas to the troubles that befell the hero at the age of 20.

The premiere took place in the spring of 2020. The series brought Cumberbatch nominations for such prestigious awards as the Golden Globe and Emmy. In the film, the role of Patrick's father David was played by Hugo Weaving, with whom Benedict played in the films The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). Interestingly, in real life, Hugo is only 16 years older than Benedict. The series received positive reviews from critics, who praised Cumberbatch's performance.

Films with the participation of the British actor become events in the world of cinema. Not surprisingly, Cumberbatch's schedule is booked for many years to come. The release of four films with his participation has been announced for 2020 alone. Unfortunately, it is not yet known when Cumberbatch will return to the role of Sherlock, but it is already known that his hero Doctor Strange will appear again in the final part of the Avengers film. Fans can only wait for the premiere.

Personal life of Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch's longest relationship was with actress Olivia Poulet, whom he met at Manchester University and lived together for 12 years. After the breakup, the actor found solace in the arms of designer Anna Jones, but this relationship lasted only a few months. Anna was beautiful and ambitious, but did not share Benedict’s interests at all and was not interested in either literature or theater.

In 2013, Benedict was spotted in the company of Russian model Katya Elizarova, who has lived and worked in London for many years. But a few months later, this novel became history. Ben's girlfriends also included model Lydia Hearst and actress Charlotte Asprey.

In 2014, it became known that Benedict Cumberbatch and his girlfriend Sophie Hunter, a British theater and opera director, playwright, actress and singer, were expecting their first child. In November of that year, Benedict's parents reported to The Times that their son and Sophie Hunter were engaged. After a while, the rumors were confirmed, and on February 14, the lovers got married. The wedding ceremony took place at the Church of Peter and Paul in Mottistone. Three months later, June 13, 2020. Benedict and Sophie had a son, whom they named Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch.

Benedict spends all his free time from filming with friends or at home watching TV. He boldly admits to his “sins”, declaring that he loves the shows “The X Factor” and “Dancing with the Stars”.

Text: Nadezhda Zubreva Photo: Benedict Cumberbatch : Alloverpress

The Game of Life, performed by Cumberbatch

Heir to Richard III

Benedict Cumberbatch's birthday is July 19, 1976, and the location is the British capital. It was here that popular television actors Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton had a son. Thanks to his parents, Benedict began to master stage acting from childhood.

In the photo - Benedict Cumberbatch during his school years

It is worth noting that Cumberbatch has several eminent relatives, one of which is His Majesty Richard III. The actor is his grandson in the sixteenth generation.

The family tree of the actor’s family is quite extensive. His grandfather is Henry Cumberbatch, a former submarine officer whose submarine participated in both world wars. Arnold Cumberbatch's great-grandfather's profession was diplomacy. He served as Consul General in Lebanon and Turkey.

First steps on stage

The future Sherlock Holmes received a good education. True, he studied at several schools. At the Harrow educational institution, he began to master the stage. Here Cumberbatch played his first role at the age of thirteen - the fairy queen Titania in the theatrical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The talented boy always listened to his parents’ professional advice. For this reason, rehearsals with him were held at a high level, and his performances amazed him with the maturity of his playing.

After graduating from school, Cumberbatch went to Asia, where he taught Tibetan monks English for a year. After returning to the UK, Benedict was a drama student at the University of Manchester for four years, after which he was enrolled in one of the oldest universities in England - the London Academy of Dramatic Art.

From student love to church marriage (the actor’s personal life)

During his student years, his colleague Olivia Pule became the girlfriend of the future celebrity. The young people dated for twelve years, but in 2011 the couple decided to end their relationship.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Poulet

Then a new girlfriend appeared in Benedict’s personal life - designer Anna Jones, whose romance did not last even a year.

With Anna Jones

After finishing filming “The Hobbit,” the actor briefly dated Russian model Ekaterina Elizarova. Journalists caught Cumberbatch with a girl during their joint vacation in Ibiza. The Russian model claimed in an interview that she was having an affair with the British star, but the actor himself denied her words.

Cumberbatch and Katya Elizarova

During a conversation with reporters in 2013, Benedict said that he lives in the British capital, he is single and has no children, although the actor would not mind having them in the future. Cumberbatch noted that he devotes most of his time to work, and prefers to relax with friends.

There were rumors in the press that the actor was a member of sexual minorities and was interested in men, but there was no confirmation of this information.

Benedict Cumberbatch's wife Sophie Hunter

In 2009, during the filming of the film “Burlesque Tales,” Benedict met Sophie Hunter. For five years they were simply friends, and a romantic relationship between this couple began to develop in 2014, although no one knew about them for a long time.

Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter

At the end of autumn of the same year, the wedding section of the Times published an announcement about the engagement of Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter.

Modern Englishmen rarely announce their intention to tie the knot through newspapers, but the actor has always liked this tradition. Benedict noted that he would have used it even if he were the simplest resident of Great Britain.

Wedding of Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter

The newlyweds were married in February 2020 in the Church of Peter and Paul on the English Isle of Wight in Mottistone. The wedding celebration was modest with the participation of forty guests, in particular, close friends of the groom, his colleagues Tom Hiddleston and Martin Freeman.

Two little boys

When photos from Cumberbatch's wedding appeared on the Internet, many noticed the slightly rounded belly of the actor's bride. It turned out that at this time Hunter had already been carrying her future husband’s child under her heart for five months.

The boy was born on June 1, 2020. Happy parents named him Christopher. In an interview, Benedict noted that he became a husband and father in the right order, and is looking forward to the appearance of several more Cumberbabies in the future.

In October of the following year, Benedict Cumberbatch's biography was updated with the news that the famous actor's wife was pregnant again. On March 3, 2020, Sophie gave birth to her second boy, Benedict Cumberbatch's youngest son was named Hal.

In the photo - the actor with his wife and son

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Popular films

In his filmography, Benedict Cumberbatch played both minor and very significant roles . He has a lot of both of them on his track record, which is encouraging. It doesn't matter if it's a movie starring the actor or playing a lesser character, the acting is simply wonderful. Cumberbatch gives it his all. “Amazing Lightness” (2006) is a vivid example of this. The non-central character brought him another prestigious nomination. Further, the actor’s career included small roles in such films as “Atonement” (2007), “The Other Boleyn Girl” (2008) and “The Origin” (2009).

2013 was a busy year for Cumberbatch, as he was involved in many projects:

• "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug";
• "Star Trek";
• "August. Osage County";
• "The Fifth Estate".

In 2014, Benedict Cumberbatch played a dramatic role in “The Imitation Game” for his filmography. As we see, other roles, besides wise men and criminals, are great for Benedict.

British Star's Royal Talent

Recognition in the theater

Since 2001, Cumberbatch has become a professional theater actor. At first he was taken to the famous Open Theater, located on the territory of Regent's Park, after which he performed on the stages of the Royal National Theatre, Almeida and Royal Court. The first professional award in Cumberbatch's life is the Laurence Olivier Award, which is awarded annually by the London Theater Society. The actor received it for his role in the production of Hedde Gabler.

In 2020, Benedict was lucky enough to play Hamlet in the capital's Barbican. The performance was broadcast live all over the world, including Russia.

Getting started in television and film

Cumberbatch's television career began in 2002 with episodes in Velvet Feet, Fields of Gold and Heartbeat. Benedict made his debut appearance on the big screen in the dramatic film “Kill a King,” where his partner was Tim Roth.

A year later, the actor could be seen in the television project “A little over forty.” Cumberbatch played the son of the main character played by Hugh Laurie.

In 2004, Benedict played in the biopic Hawking, dedicated to the famous physicist. It was this film that gave Cumberbatch his first recognition in cinema. He was nominated for a BAFTA award. He also won the main prize at the television festival in Monte Carlo.

In the photo - a still from the film "Hawking"

The following year, Benedict was invited to the action-packed television project “Journey to the Ends of the Earth,” in which he became the aristocrat Edmund Talbot.

In 2007, in the drama “Inseparable,” the actor played two roles at once. These were twins whose characters were radically different.

The second BAFTA award was awarded to Benedict for the drama film “Small Island”, and for his role in the dystopia “The Last Enemy” he was nominated for the “Satellite” award.

In 2010, the actor portrayed the famous artist Van Gogh in the documentary film “Portrait Written in Words.”

Sherlock and others

According to the recollections of the producer of the cult television project “Sherlock” Mark Gattis, after he watched the video sent by Cumberbatch for the audition, he realized that he no longer needed to look for actors to play the role of the great detective.

In July 2010, an updated version of the adventures of the famous detective and his friend Dr. Watson premiered on British television. It was unexpected, challenging and talented.

In 2011, Benedict starred in another film adaptation of Frankenstein. Then there was a detective story about the secret services, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy!, where, in addition to Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman were involved. For his work in this film at the Raindance festival, Benedict was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

A year later, the television project “The Empty Crown” was released, where the actor played the role of Shakespeare’s Richard III. At the same time, the premiere of the first part of “The Hobbit” took place. Cumberbatch got the image of the Necromancer, who is the spirit of Sauron. True, the actor is practically invisible in the film, but his menacing voice is clearly audible. In the second part, Benedict reincarnated as the dragon Smaug. This required motion capture technology, since this monster was completely computer generated, but with the habits and facial expressions of Cumberbatch.

In 2013, the actor played the role of Khan Singh, the main villain of the science-fiction blockbuster Star Trek Into Darkness.

At the same time, he studied all the information about the founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange, whom he later played in the film “The Fifth Estate.” His intelligent and kind slave owner Ford from the drama “12 Years a Slave” looked good on screen.

As Julian Assange

In 2014, The Imitation Game, a biopic about the brilliant cryptologist Alan Turing, was released. The film had 8 Oscar nominations, including Best Actor, but this time Cumberbatch was unlucky.

The following year, the premiere of the film “Black Mass” took place, in which Johnny Depp became Benedict’s partner on the set.

One of the actor's latest successes in cinema was the image of Doctor Strange in the sci-fi film about the superhero of the same name.

In the photo - the actor in the role of Doctor Strange

Cumberbatch is a "racist"

In a 2020 appearance on The Tavis Smiley Show, Benedict shared his thoughts on the lack of support for actors of color in British cinema. American producers supposedly treat them better, and their British colleagues should follow their example.

Cumberbatch had only the best intentions in mind, but after the interview he was called a racist. There was especially a lot of noise about this on social networks.

After some time, the actor apologized for his statements and called himself an idiot. Benedict noted that he had no intention of offending anyone, but simply raised the topic of racial inequality in cinema, but apparently chose the wrong words to convey his message to the audience. Fortunately, this incident was quickly forgotten.

Another scandal occurred with the actor after the premiere of Zoolander 2, directed by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, where he played a transgender man from the modeling business. Many fans were openly outraged and even created an online petition, which was signed by thousands of loyal Cumberbatch fans.