BENEDICT BEFORE SHERLOCK
Cumberbatch was first noticed for his role as Stephen Hawking in the BBC TV movie Hawking: he played the legendary physicist ten years before his friend Eddie Redmayne played the same role, and was even nominated for a BAFTA Award. The film was the first appearance of Hawking’s image in a feature film, and Cumberbatch subsequently spoke in the scientist’s voice twice more in documentaries (and Hawking allowed his famous synthesized voice to be used only in “The Theory of Everything”).
Wool Suit, Brave GentleMan; cotton T-shirt, Rag & Bone; vintage scarf.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is a popular English theater and film actor. Viewers invariably associate the name of Benedict Cumberbatch with the name of Sherlock Holmes, after the great success of the series “Sherlock”. Cumberbatch has successfully played both positive and negative characters in many films. It is believed that geniuses and villains fit best into Benedict's role. Benedict Cumberbatch is a Laurence Olivier (2012) and an Emmy Award (2014), a two-time Golden Globe nominee, and an Oscar nominee. Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2015).
Benedict Cumberbatch's childhood and education
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born on July 19, 1976 in London.
His father, Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch , and his mother, Wanda Ventham , were popular television actors in England.
Benedict's family tree is famous for its glorious ancestors. Cumberbatch is a descendant of King Edward III of the Plantagenet . In addition, his grandfather, Henry Cumberbatch , a submarine officer in the First and Second World Wars, takes pride of place on the actor's family tree. And his great-grandfather, Henry Arnold Cumberbatch , was Consul General to Turkey and Lebanon during the era of Queen Victoria , according to Benedict Cumberbatch's Wikipedia biography.
Benedict was lucky. He was born into a loving family. His parents paid a lot of attention to him, especially to their son’s education. He studied at one of the best schools in England - Harrow School.
By the way, Benedict first appeared on stage at this school. The boy was 13 years old when he played the role of the fairy queen Titania (A Midsummer Night's Dream). Of course, the parents helped their son with advice to correctly fulfill this role. Therefore, spectators and teachers were amazed to see how competently and maturely the boy played on stage, says the biography of Benedict Cumberbatch on Wikipedia.
Benedict, as a true Englishman, began his adult life after leaving school with travel. He visited Asian countries, and then settled for a year in a Tibetan monastery, where he taught English to the monks.
Returning home, Benedict Cumberbatch entered the University of Manchester. There the young man studied theater art for four years. Then the future actor continued to improve his education at the oldest theater educational institution in Great Britain - the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, where he received a master's degree in classical acting for professional theater.
Benedict Cumberbatch's career on the theater stage
As a professional, Benedict Cumberbatch began acting at the famous Open Theater in Regent's Park, and later he performed at the Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theater and the Royal National Theatre. The audience immediately noted his bright acting talent. For example, for his role in the play Hedde Gabler, Benedict received his first award - the Laurence Olivier Award, which was awarded to him by the London Theater Society.
Since 2002, Benedict began to periodically appear in television series. True, in episodic roles. But even after making a successful career in cinema, Benedict Cumberbatch did not leave the theater. So, in 2010, Cumberbatch took part in Danny Boyle’s at the Old Vic Theater in London. In 2011, the premiere of the play “Frankenstein” based on the work of Mary Shelley, also directed by Danny Boyle, took place. As conceived by Boyle, Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller took turns playing Victor Frankenstein and his Creature on stage at the Royal National Theatre.
In 2015, Benedict Cumberbatch played Hamlet at the Barbican Theater in London. The performance was broadcast live in many countries around the world, including Russia.
Benedict Cumberbatch's film roles
The first full-length film in the biography of Benedict Cumberbatch was the drama “Kill a King” in 2003. In the same year, Benedict was invited to Hugh Laurie’s (Laurie is a professional pianist, screenwriter, director, producer, writer and singer, who became famous primarily for his roles in the British comedy television series “Blackadder”, “The Fry and Laurie Show” and "Jeeves and Wooster" with Stephen Fry ). The series was called “A little over forty.” Benedict played the son of the main character in this family comedy. However, the series was canceled mid-season.
In 2004, Benedict Cumberbatch played physicist Stephen Hawking in the autobiographical film Hawking. The role brought him his first popularity, as well as a BAFTA nomination and the main prize at the Monte Carlo Television Festival.
Then in 2005, Cumberbatch starred in the adventure series “Journey to the Ends of the Earth” as the young aristocrat Edmund Talbot.
During this period, Benedict Cumberbatch was already the star of British mini-series: “Hit the Ten” (2006), “Amazing Lightness” (2007).
For his role in the drama Small Island, Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for a Satellite Award and, for the second time, a BAFTA Award.
In 2010, the actor starred in the documentary A Portrait in Words (playing Van Gogh ), and also lent his voice to the Discovery documentary series Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking.
New Sherlock Holmes
And yet, the real breakthrough in the biography of Benedict Cumberbatch was the role of Sherlock Holmes. Although Cumberbatch was popular and famous in his homeland of England, he was little known abroad before Benedict was invited to the promising BBC series Sherlock. The main producer of the series set a condition: no Hollywood celebrities. Cumberbatch turned out to be the first and last contender for the role of Sherlock - after the casting, he was approved without hesitation.
The plot of the new "Sherlock" is based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but the action takes place in our time and Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes is our contemporary. In 2009, an unaired pilot episode was ordered, and on July 25, 2010, the UK watched a non-version of the adventures of the great detective. Of course, there were many viewers who did not accept the innovations in the image of their favorite hero - Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes was not very similar to the classic examples. However, most viewers found the BBC's experiment bold, vibrant and outstanding. The series “Sherlock” instantly rose to the top positions of all possible television ratings.
Each episode of Sherlock opened up a new look at the portrait of the famous detective. Benedict, with his eccentric facial expressions and his characteristic facial expressions, managed to make Sherlock truly brilliant, critics noted.
The series "Sherlock" has been renewed for the next season. The second season was released in January 2012, the third in January 2014, at the same time the news reported that the series had been renewed for a fourth and fifth season
Meanwhile, Cumberbatch began to receive offers from famous directors in the USA and Europe - his film career received a powerful Sherlock impulse. This began to interfere with the filming of the series Sherlock. The fourth season was released only in 2021. The head of the PBS television company, Paula Kerger, explained this delay by saying that the leading actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, is busy with other projects. But, nevertheless, the actor, according to her, really wants to continue working in this series. As the creators of the series noted, working on each episode requires as much effort and energy as filming a full-fledged film.
In the fall of 2021, fans of the series “Sherlock” were frightened by the news that this fourth season could be the last. British actor Benedict Cumberbatch spoke about this in an interview with GQ magazine.
According to him, the creators of the series are not saying “never” to the project, but the path of its development after the fourth season is still vague. So, as Cumberbatch reasons, "this could be the end of an era."
He emphasized that the series has reached a stage from which it will be difficult to push back. But the actor believes that "something quite complete and complete" has been made, so we'll just have to wait and see. In any case, Cumberbatch is always ready to return to the role of Sherlock and he would not want to completely abandon this image.
The news also reported that there may not be a new season of Sherlock, since the relationship between the leading roles of the British series Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman cannot be called warm. According to The Sun's source, Cumberbatch and Freeman are not friends and therefore do not meet outside of the film, but they are very polite to each other.
“But there is no warmth there that one would expect after filming together for six years,” the publication’s interlocutor noted, adding that the actors have no great desire to return for another season.
At the beginning of 2021, a new season of Sherlock was released. Fans of the series, after a two-year break, warmly welcomed the appearance of their favorite hero. The actor signed a contract to participate in the fifth season. The management has not yet decided whether to release a fifth season, and today fans of the series are waiting for news about the continuation of their beloved Sherlock.
Blockbusters, place in the “Marvel Universe”
Benedict Cumberbatch did not intend to stop at the role of Sherlock, playing in a variety of films and wisely developing his career.
In 2011, Benedict Cumberbatch played in the detective thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy! In the same 2011, Benedict Cumberbatch starred in the famous Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse” and in the drama “Demolition Man” by British director Dictynna Hood .
2012 brought Cumberbatch a role in the miniseries The Hollow Crown, dedicated to the plays of Shakespeare . Benedict Cumberbatch played Richard III .
During the same period, he voiced the role of the antagonist Sauron in the Hobbit trilogy. In the next part, the dragon Smaug was added to the role of Sauron. Although the character was drawn on a computer using motion capture technology, the giant lizard received the actor's facial expressions. This is why Smaug's face is so reminiscent of Benedict Cumberbatch.
In 2013, in the science-fiction blockbuster Star Trek Into Darkness, Cumberbatch played the role of Khan Noonien Singh. The film received positive reviews from critics and performed well at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing film in the Star Trek franchise.
Then in the same 2013, Benedict Cumberbatch played WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the film The Fifth Estate, as well as the intelligent slave owner William Ford, who was favorable to blacks, in the film 12 Years a Slave.
It was interesting to read the role of cryptologist Alan Turing in the biographical film “The Imitation Game” (2014). The actor was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actor category. By the way, this film received eight Oscar nominations. In 2015, Cumberbatch played with Johnny Depp in the crime drama Black Mass.
On June 13, 2015, Benedict Cumberbatch was granted a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II .
The next important turn in his career is the “Marvel Universe”. In 2016, Benedict Cumberbatch played the main role in the science fiction film based on Marvel comics, Doctor Strange. “I don't think it's a risk because of Marvel. Marvel has a consistent history of taking everyday comic book characters and turning them into gods on screen. In this case, everything is different, this is the astral plane. This is a huge new element of the Marvel universe that will allow us to build this story and this character,” Cumberbatch commented on the new image.
Doctor Strange became the highest-grossing non-team debut of a Marvel film for a character. The total worldwide box office gross was $677.7 million.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange has become a regular in superhero films, starring in 2021's Thor: Ragnarok, 2018's Avengers: Infinity War and 2019's Avengers: Endgame.
In 2021, Benedict Cumberbatch appeared in the Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller Zoolander 2, playing a transgender model, which many of the actor’s fans did not like. It came to the point of an online petition, where several thousand users eventually signed up.
According to MK, a trailer for a political film in which the Sherlock star played the main role has been published on the Internet. It is known that for this work the actor had to lose weight and go bald.
The film tells the story of the campaign to promote Brexit. The authors promise to reveal the secrets that helped Brexit pass the referendum.
A new film with Benedict will be released in 2021 - “1917” by Sam Mendes . The film tells about the events of one day in the First World War from the perspective of two young soldiers.
Benedict Cumberbatch also continues to play in interesting TV series - the 2021 premiere of “Good Omens” based on the novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman .
Benedict Cumberbatch in life
By the way, Benedict is similar in character to his hero. He's not a coward. News reported that Benedict Cumberbatch rescued a courier near Baker Street. The British actor, who played the lead role in the TV series Sherlock, was driving a taxi along Marylebone Road in London. During the trip, he noticed four men beating a food delivery driver. The celebrity decided to intervene and asked the taxi driver to stop the car. After that, Cumberbatch jumped out of the car and ran up to the hooligans shouting: “Leave him alone!” Frightened by an unexpected witness, the hooligans fled the scene.
Later, the taxi driver told reporters that the actor behaved like a “real superhero,” RIA Novosti reported. Interestingly, the incident took place near the house on Baker Street, where Sherlock Holmes lived in the works of Arthur Conan Doyle .
Social activities, political views
In January 2015, Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry signed an open letter to the British government asking for a pardon for all those convicted of homosexuality in the 20th century.
That same year, Benedict Cumberbatch made obscene remarks about politicians. According to The Time, the actor, after each performance of the play “Hamlet”, which takes place on the London stage with his participation, gives a speech and raises funds in support of Syrian refugees. Witnesses report that he ended one such speech with an obscene message to the authorities - “F*** the politicians.”
Cumberbatch also spoke of the “shame of the British government” for doing nothing to solve the Syrian crisis and the refugee problem.
“This obscene remark was completely sudden. It’s not exactly what you expect when you come to an evening meeting with the bard, but the audience supported him quite loudly,” one viewer said in a comment to the Daily Mail .
Cumberbatch is a representative of the Swiss watch house Jaeger-LeCoultre. On 16 January 2021, he was appointed President of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
The popularity of the British actor crossed the borders of Ukraine. The image of British actor Benedict Cumberbatch appeared on the cover of a Ukrainian textbook on foreign literature for the 10th grade. It is reported that the textbook was published by the local publication “Gramota” using budget funds.
As Lenta.ru writes, the book is recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. And Cumberbatch was on the cover for a reason. Thus, it was decided to arouse interest among modern students so that children “read more.”
Benedict Cumberbatch took first place in Empire magazine's 100 Sexiest Celebrities of 2013 online poll. In April 2014, he was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
Personal life of Benedict Cumberbatch
In 2013, Benedict Cumberbatch topped the list of the sexiest male actors according to Empire magazine. The editors of the publication were especially struck by his image in Star Trek Into Darkness: his character Khan Singh graced the cover of the February issue.
A biography of Cumberbatch on the Find Out All website reports that the British news has been actively disseminating information for some time that Benedict Cumberbatch is gay, although he did not give any reasons, except, perhaps, for the role of Alan Turing. But the rumors disappeared when the actor began dating actress Sophie Hunter .
They met on the set of the film “Burlesque Tales” in 2009. After five years of friendship, in November 2014, the news appeared in the wedding section of the Times newspaper: “The engagement of Benedict, son of Wanda and Timothy Cumberbatch, of London, to Sophie, daughter of Catharine Hunter of Edinburgh and Charles Hunter of London, has been announced.” . The tradition of reporting about an upcoming wedding in newspapers today is considered an anachronism among the British, but the actor emphasized that he considers this custom extremely beautiful and would do the same even if he were not famous.
The wedding of Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter took place on February 14, 2015. The ceremony was attended only by relatives and close friends of the newlyweds, including Martin Freeman and Tom Hiddleston - a total of 40 people.
Benedict Cumberbatch's first child was born on the first day of summer and was named Christopher. “I became a father and a husband and did it in the right order. “I’m ready to have a few more Cumberbabies,” the actor admitted, and so it happened.
Cumberbatch's second son, Hal Oden Cumberbatch, was born in 2017, and in the fall of 2021, news appeared that the couple was expecting a third child.
NEW OLIVIER
Cumberbatch returned to the stage of the Royal National Theater in 2011 as a superstar: in the brilliant “Frankenstein” by Danny Boyle, he and Jonny Lee Miller (hello to the two Sherlocks!) alternated playing the ill-fated baron and his creation. For this role, Benedict was awarded a major acting award for the first time - the Laurence Olivier Award. Benedict received his second significant award, an Emmy, in 2014 for Sherlock. The actor was nominated for an Oscar once, twice for a Golden Globe, and five times for a BAFTA Award. Surprisingly, Cumberbatch has not yet been given the main British acting award for achievements in film and TV. “There is no prophet in his own country,” thought Queen Elizabeth last summer and, as a consolation prize, made the actor Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Benedict Cumberbatch: acting and achievements
In 2001, the actor began working in one of the largest theaters in Britain. He received leading roles, where he was noted and repeatedly awarded prizes. Benedict made his way to television, first playing minor roles, attending auditions and trying himself in various projects. He showed excellent results and could not go unnoticed. Cumberbatch's ability, with his looks and talent, to transform into any character and perfectly get into the role made him in demand.
Benedict enjoyed his performance and after his first box office hit, Amazing Lightness, he gained real popularity and critical acclaim. A year later, the artist received an offer to star in the film “Sherlock”. At first, the filming was in doubt due to attacks from fans of the original Doctor Holmes. But as it turned out, the series was recognized as the best in Hollywood cinema.
Film critics admire Benedict's ability to transform into characters. Also, the actor, according to the prestigious magazine, became the sexiest celebrity in 2013 and the very next year he entered the top 100 influential people in the world. Cumberbatch received offers from directors, and he continues to work now. His biography includes many box office films and prestigious awards.
SHERLOCK GOT MARRIED!
Having previously announced the future event in The Times' "Upcoming Weddings" section, Benedict Cumberbatch married Sophie Hunter on February 14, 2015. Sophie is a theater and opera director, specializing in Britten. And besides, she is a failed pop star: in 2005, she recorded an album with the famous producer, author of all Robbie Williams' major hits, Guy Chambers. The album, by the way, was called The Isis Project (!), and all the songs on it were in French (!!!). Deciding to keep up with his wife, Cumberbatch recorded a song for the soundtrack of the film “August: Osage County.”
House in Los Angeles
Benedict is quite a rich man. He has several of his own houses and mansions.
So, Benedict purchased his first house in 2015. At the time, his wife Sophie was pregnant with their first child, son Christopher. The couple paid $4 million for a house in north London.
The mansion is located on the territory of Hilden Hills. Its cost is almost 17 million dollars. The area of the house is 10117 sq. m. m.
In the luxurious mansion you can find seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a large library, a cinema, a bar and a gym. Also on its territory there is a tennis court and a large garage for five magnificent cars.
The house is decorated in Tuscan style. The villa is huge in size and located quite far away from neighboring houses. Benedict is surrounded by popular actors, for example, Justin Bieber, Tommy Lee, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian.
The large front door is made in white. It contains a grand piano and a boudoir. You can climb to the top floor along a long staircase decorated with gold and patterns.
The mansion even has a room for playing billiards. Light enters it through chic panoramic windows. And from them there is a magnificent view of stunning houses and green fields.
The house is entirely built of wood and stone, so there is a feeling of strength and confidence.
Even the bathrooms in this house are amazing. One of them even has a Jacuzzi system in which you can relax and unwind after a long day of work. It was even erected on a podium and decorated with columns.
Despite all the charms of this house, Benedict still intends to move to the USA with his family. This is due to his work, since it is inconvenient to fly from one hemisphere to another for filming.
