10+ Fun Facts About Versatile British Actor Benedict Cumberbatch

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch is undoubtedly one of the most successful and talented actors of his generation. His extensive curriculum in both theater and cinema, in addition to numerous awards for his performances, prove his versatility when it comes to playing roles, such as the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, in the BBC series; Doctor Strange, hero of the Marvel movie of the same name; and the dragon Smaug, from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, from the trilogy of Lord of the Rings, Based on the masterpiece by J.R.R. Tolkien.

O awesome.club wanted to find out a little more about the life of this genius actor and now presents you with some curious facts about his success story. Good reading!

Benedict’s parents, Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, also actors, did not want their only son to take the arduous path of art, as they did, so they placed him in renowned colleges in the United Kingdom, with the hope that he would choose another profession. . The two wanted him to study law, and for a long time Benedict considered becoming a lawyer.

But from an early age he showed his true vocation by participating in the school’s main theater club, The Rattigan Society, and stand out among other students. After a sabbatical teaching English in a Tibetan monastery, he decided to study acting at the University of Manchester. In 2000 he completed an MA at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and since 2018 he has been the President of the Academy.

In an interview, he mentions that he decided to become an actor, even though his parents spent a huge amount of money for him to choose another profession. Benedict also said that the two are his motivation on this journey. “To this day, one of the reasons I get out of bed in the morning is to make them proud,” he said.

Since 2015 he has been married to Sophie Irene Hunter, director of English avant-garde theater and opera, playwright and former actress, with whom he has two children.

Benedict started his career in 2000, at the age of 23, in the TV series Heartbeat, and stood out on British TV for his talent, participating in several television films and series. Until, in 2004, he played acclaimed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the BBC film The Story of Stephen Hawkingwhose role earned him several award nominations.

But it was in the series Sherlock, in 2010, when interpreting a contemporary version of the iconic detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, that Benedict obtained international recognition. In addition to two Emmy nominations, she has won a legion of fans.

Benedict decided on his own to lose a lot of weight to play Sherlock Holmes. “I finished filming Doctor Strange and the same night I got on a plane. The next morning I woke up and went to Cardiff. It wasn’t in Sherlock shape. He was in Doctor Strange shape, he looked really big — a healthy, athletic look — and he really didn’t fit the role of Sherlock,” Cumberbatch said.

He was nominated for best actor for this role in several awards, such as the Golden Globe, the BAFTA TV Awards and the Crime Thriller Awards, in the United Kingdom. He won Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie at the 2014 BAFTA Awards for the episode “Your Last Oath”.

In the third season of Sherlock, his parents starred in some episodes with their son, playing the parents of the famous detective. Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton appeared in a short scene, having tea with Sherlock. At the time, they were 78 and 74 years old, respectively.

Benedict said that he almost cried watching the episode, that the two were perfect in the role and that it was great to have them in the sep. But he also admitted that it was a stressful experience, as both are actors and were also nervous at the time of filming.

At the 2014 Oscar ceremony, Cumberbatch “bombs” the photo of Bono Vox and Larry Mullen Jr, of U2 musicians.

The actor is known for his friendliness, his relaxed interviews, celebrity impersonations and talent for intentionally appearing in other people’s photos making funny faces or poses, an attitude known as photobombing.

Before the premiere in 2016, the production of Doctor Strange was delayed for at least five months for Benedict to be cast as the lead, director Scott Derrikson revealed on his Twitter.

Despite being the first choice of the film’s producer, the star had a busy schedule because of the recording of the series. Sherlock.

Although there are several fan pages dedicated to the actor, Benedict said in an interview that he prefers to spend his time and energy on his work and that “it would be a disaster” if he decided to get involved in social media. “I can’t tweet to save my life,” he said.

In 2015, he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Imitation Game. The film, based in the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges, tells the story of mathematician and computer science pioneer Alan Turing (1912–1954), played by Benedict. This work also earned him a Golden Globe nomination in the same year, in addition to dozens of other awards.

The narrative tells the story of a group of scientists chosen by the UK government to decipher the “Enigma” code, used by German officers during World War II to send messages to their submarines. Among them is the mathematician, who manages to create a machine capable of clarifying the code.

The actor didn’t just lend his voice to play the dragon Smaug in the movie. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug🇧🇷 2013, but understood the dragon’s personality, bringing it into his performance🇧🇷 “We were looking for someone who would do something original, unexpected, surprising,” said the film’s director, screenwriter and producer Peter Jackon of Benedict’s casting for the character.

During filming, in which he had to move around on a stage, dressed in special clothing for motion capture and with an uncomfortable camera on his head facing his face, the actor confirmed his enormous talent. He manages to convey various emotions of the dragon using some vigorous body movements, continuously changing his facial expression and utilizing his powerful voice. His work as Smaug is really amazing.

The artist said in an interview that he did not imagine how the result would be and used his imagination when composing the character. “One of the techniques was squeezing my legs, forgetting the fact that they were legs, trying to feel them as part of an elongated body, crawling on the ground on my elbows and using my hands as claws,” he explained.

The star credits her father with the inspiration she needed to play Tolkien’s villain, as he was the one who introduced her to this magical universe. “My father is an extraordinary actor, so he brought this amazing world of Hobbits and dragons to life when I was six or seven years old,” remembers Benedict. “It was a very rich way to be introduced to such an amazing book. Basically my father was responsible for my performance. I am very lucky,” he adds.

Benedict with his wife Sophie Irene Hunter in front of Buckingham Palace in London

The actor was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in June 2015 at Buckingham Palace in London. The title was awarded by Queen Elizabeth in view of Benedict’s contributions to the dramatic arts and charity.

He is one of the ambassadors of The Prince’s Trust, charity created by Prince Charles, which aims to help young people in difficulty in the United Kingdom. He also supports the Dramatic Needa charity that promotes creative expression as a tool for conflict resolution and social development in underserved communities.

Benedict is a distant cousin of Richard III, King of England between the years 1483 and 1485, and played him in the BBC series The Empty Crown🇧🇷 in 2016. This was one of the adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays made by British TV, in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the writer’s death.

Click here to see the trailer.

Benedict was named in 2018 President of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), founded in 1861 and one of the world’s leading drama schools. He replaced Timothy West, who had held the position at the institution for 31 years.

The artist, who holds a master’s degree in classical acting from LAMDA, said he was thrilled to be invited and wants to ensure that the training remains accessible to all. He also said that it will be an honor “to watch the new generation flourish and generate exceptional creative artists and professionals”.

LAMDA director Joanna Read said she was delighted to hear that Benedict had agreed to join “the family” as president. “As a fantastic actor who understands his craft and our industry, I know his ideas will be tremendously beneficial to students and staff alike.”

What did you think of Benedict Cumberbatch’s performances? Which of your works did you like the most? Do you know any peculiarities about his life? Leave your opinion in the comments.