Benedict Cumberbatch

English actor (born 1976)Template:SHORTDESC:English actor (born 1976)

* University of Manchester
* London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
 Relatives | * Henry Carlton Cumberbatch (grandfather)
* Henry Alfred Cumberbatch (great-grandfather)

**Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch** CBE (born 19 July 1976) is an English actor. Known for his work on screen and stage, he has received various accolades, including a BAFTA TV Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Film Awards and four Golden Globes. In 2014, *Time* magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and in 2015, he was appointed a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to the performing arts and to charity.

Cumberbatch studied drama at the Victoria University of Manchester and obtained a Master of Arts in classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He began acting in Shakespearean theatre productions before making his West End debut in Richard Eyre's revival of *Hedda Gabler* in 2005. Since then, he has starred in Royal National Theatre productions of *After the Dance* (2010) and *Frankenstein* (2011), winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for the latter. In 2015, he played the title role in *Hamlet* at the Barbican Theatre.

Cumberbatch's television work includes his performance as Stephen Hawking in the film *Hawking* (2004). He gained wide recognition for portraying Sherlock Holmes in the series *Sherlock* from 2010 to 2017, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. For playing the title role in the miniseries *Patrick Melrose* (2018), he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor.

In films, he received Academy Award for Best Actor nominations for his performances as Alan Turing in *The Imitation Game* (2014) and as a volatile rancher in *The Power of the Dog* (2021). He also acted in the dramas *Amazing Grace* (2006), *Atonement* (2007), *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), *12 Years a Slave* (2013), *The Current War* (2017), *1917* (2019) and *The Courier* (2020). He has starred in numerous blockbuster films portraying Khan in *Star Trek Into Darkness* (2013), and Smaug and Sauron in *The Hobbit* film series. Since 2016, he has played Dr. Stephen Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the films *Doctor Strange* (2016) and *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* (2022).

## Early life and education

### Antecedents and family tree

In 1728, Benedict Cumberbatch's 7th-great-grandfather, Abraham Cumberbatch of Saint Andrew, Barbados (died 1753), acquired properties on the island of Barbados in the West Indies, which used enslaved people for labour. St Nicholas Abbey was owned by Cumberbatch's ancestors for at least two hundred years.

These properties were passed down through the generations to Benedict's great-great-great-grandfather, Abraham Parry Cumberbatch (died 1840 in Hellingly, Sussex). He was an absentee landlord of two estates, Cleland and Lammings, for which he received £5388 as slave compensation (via the Slave Compensation Act 1837, four years after the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 had abolished slavery). The Cleland plantation enslaved 250 people, and was the main source of the Cumberbatch family's considerable wealth at the time; they were one of the richest families in Britain.

There has been media speculation that the Barbados National Task Force on Reparations, which, as part of the wider Caribbean's CARICOM Reparations Commission, is as of January 2023[update] seeking reparations from wealthy British MP Richard Drax for his ancestors' involvement in slavery, might also consider seeking reparations from families such as the Cumberbatches. Benedict Cumberbatch has said that by the time of his birth, most of the money had run out, and he grew up "definitely middle class", or upper middle class. The Drax family still owns a large estate in Barbados, and Richard Drax is said to be worth at least £150 million. Barbados′ officials have since rebuked those speculations and called them a "Campaign of deceptive and misleading British ′yellow journalism′".

Abraham Parry Cumberbatch's son (Benedict's great-great-grandfather) Robert William Cumberbatch, was a British consul in Turkey and the Russian Empire. His great-grandfather, Henry Alfred Cumberbatch, was also a diplomat who served as consul in Turkey and Lebanon, and his grandfather, Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, was a submarine officer of both World Wars, and a prominent figure of London high society.

Cumberbatch is third cousin 16 times removed of King Richard III, whom he portrayed in *The Hollow Crown*. He attended Richard III's 2015 reburial and read a poem.

### Birth, family and schooling

Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born on 19 July 1976 at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in the London district of Hammersmith, to actors Timothy Carlton (born Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch) and Wanda Ventham. He grew up in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. He has a half-sister, Tracy Peacock, from his mother's first marriage.

Cumberbatch attended boarding schools from the age of eight, attending Brambletye, a prep school near East Grinstead, West Sussex. He undertook secondary schooling as an arts scholar at Harrow School. He was a member of the Rattigan Society, Harrow's principal club for the dramatic arts, which was named after Old Harrovian and playwright Sir Terence Rattigan. He was involved in numerous Shakespearean works at school and made his acting debut as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* when he was 12. His first leading role was as Eliza Doolittle in Bernard Shaw's *Pygmalion*, in a production by the Head of Classics, James Morwood, who observed that Cumberbatch "acted everyone else off the stage". Cumberbatch's drama teacher, Martin Tyrell, called him "the best schoolboy actor" he had ever worked with. Despite his abilities, Cumberbatch's drama teacher at Harrow warned him against a career in acting, calling it a "tough business".

### Tertiary education

After leaving Harrow, Cumberbatch took a gap year to volunteer as an English teacher at a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling, India. He then attended the Victoria University of Manchester, where he studied drama. He continued his training as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), graduating with an MA in classical acting. In January 2018, Cumberbatch succeeded Timothy West as president of LAMDA.

## Performing arts career

### Theatre

Since 2001, Cumberbatch has had major roles in a dozen classic plays at the Regent's Park Open Air, Almeida, Royal Court and Royal National Theatres. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for his role as George Tesman in *Hedda Gabler*, which he performed at the Almeida Theatre on 16 March 2005 and at the Duke of York's Theatre when it transferred to the West End on 19 May 2005. This transfer marked his first West End appearance.

In June 2010, Cumberbatch led the revival of Sir Terence Rattigan's *After the Dance* directed by Thea Sharrock at the Royal National Theatre. He played 1920s aristocrat David Scott-Fowler to commercial and critical success. The play won four Olivier Awards including Best Revival. He acted in Danny Boyle's *The Children's Monologues*, a theatrical charity event at London's Old Vic Theatre on 14 November 2010 which was produced by Dramatic Need.

In February 2011, Cumberbatch began playing, on alternate nights, both Victor Frankenstein and his creature, opposite Jonny Lee Miller, in Boyle's stage production of Mary Shelley's *Frankenstein* at the Royal National Theatre. *Frankenstein* was broadcast to cinemas as a part of National Theatre Live in March 2011. He achieved the "Triple Crown of London Theatre" in 2011 when he received the Olivier Award, Evening Standard Award and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for his performance in *Frankenstein*.

Cumberbatch was a part of a cast featuring members of the Royal National Theatre Company in *50 Years on Stage*, the Royal National Theatre's landmark event for its 50th anniversary on 2 November 2013. He played Rosencrantz in a selected scene from Sir Tom Stoppard's play *Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead*. The show was directed by Sir Nicholas Hytner and was broadcast on BBC Two and in cinemas worldwide as a part of National Theatre Live.

Cumberbatch returned to theatre to play Shakespeare's Hamlet at London's Barbican Theatre. The production was directed by Lyndsey Turner and produced by Sonia Friedman, which started its 12-week run in August 2015. The performance, co-starring Sian Brooke, was broadcast by the National Theatre Company by satellite internationally as *Hamlet in Rehearsal*. He earned his third Laurence Olivier Awards nomination for the role.

### Television

 File:Benedict Cumberbatch filming Sherlock cropped.jpg
Cumberbatch's early television roles include two separate guest roles in *Heartbeat* (2000, 2004), Freddy in *Tipping the Velvet* (2002), Edward Hand in *Cambridge Spies* (2003) and Rory in the ITV comedy drama series *Fortysomething* (2003). He also featured in *Spooks* and *Silent Witness*. In 2004, he landed his first main part in television as Stephen Hawking in *Hawking*. He was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor and won the Golden Nymph for Television Films – Best Performance by an Actor. He later provided Hawking's voice in the first episode of the television series *Curiosity*. He also appeared in the BBC miniseries *Dunkirk* as Lieutenant Jimmy Langley.

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 said he experienced a terrifying carjacking in South Africa, managing to escape. He made brief appearances in the comedy sketch show *Broken News* and the Channel 4 sitcom *Nathan Barley* in 2005 and featured alongside Tom Hardy in the television adaptation of *Stuart: A Life Backwards*, which aired on the BBC in September 2007.

In 2008, Cumberbatch played the lead character in the BBC miniseries drama *The Last Enemy*, earning a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film. In 2009, he appeared in *Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: Murder Is Easy* as Luke Fitzwilliam. He played Bernard in the TV adaptation of *Small Island*, earning him a nomination for BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. Cumberbatch featured in Michael Dobbs' play, *The Turning Point*, which aired as one of a series of TV plays broadcast live on Sky Arts. The play depicted an October 1938 meeting between Soviet spy Guy Burgess, then a young man working for the BBC, and Winston Churchill. Cumberbatch portrayed Burgess; Churchill was played by Matthew Marsh, who had played a supporting role in *Hawking*. He narrated the 6-part series *South Pacific* (US title: *Wild Pacific*), which aired from May to June 2009 on BBC 2.

In 2010, Cumberbatch portrayed Vincent van Gogh in *Van Gogh: Painted with Words*. *The Daily Telegraph* called his performance "[a] treat ... vividly bringing Van Gogh to impassioned, blue-eyed life." In the same year, Cumberbatch began playing Sherlock Holmes in the joint BBC/PBS television series *Sherlock*, to critical acclaim. The second series began on New Year's Day 2012 in the United Kingdom and was broadcast on PBS in the United States in May 2012. The third series aired on PBS over a period of three weeks in January to February 2014. Cumberbatch won an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for the third episode of the third series of the show entitled *His Last Vow*. Cumberbatch has one of the most aggressive fanbases to date, part of the 'Big Three' fandoms on the social media site Tumblr, called SuperWhoLock. In April 2015, Cumberbatch was nominated for his sixth British Academy Television Award for Best Leading Actor for the third series of the *Sherlock*. In 2016, he was once again nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, this time for *Sherlock: The Abominable Bride*.

In 2012, he led the BBC and HBO co-produced miniseries *Parade's End* with Rebecca Hall. An adaptation of the tetralogy of novels of the same name by Ford Madox Ford, it was filmed as five episodes, directed by Susanna White and adapted by Sir Tom Stoppard. His performance earned Cumberbatch his second Emmy Award nomination for Best Actor in Miniseries or TV Movie. In February 2014, Cumberbatch appeared with *Sesame Street* characters Murray and Count von Count for PBS. In 2016, Cumberbatch portrayed Richard III in Shakespeare's play of the same name, as part of the second series of films for *The Hollow Crown*, which aired in both Britain and the United States. Cumberbatch has also been a brand ambassador for Dunlop and Jaguar luxury cars since 2014.

Cumberbatch starred in *Patrick Melrose*, a miniseries adaptation of the Edward St Aubyn novels, which began airing on Showtime on 12 May 2018. In 2019 Cumberbatch appeared as British political strategist Dominic Cummings (who served as the campaign director of Vote Leave, the official campaign in favour of the UK leaving the European Union) in HBO and Channel 4's television film *Brexit: The Uncivil War*. In 2023 he was confirmed a executive producer and lead role in the miniseries *Eric* for streaming service Netflix.

### Film

The 2006 film *Starter for 10* has been credited with helping launch Cumberbatch's big-screen career. Also in 2006, Cumberbatch played late 18th/early 19th century British parliamentarian William Pitt the Younger in *Amazing Grace*, a role that garnered him a nomination for the London Film Critics Circle "British Breakthrough Acting Award". In *Atonement* (2007), Cumberbatch played what *The Guardian* called one of his "small parts in big films", and came to the attention of Sue Vertue and Stephen Moffat, who would later cast him in *Sherlock*. In 2008 he had a supporting role in *The Other Boleyn Girl*, and the next year he appeared in the Charles Darwin biographical film *Creation* as Darwin's friend Joseph Hooker. In 2010, he appeared in *The Whistleblower* as well as *Four Lions*. He portrayed Peter Guillam, George Smiley's right-hand man, in the 2011 adaptation of the John le Carré novel *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*. The film was directed by Tomas Alfredson and featured Gary Oldman and Colin Firth. Cumberbatch played Major Jamie Stewart in Steven Spielberg's *War Horse* in 2011.

 File:Benedict Cumberbatch 2011.jpg
In 2012, Cumberbatch provided the voice and motion-capture for both Smaug the Dragon and the Necromancer in *An Unexpected Journey*, the first instalment of *The Hobbit* series based on the novel of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien. He reprised his roles as Smaug and the Necromancer for *The Desolation of Smaug* (2013) and *The Battle of the Five Armies* (2014). For the motion-capture aspect of the films, he used a suit and facial markers to highlight the dragon's expressions and movements. Cumberbatch told *Total Film* "You just have to lose your shit on a carpeted floor, in a place that looks a little bit like a mundane government building. It was just me as well, with four static cameras and all the sensors."

In 2013, Cumberbatch appeared in J. J. Abrams' sequel, *Star Trek Into Darkness*, as Khan, the film's antagonist. Three of the four films he featured in during the second half of 2013 premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival: *The Fifth Estate*, in which he played WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, *12 Years a Slave*, in which he played William Prince Ford, a slave owner, and *August: Osage County*, in which he played Charles Aiken. For the official soundtrack of the latter film, he recorded a song titled "Can't Keep it Inside".

Cumberbatch had a voice role in DreamWorks Animation's feature film *Penguins of Madagascar*, which was released in November 2014. He then starred in the historical drama *The Imitation Game* as British cryptographer Alan Turing, also released in November 2014. The role earned him nominations for the Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG, and Academy Award for Best Actor. In May 2014, he joined the cast of the film *Black Mass* opposite Johnny Depp which was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

 File:Benedict Cumberbatch on the set of Doctor Strange 2 (cropped).jpg
Cumberbatch starred as Doctor Strange in both the eponymous film released in November 2016, in *Avengers: Infinity War* in April 2018, and in *Avengers: Endgame* in April 2019. His depiction of Strange also appeared in *Spider-Man: No Way Home* (2021) and in *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* (2022). He starred as electricity titan Thomas Edison in the film *The Current War* in September 2017. In 2018, Cumberbatch voiced the title character in the film *The Grinch*, and provided the voice and did performance capture for the tiger Shere Khan in *Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle*, Netflix's film adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's *The Jungle Book*, starring alongside Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett. In 2019, he appeared briefly as British Colonel Mackenzie in Sam Mendes' World War I film *1917*.

In 2021, Cumberbatch starred in the drama *The Power of the Dog*, written and directed by Jane Campion. His performance in the film was acclaimed, and he received nominations for the Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. The same year Cumberbatch played Louis Wain, an eccentric English artist known for drawing anthropomorphized large-eyed cats, in *The Electrical Life of Louis Wain*.

Cumberbatch will star as the titular character in Wes Anderson's *The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar* (2023), a film adaptation of a short story by Roald Dahl. He will appear opposite Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley.

### Radio

Cumberbatch has repeatedly expressed his affection for radio and has done numerous productions for the BBC. Among his best-known radio work is the adaptation of John Mortimer's novel *Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders* in 2009. He played Young Rumpole, and went on to play the part in nine more adaptations of Mortimer's works. Between 2008 and 2014, he played Captain Martin Crieff in the BBC Radio 4's sitcom *Cabin Pressure*, alongside Stephanie Cole, John Finnemore, and Roger Allam. He then went on to play the Angel Islington in the 2013 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Neil Gaiman's *Neverwhere*. In the same year, he led the BBC Radio 3 adaptation of Michael Frayn's play *Copenhagen* wherein he played theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg.

For the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings, on 6 June 2014 Cumberbatch read the original BBC radio bulletins from June 1944 for BBC Radio 4.

### Narration

Cumberbatch has narrated numerous documentaries for the National Geographic and Discovery channels. He has also read for several audiobooks, including *Casanova*, *The Tempest*, *The Making of Music*, *Death in a White Tie*, *Artists in Crime*, *Tom and Viv*, and *Sherlock Holmes: The Rediscovered Railway Mysteries and Other Stories*. He has done voice-overs for several commercials, including for major names Jaguar, Sony, Pimms, and Google+, performing the *Seven Ages of Man* monologue. For the 2012 London Olympics, he appeared in a short film on the history of London, which began the BBC coverage of the opening ceremony. He made appearances for two Cheltenham Festivals, in July 2012 for Music when he read World War I poetry and prose accompanied by piano pieces and in October 2012 for Literature when he discussed *Sherlock* and *Parade's End* at The Centaur. In 2012, he lent his voice to a four-part, spoken-word track titled "Flat of Angles" for *Late Night Tales* based on a story written by author and poet Simon Cleary, the final installment of which was released on 9 May 2014.

In 2012, he provided the voice of Dante Alighieri in the documentary *Girlfriend in a Coma*. In 2013, Cumberbatch narrated the documentary film *Jerusalem* about the ancient city. It was distributed by National Geographic Cinema Ventures in IMAX 3D theatres worldwide. The same year, he appeared as a special guest in a recording of Gordon Getty's opera *Usher House*, where he voiced the role of "the visitor", recorded and released by PENTATONE.

He narrated the documentary *Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet* about the Portuguese footballer for Vimeo and Vision Films in 2014. In August 2014, he recorded the first ever unabridged audiobook of William Golding's 1964 novel, *The Spire*, for Canongate Books.

### Music

On 28 September 2016, Cumberbatch appeared on stage with Pink Floyd member David Gilmour during one of the musician's shows in London held at the Royal Albert Hall. He sang lead vocals on the song "Comfortably Numb", singing the verse sections originally sung by Roger Waters.

### Impressionist

Adept at impersonating others, Cumberbatch was referred to as the "New King of Celebrity Impressionists" by *Vulture* magazine. He has imitated celebrities on a number of chat shows, such as *The Graham Norton Show* on the BBC, *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* on NBC, and in general interviews on channels such as MTV. His impersonations include Alan Rickman, Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hiddleston, Michael Caine, Christopher Walken, Tom Holland, Bane, John Malkovich, Matthew McConaughey, Taylor Swift and Chewbacca.

### Production company

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

Their first project under the company's banner was the £87,000 crowd-funded short film *Little Favour*, written and directed by Monroe with Cumberbatch in the lead role. The 30-minute action-thriller became internationally available on iTunes on 5 November 2013. In 2022 filming began on *The End We Start From*, an adaptation of the Megan Hunter novel of the same name, the rights to which the company had acquired in 2017.

## Other activities

### Charity

Cumberbatch is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust. He is a supporter and patron of organisations focused on using the arts to help disadvantaged young people including Odd Arts, Anno's Africa and Dramatic Need. Since portraying Stephen Hawking in 2004, he has been an ambassador, and in 2015 patron, for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and in 2014 did the Ice Bucket Challenge for the organisation. He also set up a recovery fund for the benefit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association. Cumberbatch has donated artworks for charities and fundraisers including the Willow Foundation, and Thomas Coram Foundation for Children.

 File:The Children's Monologues cast (2010).jpg
Together with Prince Philip, Cumberbatch presented 85 young people with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at St James's Palace on 19 March 2014. "Our ambition is to extend this opportunity to hundreds of thousands across the UK", Cumberbatch said on behalf of the youth awards programme.

In May 2014, he joined Prince William and Ralph Lauren at Windsor Castle for a cancer awareness and fundraising gala for the benefit of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. Cumberbatch stated, "Cancer isn't a disease that needs much awareness, but it does need continued funding for research." In September 2014, he participated in a video campaign for Stand Up To Cancer. Cumberbatch posed for photographer Jason Bell for an exhibition at Pall Mall, London from 16 to 20 September 2014 to mark 10 years of the "Give Up Clothes For Good" charity campaign, which has raised £17 million for Cancer Research UK. In 2014, Cumberbatch publicly backed "Hacked Off" and its campaign for UK press self-regulation by "safeguarding the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable." In late 2014, Cumberbatch designed a Sherlock Holmes-themed Paddington Bear statue, one of fifty located around London prior to the release of the film *Paddington*, which was auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

In a November 2014 cover story for *Out* promoting *The Imitation Game*, Cumberbatch opened up about sexual experimentation during his time in boarding schools stating, "While there was experimentation, it had never occurred to me as, 'Oh, this is that!' It was just boys and their penises, the same way with girls and vaginas and boobs. It wasn't out of desire." LGBT group Stonewall released a statement praising Cumberbatch's comments, saying, "Seeing someone in the public eye – especially somebody as influential as Benedict – talking positively around gay issues, is powerful for young lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It is often difficult for those growing up to find role models who demonstrate that it is equally okay to be gay or straight."

Cumberbatch is a founding member of the "Save Soho" campaign which aims "to protect and nurture iconic music and performing arts venues in Soho." In an open letter published in *The Guardian* on 31 January 2015, Cumberbatch, amongst others, asked for pardons of all gay and bisexual men who were convicted under the same now-defunct "indecency" laws as Alan Turing was (whom Cumberbatch portrayed in *The Imitation Game*).

In September 2015, Cumberbatch condemned the UK government's response to the migrant crisis in a speech to theatregoers during a curtain call at a performance of Hamlet, for which he stars. He also fronted a video campaign to help the charity Save The Children in its mission to aid young Syrian refugees. He was one of the signatories of an open letter, published in *The Guardian*, criticising the government for its actions regarding the refugee problem. He also gave nightly speeches after his curtain call as *Hamlet* at the Barbican in London, asking for donations to help Syrian refugees. At the end of the run, the audience contributed more than £150,000 for Save the Children. He faced criticism for not taking in refugees himself, responding "I do have a house, but it's empty, it's gutted, there's no electricity or water, so that wouldn't work, and I have a baby in my flat, there are no spare rooms". In 2017 he told *The Big Issue* "I understand why some might think I should be housing people instead of complaining about a government not doing it. But I was trying to raise awareness that we can do more as a society [...] But we raised money for children in need. So I don't regret doing it for a second, and I will do it again, even if it does put me in the firing line".

In May 2020, Cumberbatch was among the ten celebrities who read an instalment of Roald Dahl's children's fantasy novel *James and the Giant Peach*. The audio-visual readings were published by Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi in aid of the global-non profit charity Partners In Health, co-founded by Dahl's daughter Ophelia, which had been fighting COVID-19 in vulnerable areas.

### Politics

In 2003, Cumberbatch joined the Stop the War Coalition protest in London against the Iraq War. He addressed activists in a 2010 protest sponsored by the Trade Union Congress in Westminster on the suggested risks to the arts due to spending cuts expected in the *Spending Review*. In 2013, he protested against what he perceived were civil liberties violations by the UK government.

Cumberbatch is a supporter of LGBT+ rights and in July 2013 officiated at the same-sex marriage of friends. Through this ordination he officiated the wedding of Robert Rinder, best known as Judge Rinder, and his partner Seth Cummings. For International Women's Day 2014, he was a signatory of Amnesty International's letter to the Prime Minister David Cameron for women's rights in Afghanistan. Cumberbatch identifies as a feminist.

In 2016, Cumberbatch was one of over 280 figures from the arts world who backed a vote for the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union with regard to the June 2016 referendum on that issue.

## Awards and honours

Cumberbatch was appointed a CBE in the 2015 Birthday Honours for services to the performing arts and to charity. He received the honour from the Queen at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 10 November 2015.

In February 2016, Cumberbatch was appointed visiting fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.

## Public image and other recognition

Cumberbatch achieved international recognition with the first series of *Sherlock* in 2010. He has since been called "The Thinking Woman's Crumpet" and has been a mainstay in numerous "Sexiest Man Alive" lists including those of *Empire* and *People*.

 File:Benedict Cumberbatch figure at Madame Tussauds London.jpg
*Tatler* listed Cumberbatch in the "Most Eligible Bachelors in the United Kingdom" in 2012. In the same year, Cumberbatch described a cyberstalking incident in which he discovered that someone had been live-tweeting his movements in his London home. Coming to terms with it, he said, it is "an ongoing process. To think that somebody knew everything I'd done in a day and told the rest of the world in real time!" His photograph taken at the Garrick Club by Derry Moore, 12th Earl of Drogheda was the cover of Moore's 2012 book *An English Room*.

In 2013, Cumberbatch was ranked fifth in the *Tatler*'s "Most Fascinating People in Britain" list, higher than the Duchess of Cambridge and just below Queen Elizabeth II. *Entertainment Weekly* identified Cumberbatch as one of the "50 Coolest and Most Creative Entertainers" in Hollywood. He has also appeared on the covers of *GQ*, *Time* and *The Hollywood Reporter*'s "New A-list" issue.

In 2014, Cumberbatch was included in *The Sunday Times* "100 Makers of the 21st Century", cited as this generation's Laurence Olivier." Film critic Roger Friedman stated that "Cumberbatch may be the closest thing to a real descendant of Sir Laurence Olivier." GQ identified him as one of the "100 Most Connected Men" in the UK in 2014. In the same year, *Country Life* magazine labelled him as one of its "Gentlemen of the Year".

In April 2014, Cumberbatch was regarded as a British cultural icon, with young adults from abroad naming him among a group of people whom they most associated with UK culture, which included William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth II, David Beckham, J. K. Rowling, The Beatles, Charlie Chaplin, Elton John and Adele. The same month, *Time* magazine included him in its annual *Time* 100 as one of the Most Influential People in the World. Cumberbatch was the inspiration and focus of Abby Howells's play *Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die* which, despite its title, was a "love letter" and portrait of the fan obsession surrounding the actor. It premiered in June 2014 at BATS Theatre in New Zealand. The Tennessee Aquarium named one of its otters "Benny" in reference to Cumberbatch's first name after a naming contest on the zoo's website.

A wax figure of Cumberbatch has been on display at Madame Tussauds London since October 2014. In 2015, he was named one of *GQ*'s 50 best dressed British men. In 2018, PETA declared Cumberbatch and director Ava DuVernay to be the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebs of 2018.

## Personal life

 File:Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch July 2015.jpg
While in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in 2005, Cumberbatch and two friends (Theo and Denise Black) were abducted, after bursting a tyre, and held at gunpoint by a group of locals. Eventually their abductors drove them into unsettled territory and set them free without explanation. Cumberbatch said of the incident: "It taught me that you come into this world as you leave it, on your own. It's made me want to live a life less ordinary." Before the burst tyre, they had been listening to "How to Disappear Completely" by Radiohead. Following this experience, whenever Cumberbatch hears the song it "reminds [him] of a sense of reality ... [and] a reason for hope".

He subscribes to Buddhist philosophy and has expressed affinity for meditation and mindfulness.

Cumberbatch was in a 12-year-long relationship with actress Olivia Poulet, from his time at Manchester University until 2010.

Cumberbatch is married to English theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter. Their engagement was announced in the "Forthcoming Marriages" section of *The Times* on 5 November 2014, after a 17-year friendship. On 14 February 2015, the couple married at the 12th-century Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Mottistone on the Isle of Wight followed by a reception at Mottistone Manor. They have three sons.

## References

1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `BBC-b00wqfnd`
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Armitage, Rebecca (4 January 2023). Benedict Cumberbatch's ancestors got rich from slavery in Barbados. Now he could be on the hook for reparations. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
3. ↑  Oliver, Vere Langford:Caribbeana : being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (1912).
4. ↑ Rita DeMontis: *Visiting Barbados a feast for your tastebuds*, 29 November 2022
5. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Taylor, Kate (25 January 2014). "New Commissioner Has Ties to 'Sherlock,' via Barbados". *The New York Times*. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
6. ↑ Hanman, Natalie (2 February 2014). Should Benedict Cumberbatch say sorry for the slave owners in his family? (en).
7. ↑ Abraham Parry Cumberbatch. University College London.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Spilde, Coleman (2 January 2023). Benedict Cumberbatch's Family Could Face Reparations Fight in Barbados.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Thorpe, Genevieve (2 January 2023). Benedict Cumberbatch facing slavery compensation claim.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Lashmar, Paul; Smith, Jonathan (26 November 2022). "Barbados plans to make Tory MP pay reparations for family's slave past". *The Guardian*. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
11. ↑ Furness, Hannah (28 April 2013). 'I'm definitely middle class', says actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
12. ↑ Comissiong responds to British newspaper articles about Barbados' reparations campaign (2 January 2023).
13. ↑ Urbanhistory.org.ua Template:Webarchive Igor Lyman, Victoria Konstantinova. The Ukrainian South as Viewed by Consuls of the British Empire (Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries). Volume 1: British Consuls in the Port City of Berdyansk (Kyiv, 2018), p. 271-287
14. ↑ Lyman Igor Template:Webarchive, Konstantinova Viktoria. British Consul in Berdyansk Cumberbatch, Great-great-grandfather of Modern Sherlock Holmes, in Scriptorium nostrum, 2017, № 2 (8), p. 195-207.
15. ↑ Hawkes, Rebecca (5 November 2014). Sophie Hunter: who is Benedict Cumberbatch's fiancée?. *The Daily Telegraph*.
16. ↑ Dane, Patrick (20 May 2013). 5 Things You May Not Have Known About Benedict Cumberbatch. What Culture.
17. ↑ Kennedy, Maev (25 March 2015). Benedict Cumberbatch is related to Richard III, scientists say (en).
18. ↑ BBC – Benedict Cumberbatch plays Richard III – Media Centre (en-GB).
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25. ↑ The Full Dynastic Heritage of Benedict Cumberbatch. BBC America (22 April 2013).
26. ↑ The many lives of Benedict Cumberbatch. *GQ* (31 December 2013).
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40. ↑ *Hedda Gabler* at the Almeida Theatre. Whats on Stage.
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48. ↑ It's To Be! Benedict Cumberbatch Will Play Hamlet in London. Broadway (21 March 2014).
49. ↑ 50th anniversary | Royal National Theatre. Royal National Theatre.
50. ↑ National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage. Royal National Theatre.
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57. ↑ BBC Two – Dunkirk, Deliverance. BBC.
58. ↑ Francis, Anna (8 May 2013). Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch: I cried after carjacking shock – I thought thought I was going to die. *Now*.
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60. ↑ Television Awards Winners in 2010. BAFTA.
61. ↑ 'The Turning Point' (by Michael Dobbs) starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Matthew Marsh. Michael Dobbs Official Site (2010).
62. ↑ Critics have often said that Michael's work has the extraordinary ability to bring history to life.. Michael Dobbs Official Website.
63. ↑ The Turning Point. The Company Presents.
64. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch can't say 'penguins', according to this 2009 documentary clip.... Metro (27 September 2014).
65. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Easter TV Highlights". *The Daily Telegraph*. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
66. ↑ Masterpiece | Classic | New Upstairs Downstairs. PBS.
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70. ↑ Sherlock, Season 2 on Masterpiece Mystery!. *PBS*.
71. ↑ 'Sherlock' Shocks Emmys with Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman Wins. *Variety* (25 August 2014).
72. ↑ BAFTA TV Awards: Benedict Cumberbatch Gets Third Nomination for 'Sherlock'. *The Hollywood Reporter* (8 April 2015).
73. ↑ Nominations Announced for this Year's House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards. BAFTA (8 April 2015).
74. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Lewis, Dave (18 September 2016). "Complete list of 2016 Emmy nominees". *Los Angeles Times*. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
75. ↑ Parade's End. BBC.
76. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Goldberg, Lesley (3 June 2011). "HBO Back in War Business With 'Parade's End'". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
77. ↑ U.K. Stars, Shows Draw Primetime Emmy Nominations. *The Hollywood Reporter* (18 July 2013).
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80. ↑ Voice of Jaguar now face of Dunlop China, Benedict Cumberbatch. Rush Lane (25 June 2014).
81. ↑ Destinations Benedict Cumberbatch: Ice Driving in Finland. High Life (April 2014).
82. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch Set to Star in Showtime Limited Series 'Melrose' (en-US) (28 February 2017).
83. ↑ Otterson, Joe (16 March 2018). Benedict Cumberbatch's 'Patrick Melrose' Sets Showtime Premiere Date (en).
84. ↑ HBO Sets 'Brexit' Premiere Date, Releases Trailer For Benedict Cumberbatch Film (14 December 2018).
85. ↑ Otterson, Joe (February 3, 2023). Benedict Cumberbatch-Led Netflix Limited Series 'Eric' Rounds Out Main Cast. Retrieved on April 3, 2023.
86. ↑ Bamigboye, Baz (April 18, 2023). 'Starter For 10', Film That Launched Star Careers, Being Adapted As Stage Musical.
87. ↑ Control, Atonement lead London Critics' Circle nominations. ScreenDaily.com.
88. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch: London and Hollywood, By Lynnette Porter, Andrews UK Limited, 2016
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90. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Fleming, Mike Jr. (16 June 2011). "Benedict Cumberbatch To Voice Smaug in 'The Hobbit'". *Deadline Hollywood*. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
91. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Calia, Michael (24 April 2014). "Third 'Hobbit' Film Renamed 'The Battle of the Five Armies'". *The Wall Street Journal*. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
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93. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Finke, Nikki (4 January 2012). "'Star Trek' Sequel Hires Hot British Actor". *Deadline Hollywood*. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
94. ↑ Radish, Christina (8 January 2012). J. J. Abrams Talks *Star Trek 2*; Says Filming Begins Thursday and 3D Tests on First *Star Trek* Convinced Him to Post-Convert Sequel.
95. ↑ Cast | August: Osage County. August: Osage County Official Website.
96. ↑ Sony Music Soundtracks (9 December 2013). August: Osage County (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Sony Music Soundtracks on SoundCloud – Hear the world's sounds. SoundCloud.
97. ↑ 'Home,' 'Penguins of Madagascar' Swap Release Dates. *Variety* (20 May 2014).
98. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich Join *Penguins of Madagascar* (5 August 2013).
99. ↑ Actor in a Leading Role / Benedict Cumberbatch. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
100. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Tapley, Kristopher (2 May 2014). "Weinstein sets awards season dates for 'Big Eyes,' 'Imitation Game' and 'Eleanor Rigby'". *HitFix*. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
101. ↑ Berlin Record Deal: Harvey Weinstein Pays $7 Million For Alan Turing WWII Tale 'The Imitation Game' (7 February 2014).
102. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch Replaces Guy Pearce in Johnny Depp's Whitey Bulger Movie. *Variety* (21 May 2014).
103. ↑ Strom, Marc (4 December 2014). Benedict Cumberbatch to play Doctor Strange. Marvel.com.
104. ↑ Sandwell, Ian (20 April 2018). Benedict Cumberbatch was one of the few people given the whole Avengers: Infinity War script. *Digital Spy*.
105. ↑ Kit, Borys (8 October 2020). Benedict Cumberbatch Joins 'Spider-Man 3' as Doctor Strange (Exclusive) (en-US).
106. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch Sparks To Thomas Edison In 'The Current War' – First-Look Photo (23 January 2017).
107. ↑ Kroll, Justin (13 April 2016). Benedict Cumberbatch to Voice the Grinch in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. *Variety*.
108. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale Head the Ensemble of Warner Bros. Pictures' 3D Adventure "Jungle Book: Origins" (21 August 2014).
109. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (28 March 2019). Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch Join Sam Mendes' WWI Movie '1917'.
110. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin (2 September 2021). Benedict Cumberbatch Eyes Oscar Race as 'Power of the Dog' Gets Four-Minute Standing Ovation at Venice (en-US).
111. ↑ Cohn, Gabe (8 February 2022). Oscars 2022 Nominations: The Complete List.
112. ↑ Ravindran, Manori (3 February 2022). BAFTA Awards Nominations Unveiled: 'Dune,' 'Power of the Dog' Lead Field, Will Smith Earns First BAFTA Nod.
113. ↑ SAG Awards 2022 Nominations: Complete List of Nominees – The Hollywood Reporter (12 January 2022).
114. ↑ France, Lisa Respers (13 December 2021). Golden Globes 2022: See the list of nominees.
115. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"The Electrical Life of Louis Wain — Benedict Cumberbatch plays the eccentric artist". *Financial Times*. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
116. ↑ Wes Anderson to Direct Roald Dahl's 'Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' for Netflix with Benedict Cumberbatch (7 January 2022). Retrieved on January 7, 2022.
117. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch. *Interview* (11 November 2013).
118. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Cabin Pressure: The sitcom that broke records". *BBC News*. 1 July 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
119. ↑ BBC Radio 3 – *Copenhagen*. BBC (13 January 2013).
120. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch reads the 8am news from D-Day". *BBC News*. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
121. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch film starts London 2012 coverage". *BBC News*. 15 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
122. ↑ Cheltenham Music Festival. Cheltenham Festivals.
123. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Webb, Claire (7 October 2012). "Benedict Cumberbatch and JK Rowling cause Saturday night fever at Cheltenham Literature Festival". *Radio Times*. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
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125. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Crossan, Jamie (31 October 2012). "Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch joins Friendly Fires for Late Night Tales". *NME*. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
126. ↑ 'Girlfriend in a Coma': Film censured by Italy opens in Berlin. Cafe Babel (29 April 2013).
127. ↑ Actor Benedict Cumberbatch Narrates 'Jerusalem,' New Theatrical Release from National Geographic Cinema Ventures. *National Geographic* (23 May 2013).
128. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch-voiced film "Jerusalem:" Inside the making of the IMAX movie. CBS (26 October 2013).
129. ↑ Gordon Getty: Rork Music Usher House. Gordon Getty.
130. ↑ Gordon Getty – Usher House. Pentatone Music.
131. ↑ WATCH: Benedict Cumberbatch Narrates Cristiano Ronaldo Documentary. BBC America (June 2014).
132. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Flood, Alison (6 August 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch records audiobook of William Golding novel". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
133. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch joins David Gilmour on stage to sing Comfortably Numb". *The Daily Telegraph*. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
134. ↑ 134.0 134.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch Is the New King of Celebrity Impressionists". *Vulture*. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
135. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch Does Impressions of Taylor Swift, Tom Hiddleston, 9 Others". Eonline. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
136. ↑ 136.0 136.1 Benedict Cumberbatch, Nick Moran and Colin Salmon Star in the SunnyMarch Short Film *LITTLE FAVOUR*.
137. ↑ Mission Digital – Little Favour. Mission Digital.
138. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong Join Jodie Comer on 'The End We Start From' Cast (7 September 2022).
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141. ↑ Dramatic Need Children's Monologue. YouTube.
142. ↑ Annos Africa Patrons and Supporters. Annos Africa.
143. ↑ Odd Arts Patron – Benedict Cumberbatch. Odd Arts.
144. ↑ Film stars support the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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147. ↑ Press Office – Hawking Benedict Cumberbatch. BBC.
148. ↑ 'Hawking' Premiere. MND Association.
149. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Kennedy, Maev (12 June 2013). "Bono, Benedict and Whoopi among secret offerings at Affordable Art Fair". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
150. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Couch, Aaron (14 June 2013). "Benedict Cumberbatch Draws Self Portrait for Charity (Photo)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
151. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Cumberbatch hails DofE recipients". *The Belfast Telegraph*. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
152. ↑ Gold Award Presentations (GAPs). The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
153. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Prince William hosts Cumberbatch and Blanchett at Windsor Castle". BBC News. 14 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
154. ↑ Prince William hosts Emma Watson, Cate Blanchett at Windsor Castle. *Los Angeles Times* (14 May 2014).
155. ↑ Watch: British Stars on the Run for Cancer Campaign. BBC Anglophilia.
156. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch gets wet for charity again to recreate that Mr Darcy moment (15 September 2014).
157. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Szalai, Georg (18 March 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfonso Cuaron, Maggie Smith Back U.K. Press Regulation". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
158. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Burrell, Ian (18 March 2014). "Campaign group Hacked Off urge newspaper industry to back the Royal Charter on press freedom". *The Independent*. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
159. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Murphy, Shaunna (3 November 2014). "Emma Watson Designed A Paddington Bear For Charity And It's Freaking Adorable". *MTV*. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
160. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Alexander, Ella (16 October 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch praised by gay rights group for discussing sexual experimentation". *The Independent*. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
161. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Hicklin, Aaron (14 October 2014). "The Gospel According to Benedict". *Out*. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
162. ↑ About Save Soho.
163. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Carrier, Dan (30 January 2015). "Benedict Cumberbatch: broaden Turing's pardon to other gay men". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
164. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch in call to pardon convicted gay men". *BBC News*. 31 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
165. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch urges Hamlet audience to donate for refugees (11 September 2015).
166. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Elgot, Jessica. "Benedict Cumberbatch stuns theatregoers with anti-government speech". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
167. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch hits back over refugee row". *BBC News*. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
168. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Gordon, Naomi (22 September 2017). "Benedict Cumberbatch Considered Housing Syrian Refugees". *Esquire*. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
169. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Alison, Flood (18 May 2020). "Taika Waititi leads all-star charity Roald Dahl readings". *The Guardian*. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
170. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Aitkenhead, Decca (14 September 2013). "The peculiar charm of Benedict Cumberbatch". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
171. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Curtis, Polly (19 October 2010). "Unions stage polite protest over spending cuts". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
172. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch speaks to the TUC rally against spending cuts. YouTube (19 October 2010).
173. ↑ The Case of the Accidental Superstar. *T* (7 March 2014).
174. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>McCann, Erin (21 August 2013). "Benedict Cumberbatch does the news". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
175. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Day, Aaron (24 July 2013). "Benedict Cumberbatch conducts civil partnership". *Pink News*. Archived from the original on 8 June 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
176. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch Can Now Pronounce You Man and Wife. *The Hollywood Reporter* (25 July 2013).
177. ↑ Stars write to Cameron about Afghan women for International Women's Day. Amnesty International UK (7 March 2014).
178. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Nianias, Helen (15 January 2015). "Benedict Cumberbatch: 'Cumberbitches fan name sets back feminism'". *The Independent*. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
179. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"The celebrities that support Brexit (and the ones backing Remain)". *The Independent*. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
180. ↑ Template:London Gazette
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182. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Oxford fellowship for stars Cumberbatch and Emma Watson". BBC News. 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
183. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>White, Lesley (15 August 2010). "Benedict Cumberbatch: the fabulous Baker Street boy". *The Sunday Times*. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
184. ↑ Sherlock: how it became a global phenomenon. *The Daily Telegraph* (27 December 2013).
185. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Moran, Caitlin (11 May 2013). "What's not to love about Benedict Cumberbatch?". *The Times*. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
186. ↑ Is Britain Home of the Sexiest Bachelors?. *People* (27 June 2014).
187. ↑ The 100 Sexiest Movie Stars 2013. *Empire*.
188. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Jarvis, Alice-Azania (29 January 2011). "Benedict Cumberbatch: Success? It's elementary". *The Independent*. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
189. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Govani, Shinan (10 August 2013). "Shinan Govani: Tapping Idris Elba and Benedict Cumberbatch, the Titans of TIFF". *National Post*. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
190. ↑ The most eligible men and women in Britain?. *The Daily Telegraph* (30 October 2012).
191. ↑ Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is cyberstalked. *The Daily Telegraph* (13 March 2013).
192. ↑ 192.0 192.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Galloway, Stephen (9 November 2013). "Benedict Cumberbatch: Confessions of the 'Fifth Estate' Star". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
193. ↑ Derry Moore: An English Room. Random House.
194. ↑ Clare Balding beats all Royals to claim 'most fascinating person in Britain' title. *The Daily Telegraph*.
195. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
196. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
197. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Britain's movers and shakers". *The Sunday Times*. 9 March 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
198. ↑ 100 Makers of the 21st Century. Twenty Twenty Agency (9 March 2014).
199. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Mandell, Andrea (10 September 2014). "Toronto sings Cumberbatch's praises as WWII code-breaker". *USA Today*. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
200. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Ed Miliband fails to make UK's 100 most connected – but his brother does". *The Guardian*. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
201. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (11 June 2014). "David Dimbleby – he's our Gentleman of the Year says Country Life". *The Guardian*. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
202. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Shakespeare 'a cultural icon' abroad". *BBC News*. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
203. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Culture, attraction and soft power" (PDF). British Council. 3 December 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
204. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
205. ↑ "Perfect" Benedict Cumberbatch Inspires New Show. Scoop (10 June 2014).
206. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Daly, Emma (7 August 2014). "There is an otter named Benedict at the Tennessee Aquarium". *Radio Times*. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
207. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch. Madam Tussauds.
208. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2015". *GQ*. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
209. ↑ Brent Furdyk, "Benedict Cumberbatch, Ava DuVernay Named PETA's 'Most Beautiful Vegan Celebs' Of 2018", ET Canada Template:Webarchive, 11 July 2018.
210. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch Abducted at Gunpoint, He Says in New Interview. *People*.
211. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Bowater, Donna (12 January 2012). "Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch survived kidnap attempt in South Africa". *The Daily Telegraph*. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
212. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch: I survived kidnapping by armed robbers in South Africa (11 September 2013).
213. ↑ Hadley, George (27 February 2014). Smaug the dragon to get fans fired up for 'Hobbit' sequel. *The Japan Times*.
214. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch interview: On the couch with Mr Cumberbatch (en) (3 September 2011).
215. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch: "I know I anger a lot of people" (en) (20 August 2012).
216. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Stone, Natalie (19 July 2015). "Benedict Cumberbatch: 5 Things You Didn't Know About the Actor". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
217. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Benedict Cumberbatch announces engagement to director Sophie Hunter". *The Guardian*. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
218. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Fowler, Tara (14 February 2015). "Benedict Cumberbatch Marries Sophie Hunter". *People*. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
219. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Guglielmi, Jodi. "Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter Name Son Christopher Carlton". *People*. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
220. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Boucher, Phil (27 March 2017). "Benedict Cumberbatch and Wife Sophie Welcome Son Hal Auden". *People*. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
221. ↑ Benedict Cumberbatch: 'Joe Biden? I'm going to plead with the guy to shut Guantanamo' Template:Webarchive, 3 April 2021, *The Independent*.
222. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Rodger, Kate (11 March 2021). "Benedict Cumberbatch thanks Kiwis after spending COVID-19 lockdown in NZ with elderly parents (on-air interview of Benedict Cumberbatch)". *Newshub*. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021. my 3 boys and my wife

## External links

* Benedict Cumberbatch at IMDb
* Benedict Cumberbatch at Theatricalia
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