Benedict Cumberbatch

Actor

• Born: July 19, 1976
• Place of Birth: London, England

Contribution: Best known for his work in Hawking (2004), Sherlock (2010–2017), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), the role of Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and numerous stage performances, Benedict Cumberbatch is an acclaimed actor.

Background

Benedict Cumberbatch was born Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch on July 19, 1976, in London, England. With actors Timothy Carlton (née Cumberbatch) and Wanda Ventham as his parents, Cumberbatch inherited a natural talent and zest for performance that have undoubtedly played a crucial role in his career success. His parents, however, were reluctant to see their son follow in their footsteps and insisted that his childhood be as normal as possible. This eventually led to his enrollment at the Harrow School, where Cumberbatch was expected to prepare for a professional life outside the spotlight.

Ironically, it was during his time at Harrow that Cumberbatch’s determination to become an actor truly took hold. He acted in numerous school productions, demonstrating obvious talent and making it clear that he would have a future in front of the camera. After leaving Harrow, Cumberbatch attended the University of Manchester to study drama, albeit still without the approval of his parents. It was not until his father attended a performance of the play Amadeus in which Cumberbatch played composer Antonio Salieri that he finally received their blessing.

Upon completing his studies at Manchester, Cumberbatch spent a year in Tibet teaching English in a monastery. When he returned home to England, he continued his education with a year at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. By the time he finished, at age twenty-four, he had such an incredible reputation as an actor that he practically had a career ready and waiting for him.

Career

Cumberbatch embarked on his professional career at an initially modest pace. Most of his earliest performances were confined to the stage as he slowly worked his way toward the small screen, eventually making his television debut with appearances in made-for-television movies such as Fields of Gold (2002) and guest spots in a variety of series, including Silent Witness (2002) and Spooks (2003).

Cumberbatch’s first significant breakout role came when he was cast in 2004’s Hawking, a biopic that focuses on physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking’s early years at Cambridge University. The critical praise he received for his handling of the role was nearly overwhelming and culminated in a BAFTA Award nomination for best actor. On the strength of this performance, Cumberbatch continued to land film and television roles, with highlights including turns as William Pitt in the film Amazing Grace (2006), Stephen Ezard in the miniseries The Last Enemy (2008), and Vincent van Gogh in the television movie Van Gogh: Painted with Words (2010). He also appeared in the Academy Award–nominated film Atonement (2007).

While Cumberbatch had clearly demonstrated that he had the talent to become a major star, he was still looking for the role that would truly connect with audiences. He found that role when he signed on to star as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock, which began airing in 2010. Cumberbatch’s route to 221B Baker Street nearly took him to a destination somewhere in the ether of time and space, however. Sherlock cocreator Steven Moffat, a close friend of Cumberbatch’s and the head writer on the cult series Doctor Who, initially approached the actor to potentially replace the departing David Tennant as the Doctor. When Matt Smith was ultimately selected to become the eleventh Doctor, Moffat offered Cumberbatch the chance to play Holmes instead. Cumberbatch accepted and became a cult icon almost overnight. Audiences flocked to Sherlock and Cumberbatch, the latter suddenly finding himself with a growing legion of fans. The show was a critical as well as a popular hit that led to Cumberbatch picking up a 2014 Emmy Award for lead actor, along with three Emmy nominations, three BAFTA nominations, and a Golden Globe nomination.

On the heels of Sherlock’s success, Cumberbatch was transformed into one of Britain’s most in-demand actors, with a variety of diverse roles from which to choose. In 2011, he appeared in the Academy Award–nominated films War Horse and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He also signed on to play the characters of Smaug and the Necromancer in director Peter Jackson’s Hobbit film series, starting with 2012’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and landed the part of legendary Star Trek villain Khan Noonien Singh in the 2013 Star Trek reboot sequel Star Trek Into Darkness.

Cumberbatch remained visible throughout 2013 with a starring role in The Fifth Estate, a biopic of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and an appearance in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the second installment of the series, among other roles. In July 2013, he received another Emmy nomination, this time for best lead actor in the 2012 miniseries Parade’s End.

He also found success on stage. In 2011, he traded roles of the creature and Victor Frankenstein with Jonny Lee Miller in alternate performances of Frankenstein. The actors were awarded the 2012 Olivier Award and Evening Standard Theatre Award in 2011 for best actor for the roles. He returned to the stage to portray the title character in Hamlet in 2015.

Cumberbatch starred in The Imitation Game (2014), a biopic about English mathematical genius Alan Turing and his team's efforts to crack the German Enigma code during World War II. For his performance as Turing, Cumberbatch earned several accolades for best actor, including an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globes nomination, a BAFTA Award nomination, and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

Cumberbatch joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dr. Stephen Strange, the title character in the 2016 blockbuster Doctor Strange. The film was criticized for its casting choices and its whitewashing of the Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinton, but Cumberbatch received positive reviews for his performance. He went on to reprise Dr. Strange in several other MCU films, including Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

In between filming Marvel films, Cumberbatch starred in the 2018 limited Showtime series, Patrick Melrose, an adaptation of the autobiographical novel series by Edward St. Aubyn. Reviewers praised Cumberbatch's portrayal of the title character, a charming drug addict living in New York City in the 1980s. Cumberbatch won a BAFTA Award and a Satellite Award, both for best leading actor, and was nominated for several other awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe. In 2024, he portrayed three characters in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More, a collection of shorts based on Roald Dahl stories that was directed by Wes Anderson.

He was lauded for his work in the 2024 Netflix miniseries Eric. He portrayed a puppeteer, Vincent, whose nine-year-old son disappears. Vincent believes that completing Eric, a puppet his son had been creating, will bring the boy home. The role runs the gamut of emotions including hope and guilt as well as increasing instability as Eric appears to Vincent alone.

Impact

Cumberbatch has quickly become one of the most popular contemporary actors, as is evidenced by his considerable cult following. His skillful, eccentric performances in Sherlock, Star Trek Into Darkness, and his other works have clearly demonstrated his deft ability to breathe life into a wide range of characters and made him one of the standout actors of his generation. In 2022, Cumberbatch received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to motion pictures.

Personal Life

In November 2014, Cumberbatch announced his engagement to actor and producer Sophie Hunter through a classified ad in The Times newspaper. The couple married in February 2015 and have three sons, Christopher, Hal, and Finn.

Bibliography

Boshoff, Alison. “Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Why He’s So Shy about His Illustrious Looks.” Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers, 29 Mar. 2013. Web. 21 June 2013.

Boucher, Geoff. “From Sherlock to Star Trek.” Entertainment Weekly 18 Jan. 2013: 46–47. Print.

"Cumberbatch and Miller Share Actor Award." Official London Theatre, 17 Apr. 2012, officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/news/cumberbatch-and-miller-share-actor-award-140090/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.

Cumberbatch, Benedict. “Q&A: Benedict Cumberbatch on Star Trek, Sherlock and Julian Assange.” Interview by Katie Van Syckle. Rolling Stone. Wenner Media, 15 May 2013. Web. 21 June 2013.

Jarvis, Alice-Azania. “Benedict Cumberbatch: Success? It’s Elementary.” Independent. Independent.co.uk, 29 Jan. 2011. Web. 21 June 2013.

Mangan, Lucy. " Eric Review—Benedict Cumberbatch Will Win Awards for This Wildly Ambitious Drama." The Guardian, 30 May 2024, www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/may/30/eric-review-benedict-cumberbatch-will-win-awards-for-this-wildly-ambitious-drama. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.

Schilling, Mary Kaye. “Benedict Cumberbatch, out of Darkness.” New York 27 May 2013: 53–55. Print.