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Bennidict's image in the Times also shows the public's approval of his portrayal of a highly intelligent character. Bennidict's performance in high intelligent roles is impressive. His ability to capture the complexity of his characters while bringing them to life through great acting makes it easier for audiences to empathize with these characters. The success of these roles also further solidified Benedict's reputation as an exceptional actor.

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Benedict's performance breathes new life into this classic literary character. He manages to capture Sherlock Holmes' intelligence and social awkwardness while also presenting the character's inner complexity. His performance is widely recognized and gives the character a more contemporary feel.

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Benedict brilliantly portrays renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the film "Hawking". He captured Hawking's intelligence, humor, and tenacity while also presenting Hawking's struggle with muscular dystrophy. The role earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, showing his outstanding performance.

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Benedict portrayed Alan Turing, the founding father of computer science, in the movie The Imitation Game. He succeeded in presenting Turing's genius intellect and social handicaps, while also exploring the importance of Turing's work in decrypting World War II. The role also earned him an Oscar nomination.

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In this drama, Benedict portrays political consultant Dominic Cumming, a highly intelligent character who played a key role in the UK's EU referendum. Benedict successfully conveys Cumming's calm, analytical and strategic thinking, traits that are crucial to parsing the political situation. His performance adds to the complexity of the role.

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Vincent Van Gogh: Painted With Words, 2010

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Vincent Van Gogh: Painted With Words, 2010

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Benedict plays Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh in this film, a highly intelligent character with exceptional artistic talent. He manages to capture Van Gogh's emotion and creativity while also presenting his mental health challenges. The character's performance is full of depth and showcases Benedict's versatility.

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One of the biggest changes in showbusiness has been the definition of what makes a famous name. In the past, it was far more likely that an actor called Bridget Jones would play a comic character named Renée Zellweger than the other way round. This came very close to being an interview with Ben Carlton, who played Stephen Hawking in an acclaimed television drama and is about to open at the Royal Court in London, in a new play by Martin Crimp.

"When I started, I just assumed I couldn't be called Benedict Cumberbatch," says the 30-year-old actor in a pub near the play's rehearsal rooms. His father, an actor, had been persuaded by an agent to become Timothy Carlton, and so the son initially carried on the family stage name. "But then, one day, I told someone in the business what I was really called and they said, 'That's great, that's something you can use to stand out.'"

Because acquaintances, interviewers and immigration officers tend to ask about it, the artist formerly known as Ben Carlton wishes that he had done more research into the derivation of Cumberbatch. He knows only that the clan was originally German and later became prominent in the Caribbean, where they were slave traders. He drew on this part of his DNA in the BBC adaptation of William Golding's novels To the Ends of the Earth (he played Edmund Talbot, an opportunist sailing to the West Indies to make his fortune); he says, half-jokingly, that his role as William Pitt in the abolitionist film Amazing Grace was a sort of apology.

Although the range of historical periods is broad enough to avoid any appearance of typecasting, Pitt belonged to both categories with which casting directors seem to connect Cumberbatch: historical figures and precociously intelligent men. Stephen Hawking, his breakthrough role in a BBC film, belongs to both categories; the paranoid mathematician in the recent police-state-of-Britain TV drama The Last Enemy to the latter.

I also have first-hand experience of his creation of another brilliant prodigy. It is unusual to be intervewing an actor shortly after performing with him, but Cumberbatch plays the Romantic poet Chatterton in a Peter Ackroyd play on Radio 4 next week, in which I appear as an arts broadcaster. What struck me is that, although radio plays tend to be cast very close to transmission, Cumberbatch had already caught up with the Chatterton biographies and apologised for not having done more preparation.

More studenty than Stanislavski in his approach to roles, he likes to read or interview his way into a part. When preparing for his role in Amazing Grace, he arranged to be shown around the House of Commons by Pitt's biographer, the shadow foreign secretary William Hague, though they didn't drink 16 pints together. In the case of Hawking, he went to the source.

"I met him twice. But he was very ill after we finished filming, and I've never heard from him since. You have to be careful about this. Obviously, I would love to have an email relationship with him, but, then, what would those conversations consist of? I am an actor and he's a nuclear physicist, and our worlds don't collide. In fact, I could have got everything I needed from books, but there was this desire to meet him."

Another complication was that Cumberbatch was playing the younger Hawking, before vocal paralysis and celebrity set in, so there was no possibility for Bremneresque observation of gesture or intonation. "There isn't even any film from those days so, unusually in playing a real person, I had pretty much a blank canvas. Meeting him was really a touristy thing to do. I actually got quite uncomfortable because I was just sitting by his chair watching him and, at one point, our eyes met and I looked away, feeling like a voyeur. But then, I looked back and he cracked this huge smile, which I took as permission to go away and do what I had to." Later, there was a more direct benediction. Hawking intervened, via voice synthesiser, on Cumberbatch's behalf, in a dispute with Mrs Hawking and nursing staff over whether it would be OK for the actor to smoke a roll-up in the garden.

Although expensively educated at Harrow school, the actor is bemused that he is often cast as geniuses. "I suppose it's flattering that you look like someone who could think this stuff. But it's a confidence trick. You're actually someone who, before shooting begins, has desperately been mugging up in the books he half-finished during gap year."

Being cast as a real-life figure is also a matter of physical luck: slight and thin - with a face within the shape-range of Hawking's now-famous features - he was always more likely to be auditioned than, say, Simon Russell Beale. "That's true. But," he demurs, "it's an interesting area this, because, as an actor, you tend to have a nemesis ... No, I don't mean nemesis, but the person who gets your work. For a long time, I tended to be up against Michael Sheen for parts. There was a spell when people thought I had to play Kenneth Williams one day. I suppose because I have a long face, retroussé nose and have been known to be quite camp. But I would never have put us in the same picture frame."

Another role notably played by Sheen - Tony Blair - may also wait. Cumberbatch was shocked when a backstage visitor to Ionesco's Rhinoceros, in which he appeared at the Royal Court last year, told him that he had eerily resembled Blair on stage.

We talk about what it must be like to be Gordon Brown and Tony Blair at the moment, the latter surely unable to avoid taking some pleasure in the mess that his successor has made. I suggested that it might be the same for actors, hoping that another performer will fail in a role you wanted to play? "No. No, not really. But it can affect you and you have to be careful. It's a dangerous thing, that negative energy. It's difficult because what you do is both a career and an art form, but you have to learn to subsume any envy and not see not being cast always as rejection. It's far more stark in films, where it's all about a graph. Does this person tick the gay box, the married-couples box, the under-25 box and so on? You are commodified in a way that doesn't really happen in theatre."

While he has made an impact in movie toff roles - including Atonement and The Other Boleyn Girl - he is for the moment busiest on TV and stage. Martin Crimp's The City, written in the playwright's precise, fragmented, teasing language, is a dark domestic drama in which Cumberbatch's character, Chris, is affected first by redundancy and then by other social subtractions. The director, Katie Mitchell, favours physical research, and so Cumberbatch has been visiting redundancy support groups and, because of one key scene, a supermarket meat counter.

Some aspects of a part, though, are not accessible through either reading or research. Chris, crucially, is a parent, while Cumberbatch, who lives with the actor Olivia Poulet, isn't. So he was concerned about a bleak and foul-mouthed scene with the child performer playing his stage daughter. Similar action in a recent Royal Court production - Bruce Norris's The Pain and the Itch - brought a visit from the local council, who satisfied themselves that child welfare laws were being observed.

Cumberbatch needed to reassure himself on the same issue: "That was the thing I was most apprehensive about. As an actor, you are aware of how a role can seep into your real life. When I was playing Hawking, I became obsessed with falling ill - so I was worried about the children. But there are studies showing that young actors are very strongly aware of the difference between fiction and real life. And we have worked very carefully with them in rehearsal, and their mothers are always in the room."

His concern now is young people in the auditorium: during recent stage appearances, he has noticed that the rule of watching plays in silence no longer applies. "Texting and talking have become a real problem. But you have to understand that you can't demand their attention, you have to command it. You have to make them behave by your acting, not by shouting: 'Behave!' There's a famous story about the actor playing Dracula at a matinee and getting sick of the noise from the kids. So he jumped into the audience and seized one by the throat and roared: 'Don't you know who I am? I'm Count fucking Dracula!' But you can't do that."

· The City is at the Royal Court, London SW1, until June 7. Box office: 020-7565 5000. Chatterton: The Allington Solution is on Radio 4 on Thursday.

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Mark Lawson talks to Benedict Cumberbatch about his biggest challenge yet: playing a dad

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He has played toffs, geniuses, poets and PMs. Now Benedict Cumberbatch is facing his biggest challenge yet: playing a dad. By Mark Lawson

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Benedict has also demonstrated a high level of intelligence and scholarship as Dr. Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He manages to combine Strange's calmness and academic knowledge with his superpowers to become a powerful character in the Marvel world.

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Clip about Benedict Cumberbatch expressing love for his wife

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Clip about Benedict Cumberbatch expressing love for his wife

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benedict cumberbatch having a crush on his wife for 3:44 minutes

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Funny Interviews & appearances of Benedict Cumberbatch

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Funny Interviews & appearances of Benedict Cumberbatch

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He is known for his intelligent and humorous answers and sense of humour, often displaying a relaxed and funny side in his interviews.

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An introduction to Benedict's experiences and traits

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An introduction to Benedict's experiences and traits

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Bright Side - Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.

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7 Revealing Facts About Benedict Cumberbatch as He Turns 47

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Benedict Cumberbatch, a name synonymous with charisma and talent, stands as one of the most captivating figures hailing from Britain's rich artistic tradition. He has left an indelible mark on both the small and big screens with his iconic portrayals of characters like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Strange.

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'The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug' DVD Clip (2013)

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'The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug' DVD Clip (2013)

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Benedict went to the reptile house to observe how the reptiles with tails moved, imagining how a dragon's movement could be rendered with a human body structure.

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Benedict Cumberbatch As Smaug Side By Side Comparison | E-Cuta

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Why is Benedict Cumberbatch Hot? - SNL(2017)

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Why is Benedict Cumberbatch Hot? - SNL(2017)

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Some of the animated characters voiced by Benedict

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Some of the animated characters voiced by Benedict

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Benedick has demonstrated exceptional skill in the field of animation voice acting. He has the versatility to express the emotions and characteristics of the characters with his voice and can play a variety of different types of roles. He is also able to convey the character's expressions and emotions through his voice, making the character more vivid and compelling. These skills have made him stand out in animation dubbing, winning him wide praise and fan favorites.

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Benedict Cumberbatch is a voice acting expert

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Benedict Cumberbatch reads Alan Turing's letter to Norman Routledge in Letters Live(2015)

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Benedict Cumberbatch reads Alan Turing's letter to Norman Routledge in Letters Live(2015)

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"Letters Live" uses letters from famous historical figures as a carrier, and invites guests to read them live for the audience, experiencing the emotions of the writers between the lines. Benedict read Turing's letter to a friend on the program, and the emotions conveyed by his voice are deeply moving, which also shows his understanding of the character he has portrayed.

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"Yours in distress" Benedict Cumberbatch reads Alan Turing's letter to Norman Routledge

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Benedict Cumberbatch: Charity Work & Causes

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Benedict Cumberbatch: Charity Work & Causes

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Benedict Cumberbatch is known for playing Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series, Sherlock.

He is an ambassador for the Prince's Trust.

Charities & foundations supported 11

Benedict Cumberbatch has supported the following charities listed on this site:

Other supporters of the same charities & foundations

Causes supported 15

Abuse, AIDS & HIV, At-Risk/Disadvantaged Youths, Cancer, Children, Creative Arts, Disaster Relief, Education, Family/Parent Support, Health, Mental Challenges, Physical Challenges, Poverty, Rape/Sexual Abuse, Women

More news about Benedict Cumberbatch →

Official web sites

No web sites are known

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Benedict Cumberbatch: Charity Work & Causes

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Profile of Benedict Cumberbatch's support for charities including Prince's Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Save the Children. We have 46 articles about Benedict Cumberbatch's philanthropy.

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Benedict received ‘Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire’ in 2015

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Benedict received ‘Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire’ in 2015

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The Queen Just Made Benedict Cumberbatch A ‘Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire’

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Benedict Cumberbatch received an honor from the Queen for his charity work on behalf of Syrian refugees.

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Benedict become fellows at Oxford College in 2016

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Benedict become fellows at Oxford College in 2016

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Benedict Cumberbatch's newest role will see him treading the boards in front of university students, after he accepted an appointment as a visiting fellow at Oxford.

Cumberbatch - whose last stage role was as Hamlet at the Barbican in London - will be joined by fellow actor Emma Watson and the Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant among the 11 visiting fellows at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

The college's principal, Alan Rusbridger, former editor-in-chief of the Guardian, announced the appointments on Friday.

"They are people drawn from a variety of backgrounds, callings and professions and we want them to form a bridge between our own academic community and the worlds they inhabit and represent," Rusbridger said.

Other appointees include the former children's laureate Malorie Blackman, the chief constable of Thames Valley police, Francis Habgood, director Beeban Kidron, musician Mark Simpson and high court judge Rabinder Singh.

The new positions are strictly part-time, however, and are intended to add to the cultural life of the college, according to Rusbridger, who took up his role as head of the college in September 2015.

"At a minimum we'd like them to drop in occasionally at college, eat with us and meet informally with a variety of the LMH community.

"We'd like them to do one thing a bit more structured. It could be a conversation or debate, a performance, a lecture or seminar, a form of outreach - or something we haven't thought of. We can imagine fascinating interactions or collaborations between them.

"They are welcome to come and stay in college if they'd like a place temporarily to think or work. And some have already suggested other ways in which they might engage with a body of 700 incredibly smart students and tutors in order to stimulate their own thinking or work in progress."

A list of possible visiting fellows was drawn up by the college's governing body, and then narrowed down by a committee. Ultimately only one person approached by the college turned it down.

"Some of the names we announce today did not go to university. One left school at 16. We think we can learn much from them - and we hope they treasure their time with us," Rusbridger said.

Cumberbatch studied for a BA in drama at Manchester University and has an MA in classical acting, while Watson has a degree from the Ivy League Brown University in the US.

Visiting fellowships are more commonly given to scholars and academics, although there are positions such as the Cameron Mackintosh visiting professorship at St Catherine's, Oxford, that have been filled by luminaries such as the actors Stephen Fry, Diana Rigg and Patrick Stewart.

Only one of the 11 new visiting fellows is an academic: Jennifer Rohn, a cell biologist at University College London who is also a novelist; neurosurgeon Henry Marsh is another of the news fellows.

In a blogpost, Rusbridger said the idea came from his own experience as a visiting fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford.

"Some of those dinners were eclectic affairs. Alongside the students and tutors there would be bishops, bankers, spies, journalists and economists.

"Lord Nuffield, it seemed to me, was on to something: this was a way of enriching the life of a college and its students, and of blowing oxygen through the corridors."

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Oxford college appoints Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson

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Lady Margaret Hall announces star-studded list of visiting fellows, which also includes Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant

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Benedict Cumberbatch becomes president of Lamda drama school in 2018

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Benedict Cumberbatch becomes president of Lamda drama school in 2018

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Benedict Cumberbatch becomes president of Lamda drama school

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The Doctor Strange actor succeeds Timothy West at the drama school he graduated from in 2000.

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Benedict Cumberbatch Fans Power Star to Sun's Sexiest Man Award

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Benedict Cumberbatch Fans Power Star to Sun's Sexiest Man Award

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It was a good weekend to be Benedict Cumberbatch.

The ascending star had a busy Sunday, on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, there was the premiere of the second season of Sherlock, the critically-acclaimed, modern-day retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mystery stories, in which he plays the central sleuth; and over in the UK, he was voted The Sun's Sexiest Man by the tabloid's readers. Or, to be more precise about it all, readers of Tumblr blogs.
TV Review: Sherlock
Cumberbatch is a hit online, the subject of much adoration on social media sites and fan fiction. And so when The Sun began its very scientific poll, the fans of the spindly, intellectual Brit launched into action, flooding the vote and encouraging their Cumber-obsessives to do so, as well. The result? Cumberbatch took home the award in a walk, finishing with 7115 votes, more than doubling the tally of the second place finisher, David Beckham.

The victory is even more impressive when the rest of the list further explored: coming in fourth, fifth and sixth were Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horanthree, three of the singers in One Direction, while Ryan Gosling came in seventh place.

Fans rejoiced with the news; "This result was brought to you by Tumblr," one user wrote (with the message receiving a mass of re-blogs), while another exclaimed, "YAY GUYS!! WE DID IT!!! We've got the power! He even got double the votes than David Beckham (2nd place) heehee! ALL THE FEELS! I LOVE THE SHERLOCK FANDOM!"

Seems like looking like an otter is the new sexy, something of which Cumberbatch is well aware. Next, he'll test the limits of his sex symbol status by playing a villain in Star Trek sequel, as well as Smaug and the Necromancer in The Hobbit.

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Benedict Cumberbatch Fans Power Star to Sun's Sexiest Man Award, Topping David Beckham

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Considered handsome in his own, unconventional way, the "Sherlock" actor received a major boost from his large fan base on Tumblr.

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Benedict achieved the height of his enthusiasm amongst the fanbase through his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, and as he played progressively more roles, the nature of his celebrity changed and the level of fan fascination eased.

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In 2013, I was 15 years old and a dedicated "Cumberbitch," the slang term often used to refer to (often female) fans of the actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

I was so obsessed with "Sherlock," the British drama series in which Cumberbatch stars as the titular detective, that I got dressed up to sit on my couch and watch an illegal livestream of its season-three premiere. I spent hours watching Cumberbatch's interviews, losing my teenage mind over the way he said "penguins." When I needed a GIF or silly meme for a tweet, he was my de facto subject.

I was far from alone. The Cumberbatch fixation - spurred by his role in "Sherlock," which spanned four seasons that aired between 2010 and 2017, and acclaimed performances in films like 2014's "The Imitation Game" - hit a fever pitch online between 2012 and 2014. His fans, too, became an object to be studied, not unlike Beatles fans in the 1960s or the K-pop group BTS's ARMY today.

In the years since the rise of the Cumberbitches, the fandom has faded. Cumberbatch, a beloved actor and 2022 Oscar nominee for his work in "The Power of the Dog," no longer occupies the same idol-like celebrity space that he did a decade ago.

Insider spoke with fandom experts and several former Cumberbatch fans (some of whom referred to themselves as Cumberbitches, while others did not) in order to capture how Cumberbatch's fandom has changed since then - and how, in some ways, it's stayed the same.

When you're a lonely 20-year-old woman, it's easy to imagine falling in love with this strange-looking, hyperintellectual, moody guy whom only you understand.

On July 25, 2010, the first episode of "Sherlock," the BBC's modern-day reimagining of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, premiered. It was the start of something remarkable, not only for the series itself, but for its enigmatic lead actor.

"Sherlock" seems to have been the jumping-off point for Cumberbatch's incredibly passionate fandom. Google Trends data shows this building fervor in action: Search interest in "Benedict Cumberbatch" grew in the early 2010s, peaking in January 2014, the month that "Sherlock" season three premiered. It has fallen since, with smaller peaks coinciding with the news of Cumberbatch's engagement in 2014, the November 2016 release of "Doctor Strange," and later films like 2021's "The Power of the Dog," for which he's nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.

At the time, the world of Cumberbatch fandom was overwhelmed with content, from GIF sets (a format popular on Tumblr that combines multiple animated GIFs into a cohesive post) to image edits to fanfiction (today there are nearly 60,000 "Sherlock" fics on Fanfiction.net and 122,000 on the fanfiction hosting site Archive of Our Own) to absurd memes, the most famous of which referred to Cumberbatch by literally anything other than his name.

At a time when Tumblr reigned over internet culture, Cumberbatch was elevated to the highest levels of stardom by users on the microblogging social-media platform.

Cates Holderness, Tumblr's head of editorial, told Insider that, based on her own experience, the internet was "becoming a place for people to watch things" when "Sherlock" began airing. That meant that global entertainment, like British dramas, was becoming more accessible outside of its source market. And in turn, people wanted to talk about that entertainment online as well.

"The world of Tumblr back then (2012 to 2014) was at its peak," Kanika Talwar, Cumberbatch stan and London-based fashion journalist who started with "Sherlock" and then watched "every single project Benedict did," told Insider in an email.

"I literally think all of us in Benedict's fandom overran the website, annoyed just about everyone, and probably made them change their user policies," she said.

Part of what made him attractive was the fact that he hadn't experienced being traditionally attractive himself in his life.

Cumberbatch's version of the famed detective was acerbic, witty, and incredibly sexy. From his imposing figure to his perfectly tousled hair, it was easy to become entranced by the persona Cumberbatch inhabited onscreen and then get curious about the man himself.

"Benedict was at his cutest playing Sherlock, because he had the dark curls always tumbling into his eyes, the smart coat and collared shirts, and he was angry and smarter than everyone else in the room," Emily Gaudette, a 32-year-old writer who read and wrote fanfiction about Cumberbatch's Sherlock and "different brainy women who were very obviously self-inserts," told Insider over email.

"When you're a lonely 20-year-old woman, it's easy to imagine falling in love with this strange-looking, hyperintellectual, moody guy whom only you understand," she said.

In her memoir, "This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch," author Tabitha Carvan writes about experiencing a loss of identity after she became a mother and how her passion for Cumberbatch helped her reclaim it. In the book, she describes watching Cumberbatch in the 2016 Victorian-themed special episode of "Sherlock" and wanting to watch it again, and then revisiting the series' earlier episodes.

"In that particular episode, I just was completely captivated by him physically. But it's also the character," Carvan told Insider. "There is that amazing thing that happened with him where he was not being cast as a heartthrob."

"Part of what made him attractive was the fact that he hadn't experienced being traditionally attractive himself in his life," she added.

In a 2015 interview with CBS News, Cumberbatch reflected on the fandom - including being described as a "sex bomb," something that he chalked up to his œuvre rather than his looks.

"I take it as a compliment that it's a lot to do with the projection of the work or how I come across rather than what I've got when I wake up in the morning," he said. "I've had that shit for the last 10-odd years, and you know, the obsession wasn't there at the beginning."

Like most Internet Things, the Peak Cumberbitch era didn't last. While Cumberbatch is still incredibly popular - he's played Stephen Strange in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, for one - the nature of his celebrity has changed, and along the way, fans' attachment to the actor himself waned.

"I distanced myself as a fan after his 2014 comments about autism," Kassie Hall, a 26-year-old and former fan, told Insider.

In 2014, Cumberbatch told the Irish Times that he had studied autism in order to prepare for his role in Danny Boyle's 2011 production of "Frankenstein." That same year, he told Metro that he thought it "dangerous" for people to characterize characters like Sherlock or Alan Turing (whom Cumberbatch played in "The Imitation Game") as autistic, saying that he had "met people with those conditions" and that "it's a real struggle all the time."

Hall told Insider that Cumberbatch's comments "felt elitist and like someone who doesn't understand what they're talking about was making bold assumptions."

(Cumberbatch's representative didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.)

Stitch, the creator of Stitch's Media Mix and a Teen Vogue fandom columnist, chalked up some of the fandom's shift to the lengthy hiatus between seasons two and three of "Sherlock," which spanned close to two years from 2012 to 2014.

I'm still a fan of his and appreciate his eloquence, but my stanning is now in a different way.

And in the years after "Sherlock," Cumberbatch's subsequent projects - like 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness" or even 2021's "The Power of the Dog" - didn't necessarily evoke the same responses as the character that made him famous.

"Cumberbatch developed a fandom that loved him because of a combination of things like his voice, his looks - sometimes he would squint at the camera in a really good way," Stitch told Insider. "It was nice. You'd look and you'd be like, 'I feel like an ant. Squish me.' But he doesn't really do that in other properties."

"It's not his fault. It's not the fans' fault," she continued. "It is just that he's not able to continue the fandom momentum, I think, with his non-fannish works."

For some fans, however, easing out of Cumberbatch's fandom wasn't something that happened deliberately or suddenly.

Michelle (who asked that her last name not be used), now 38, watched "Sherlock" from the start and said it was a combination of increasingly intense fan speculation about Cumberbatch's personal life and "Sherlock" shipping discourse that eventually led her out of the fandom around 2016. For others, like 25-year-old Steven Zúñiga, whose Tumblr dashboard was dominated by "Sherlock" when he was into Cumberbatch, it was the fact that he had simply watched "Sherlock" so many times that when he went to college and met new people who weren't as into the series, he decided he "needed a break."

Others, like Talwar, said that her love had mellowed with time.

"I'm still a fan of his and appreciate his eloquence, but my stanning is now in a different way," she told Insider. "I'm not super hardcore anymore."

Carvan, the author of "This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch," has written multiple times about how deeply affecting her passion for Cumberbatch was. Each time, she told Insider, she's "inundated" with messages from people around the world who feel the same as her.

In her book, she describes finding a note left by another "Sherlock" fan in a library book in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, which led her to an online forum full of female fans of all ages.

"Everyone is constantly repeating that process of thinking they're the only one, discovering there's all these other people, and then having the windows thrown open into this amazing world," she told Insider.

Cumberbatch fans are still thriving on Tumblr, according to its head of editorial. While the actor's standing on Tumblr's annual Year In Review ranking dropped in the late 2010s from his No. 1 spot in 2013 and 2014 (he clocked in at No. 42 on Tumblr's gender-inclusive celebs list in 2021), searches for him were up 501% in 2021 compared to the previous year.

"For people like us who joined a decade ago, our interests might have shifted and grown and changed over time, but we have a ton of nostalgia for that kind of peak 'Sherlock' fandom, Benedict Cumberbatch moment," Holderness told Insider. "I think a lot of the original 'Sherlock' and Benedict Cumberbatch fans are still around."

One of things I do love about fandom is that we are incredibly cringe.

Even for fans whose love has cooled over the years, many still cherish their time within the fandom.

Gaudette told Insider that writing explicit fanfiction about "Sherlock" and Cumberbatch helped her to "explore my sexuality in a way that I didn't yet feel comfortable doing in person." Hall told Insider that their years of heavy involvement in the Cumberbatch fandom "shaped" who they "became as a person." And Michelle said that she found "solace" in Cumberbatch's work during a time where she was experiencing "awful jobs" and a "relationship breakdown."

Personally, loving Benedict Cumberbatch was one of my first forays into online fandom. It was there that I blasted through my cringiest years, posting poems on my Tumblr about the return of "Sherlock" and watching endless loops of him dancing on the set of "Star Trek Into Darkness." And while I may groan looking back on my old blog, I also view that time with deep affection for the unadulterated joy I experienced. I know now that others feel that way, too.

"One of things I do love about fandom is that we are incredibly cringe," Stitch told Insider while reflecting on the peak Cumberbatch years. "The fact that we are here is proof that we are cringe. And we come together across time and space to be cringe over celebrities or pieces of media, and it's just so nice."

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A decade ago, Benedict Cumberbatch's 'Cumberbitches' ruled the internet. Where are they now?

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After "Sherlock," a dedicated fandom sprung up around actor Benedict Cumberbatch. A decade later, the fervor has cooled but his fandom lives on.

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Benedict put gender equality into concrete action

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Benedict put gender equality into concrete action

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Benedict's support for equal pay for female actors demonstrates his feminism。

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Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has never shied away from speaking about why he's a feminist. But now, the "Sherlock" and "Doctor Strange" star is putting his money where his mouth is.

Speaking with Radio Times magazine, Cumberbatch opened up about his personal policy for dealing with unequal pay: Don't stand for it.

"Look at your quotas," Cumberbatch said in last week's interview. "Ask what women are being paid, and say: 'If she's not paid the same as the men, I'm not doing it.'"
Take Action: Tweet at Influential Companies to #BuyWomenOwned
"Equal pay and a place at the table are the central tenets of feminism," he added.

Cumberbatch also told Radio Times that he was "proud" to be one of only two men at his production company, SunnyMarch - and hinted at a new project about motherhood, Vulture reports.
Read More: Female Stars of 'Big Bang Theory' Are Demanding Equal Pay for Equal Work
"If it's centered around my name, to get investors, then we can use that attention for a raft of female projects," Cumberbatch said of his production company.

Cumberbatch isn't the only male celebrity to stand up against the gender wage gap.

Other male actors who have adjusted their salaries to support female colleagues include the male cast of "The Big Bang Theory," Bradley Cooper, and several of Emma Stone's male co-stars.
Read More: Emma Stone: Male Co-Stars Have Taken Pay Cuts to Promote Gender Equality
Well before this, other male actors like Paul Newman had done the same.

Still, it could take as many as 170 years for women to earn the same wage as men for equal work, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report.

With that sort of a wage gap, it's going to take a whole batch of Cumberbatches to end pay inequality for good.

Global Citizen campaigns on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, and gender equality is goal number five. You can join us and take action here.

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Benedict Cumberbatch Won't Take a Role if Female Co-Star Isn't Paid Equally

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"Equal pay and a place at the table are the central tenets of feminism."

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Benedict Cumberbatch and his time at Harrow School

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Benedict Cumberbatch and his time at Harrow School

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The world-renowned actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, primarily known for his roles as Sherlock Holmes and Marvel's Dr Strange, once had his roots firmly placed in Harrow.

Benedict Cumberbatch is a household name for his numerous iconic roles. However, the part that truly launched his career was playing the eponymous lead in the hit award-winning detective drama series Sherlock Holmes, which aired on BBC one in 2010. If his potential as a great actor hadn't already been solidified by his work on the west end, the world was now truly allowed witness into his capacity for complex and intellectual characters.

However, it is worth considering where it all began.

Cumberbatch's earliest inclinations towards the performing arts first took root in Harrow School.

A boarding school for boys aged 13-18, founded in 1572 under the Royal Charter, the grandiose institution encompasses much of Harrow on the Hill in northwest London.

The school's primary goals are to imbue a sense of strength and nobility of character within their students. Meanwhile, driving their pupils towards becoming excellent role models, be it for their fellow pupils, or in the case of Cumberbatch, towards inspirational status on the world's stage.

Benedict Cumberbatch, now known on the school's website as a notable Harrovian, attended as an art scholar and while studying, was eager to join clubs in the hopes of exercising his performing abilities.

As ambitious and driven as he was, he became a fervent member of both the remarkable Rattigan society and Harrow's principal club for the dramatic arts.

At the mere age of 12 years old, he made a debut feature in the school's production of "a midsummer night's dream", as the character Titania, whilst later performing in further Shakespearean plays hosted by the school.

However, his first leading role, came in the form of Eliza Doolittle, through a rendition of the classic "Pygmalion". Though the role itself was emotionally demanding Cumberbatch managed to cement his status as a high-achieving performer. And was lauded for his ability to outshine his fellow cast members with effortless dignity and dedication to his part.

With retrospective irony, it is worth looking back at the words imparted to him while studying. At a point, Cumberbatch was dissuaded by his drama teacher at secondary school from entering the rigorous world of acting. His teacher warned him of it being a "tough business", sincere advice that anyone with ambitions in the field would have to take into consideration.

Fortunately for all of us Sherlock fans, however, he maintained steadfast in his chosen career path and went on to feature in numerous eminent works. All the while providing awe-inspiring performances that continue to have the world on the edge of its seats.

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Benedict Cumberbatch and his time at Harrow School - Harrow Online

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The world-renowned actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, primarily known for his roles as Sherlock Holmes and Marvel's Dr Strange, once had his roots firmly placed

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Benedict believes that portraying genius can't just be about outward imitation, but also about trying to delve into the character traits of the role. He visited Hawking twice and made detailed observations in order to get a better grasp of the character.

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Benedict believes this fan obsession comes from his work rather than his appearance.

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Benedict's other trademark is his voice, which is deep and magnetic, while his years of drama training have given him a stronger-than-average vocal pedigree. He has done voice-overs for many documentaries and animated films, and has done numerous radio drama programs.

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Benedict's contributions to charity

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Benedict's achievements as an actor

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Benedick's acting career began at Harrow School

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This article not only mentions Benedict's initiation into acting at Harrow School, but also describes his journey from self-doubt because of his unusual real name to accepting who he is and making it known to the public through his acting.

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From being underappreciated at first for not conforming to the traditional sexy image, to ultimately delivering the most sexually appealing Holmes, Benedict shattered conventional expectations through his charming personality and exceptional acting skills, making his portrayal of Holmes a legend ever since.

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Benedict Cumberbatch's Most Chilling Role, Atonement (2007)

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Benedict Cumberbatch's Most Chilling Role, Atonement (2007)

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Bennie plays Paul in "Atonement", a nasty and selfish character. He doesn't play a lot in this film but Bennie plays this villainous character in a very memorable and chilling way through his evocative eyes and great acting skills.

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Benedict Cumberbatch's Most Chilling Role | Atonement (2007) | Screen Bites

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Benedict Cumberbatch Gets Interviewed By A Cute Kid(2018)

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Benedict Cumberbatch Gets Interviewed By A Cute Kid(2018)

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Benedict's interview with this little girl showed a gesture of equality and kindness, as he gently bent down to speak to her, answered her questions carefully, and shook her hand in a very lovely gesture. This shows a paternal and human side to his star image.

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Benedict Cumberbatch Gets Interviewed By A Cute Kid  | Little W | W Magazine

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Some fans have made Benedict into memes, which shows even more of the affection and humour he brings with his rich gestures and facial expressions.

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With Tenor, maker of GIF Keyboard, add popular Benedict Cumberbatch Meme animated GIFs to your conversations. Share the best GIFs now >>>

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Benedict Cumberbatch presents several star images in interviews and public performances, including intelligence, humour, multi-talented, friendly and modest, as well as caring about social issues. He is known for his intelligent and humorous responses while displaying a gracious and friendly personality. Apart from achieving great success, his multi-disciplinary talents and passion for charity work have also helped him to become a popular star.

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Along with being an actor, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Benedict Cumberbatch is a proud father. He tied the knot with English theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter in the year 2015 and now he is a father to three kids. Keep reading to learn more about his three children.

Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie have 3 kids

Benedict has made a pathway of his own in the world of entertainment. To date, he has appeared in blockbuster films like Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War and Jane Campion's latest Oscar-worthy The Power of the Dog.

When we talk about the personal life of the Hollywood star, he is a father to three children. He and his wife Sophie share three adorable kids who are all boys. He has a little tribe of his own. The names of their boys are as follows: Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch, Hal Auden Cumberbatch, and Finn Cumberbatch.

What kind of roles does Benedict want to do in the future?

In an interview on Good Morning Britain, the London native stated that he wants to look into more "child-friendly" roles in the future, to be an example to his kids. He said, "I want them to know what I do for a living and they can't always because of the certification of my films, we'll all be a lot older by the time they get to see them."

Benedict further added, "I would definitely like to do some child-friendly work in the future, I've done a bit but there might be a bit more of that."

Here's everything you need to know about Benedict and Sophie's kids

Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch

Benedict and Sophie welcomed their first baby boy into the world on June 1, 2015. They named their first son Christopher. His middle name 'Carlton' was inspired by his paternal grandfather's name. As per reports, he is reportedly called 'Kit' by his parents. At the moment, he is six years old.

When Kit was just a year old, Benedict stated what having a family meant to him and he added his family keeps him grounded. In a media interaction, the Brexit: The Uncivil War actor said, "I have a new family, and I have close friends who have known me since I first started and don't think of me like that! They're always happy to remind me who I am, which is good. I don't find it difficult to stay grounded."

During an interaction with Daily Mail in 2015, the 45-year-old opened up about how becoming a parent changed his life. He said, "For years, I assumed my parents to be one thing, but when you have children yourself your perception of them changes, as does the things they have done over the years."

Cumberbatch continued, "You interpret events and actions differently and take a much deeper understanding of what it is they did for you and went through for you. It's a lovely thing."

Hal Auden Cumberbatch

Now, let's talk about the second son of Benedict and Sophie. The couple's second son Hal Auden Cumberbatch joined them earthside on March 3, 2017. As of now, Hal is five years old.

In an appearance on the show Live With Kelly and Ryan in 2016, the Sherlock alum shared how he and his wife were preparing for their second child. He jokingly said, "They say it takes a village for one and it probably takes a city for two."

At that point, Benedict went on to say that he and his wifey Sophie were prepared for their second bundle of joy "as much as you can be" and noted how "exciting" the news of the forthcoming child was.

Finn Cumberbatch

The third son of the couple Finn Cumberbatch was born in the year 2019. Just like their other two sons, Benedict and Sophie kept Finn also out of the spotlight as they wanted to focus on keeping their family structure tight and keeping things low-key. The couple's youngest baby boy is just 3 years old.

In an interview with Vogue UK in 2016, Benedict said, "Having a baby ― it's massive. And on a very unexpected level. Suddenly I understood my parents much more profoundly than I ever had before."

Cumberbatch concluded by saying, "I was expecting, with 'Hamlet,' that it might be a hindrance to be a father, because it's all about being a son. But it's the opposite. You understand much more about being a son, becoming a father."

Who is Benedict's wife Sophie Hunter?

For those of you who are unaware, Sophie Hunter is an actress, playwright, and theater director. In the past, she has starred in movies such as Midsomer Murders, Vanity Fair, Traffic Warden, Macbeth Torchwood, and Keen Eddie.

Due to her brilliant directing skills, she has also won many awards including the prestigious Samuel Beckett Award for being the writer and director behind the avant-garde play "The Terrific Electric."

Benedict and Sophie made their first appearance as a couple at French Open in 2014

These two lovebirds met on the sets of the 2009's movie Burlesque Fairytales, a thriller set in 1930s London in which a group of theater-goers are trapped inside The Chapel Theatre for a series of bizarre performances.

Benedict and Sophie didn't spark dating rumors until a few years. The couple made their first public appearance in the year 2014 at the French Open. They were clicked by the paps as they attended the Men's Final on Day 15. For the occasion, Cumberbatch opted for a fedora, while Hunter wore a floral top.

They got married in a surprise ceremony in 2015. Over the years, the couple has kept their whirlwind romance out of the spotlight. They have even kept their three kids away from the flashing cameras.

Have you watched Benedict's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness till now? If yes, then do let us how you liked it in the comments section below and if you have not watched it then what are you waiting for go see it in the theatre near you. Don't forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from the world of showbiz.

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Meet Benedict Cumberbatch's Children: All About His Three Kids - The Teal Mango

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Here's everything you need to know about Benedict Cumberbatch's three kids. Tap to know more about his three children.

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Benedict is very much a family man, he has publicly expressed his love for his wife on many occasions and has said that he is looking for more "child-friendly" roles in the future, and he also believes that his family keeps him grounded. This shows his family-oriented side, which will be felt by a wider audience with affection and respect.

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Benedict narrates BBC Earth's documentary(2012)

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Benedict narrates BBC Earth's documentary(2012)

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Benedict's soothing, rhythmic voice is a perfect match for the beautiful natural scenery.

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Royal "Pengwings" Penguins | Benedict Cumberbatch narrates South Pacific | BBC Earth

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Benedict also shows a humorous side on the radio.

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"That would be crazy!" Benedict Cumberbatch Unpopular Opinion

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List of awards and nominations received by Benedict Cumberbatch

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List of awards and nominations received by Benedict Cumberbatch

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List of awards and nominations received by Benedict Cumberbatch - Wikipedia