See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 27 Fotos
Name - The actor thinks his surname sounds like "a fart in a bath."
© Getty Images
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Eye condition - Cumberbatch's eyes are different colors, and they shift depending on the light. It's actually a condition called heterochromia.
© Getty Images
2 / 27 Fotos
Bossy - He made his stage debut as Joseph in a school nativity play. But Cumberbatch was not your average child actor. He confessed that he even threw Mary offstage for talking too long!
© Getty Images
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Teaching - He taught English to Buddhist monks in India during his gap year.
© Getty Images
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He was abducted - In 2005, he was held at gunpoint and kidnapped in South Africa. He was eventually released and rescued by a stranger.
© Getty Images
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Hamlet - Ticket demand went through the roof when he played Hamlet in 2015 at a London theater. In fact, it was the most in-demand theater production of all time.
© Getty Images
6 / 27 Fotos
Not a fan of the paparazzi - He once held up a sign telling the paparazzi to "go photograph Egypt and show the world something important."
© Getty Images
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Hobbies - The actor is into horseback riding, scuba diving, and motorcycles.
© Getty Images
8 / 27 Fotos
Lawyer - He almost pursued a career in law, but then chose to follow in his parents' footsteps and become an actor.
© Getty Images
9 / 27 Fotos
He's related to the creator of Sherlock Holmes - The actor is actually distantly related to Arthur Conan Doyle, the author who created Sherlock Holmes.
© BrunoPress
10 / 27 Fotos
...and he's also related to Alan Turing - Benedict Cumberbatch played the mathematician/codebreaker in 'The Imitation Game.' They're actually distant cousins.
© Getty Images
11 / 27 Fotos
Another famous cousin - But there's more: he is also related to Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield!
© BrunoPress
12 / 27 Fotos
He almost didn't play Sherlock - He thought the idea of re-franchising Sherlock Holmes to make money sounded a "bit cheap and cheesy."
© Getty Images
13 / 27 Fotos
Parents - Benedict Cumberbatch's real parents made cameo appearances in 'Sherlock,' where they played, well, Sherlock's parents.
© Getty Images
14 / 27 Fotos
Famous fan - 'The Good Place' star Ted Danson apparently made a big deal out of meeting Cumberbatch at a pre-Oscar party. He was really excited to have finally met Sherlock Holmes!
© Getty Images
15 / 27 Fotos
Radiation - Simon Pegg convinced Cumberbatch that he was at risk of radiation exposure while filming 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' in a nuclear facility. Of course, it was all a joke.
© Getty Images
16 / 27 Fotos
Starstruck - Despite being a star himself, the actor has confessed that he still gets starstruck when he meets famous people.
© Getty Images
17 / 27 Fotos
Fanfiction - Benedict Cumberbatch is the centerpiece in a lot of fan fiction.
© Getty Images
18 / 27 Fotos
Hair - The actor dyed his hair darker to play Sherlock. Cumberbatch's hair is actually auburn.
© Getty Images
19 / 27 Fotos
Julian Assange's letter - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange wrote a letter to Cumberbatch trying to persuade him not to take up the role in 'The Fifth Estate.' However, the actor did end up taking the lead role.
© Getty Images
20 / 27 Fotos
#Chocobatch - After being voted "Britain's dishiest TV drama actor," Cumberbatch won a life-sized statue made of Belgian chocolate as a prize.
© Getty Images
21 / 27 Fotos
Gender pay gap - He's been vocal about the gender pay gap in Hollywood. He said in an interview: "Look at your quotas. Ask what women are being paid, and say: ‘If she’s not paid the same as the men, I’m not doing it.'"
© Getty Images
22 / 27 Fotos
Audition - His audition for 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' was filmed in a friend's kitchen, using an iPhone.
© NL Beeld
23 / 27 Fotos
Bulk up - The actor consumed around 4,000 calories and trained two hours a day to prepare for his role in 'Star Trek: Into Darkness.'
© Getty Images
24 / 27 Fotos
Most embarrassing moment - A six-year-old Cumberbatch got stung by a wasp in a Greek market. According to the actor, a widow pulled down his pants, held him upside down and rubbed an onion on his butt.
© BrunoPress
25 / 27 Fotos
Funeral song
- The actor would like to have 'The Only Way Is Up' played at his funeral. See also: (London Theatre) (The Independent) (The Telegraph) (Ancestry.ca) (The Guardian) (Radio Times)
© BrunoPress
26 / 27 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 27 Fotos
Name - The actor thinks his surname sounds like "a fart in a bath."
© Getty Images
1 / 27 Fotos
Eye condition - Cumberbatch's eyes are different colors, and they shift depending on the light. It's actually a condition called heterochromia.
© Getty Images
2 / 27 Fotos
Bossy - He made his stage debut as Joseph in a school nativity play. But Cumberbatch was not your average child actor. He confessed that he even threw Mary offstage for talking too long!
© Getty Images
3 / 27 Fotos
Teaching - He taught English to Buddhist monks in India during his gap year.
© Getty Images
4 / 27 Fotos
He was abducted - In 2005, he was held at gunpoint and kidnapped in South Africa. He was eventually released and rescued by a stranger.
© Getty Images
5 / 27 Fotos
Hamlet - Ticket demand went through the roof when he played Hamlet in 2015 at a London theater. In fact, it was the most in-demand theater production of all time.
© Getty Images
6 / 27 Fotos
Not a fan of the paparazzi - He once held up a sign telling the paparazzi to "go photograph Egypt and show the world something important."
© Getty Images
7 / 27 Fotos
Hobbies - The actor is into horseback riding, scuba diving, and motorcycles.
© Getty Images
8 / 27 Fotos
Lawyer - He almost pursued a career in law, but then chose to follow in his parents' footsteps and become an actor.
© Getty Images
9 / 27 Fotos
He's related to the creator of Sherlock Holmes - The actor is actually distantly related to Arthur Conan Doyle, the author who created Sherlock Holmes.
© BrunoPress
10 / 27 Fotos
...and he's also related to Alan Turing - Benedict Cumberbatch played the mathematician/codebreaker in 'The Imitation Game.' They're actually distant cousins.
© Getty Images
11 / 27 Fotos
Another famous cousin - But there's more: he is also related to Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield!
© BrunoPress
12 / 27 Fotos
He almost didn't play Sherlock - He thought the idea of re-franchising Sherlock Holmes to make money sounded a "bit cheap and cheesy."
© Getty Images
13 / 27 Fotos
Parents - Benedict Cumberbatch's real parents made cameo appearances in 'Sherlock,' where they played, well, Sherlock's parents.
© Getty Images
14 / 27 Fotos
Famous fan - 'The Good Place' star Ted Danson apparently made a big deal out of meeting Cumberbatch at a pre-Oscar party. He was really excited to have finally met Sherlock Holmes!
© Getty Images
15 / 27 Fotos
Radiation - Simon Pegg convinced Cumberbatch that he was at risk of radiation exposure while filming 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' in a nuclear facility. Of course, it was all a joke.
© Getty Images
16 / 27 Fotos
Starstruck - Despite being a star himself, the actor has confessed that he still gets starstruck when he meets famous people.
© Getty Images
17 / 27 Fotos
Fanfiction - Benedict Cumberbatch is the centerpiece in a lot of fan fiction.
© Getty Images
18 / 27 Fotos
Hair - The actor dyed his hair darker to play Sherlock. Cumberbatch's hair is actually auburn.
© Getty Images
19 / 27 Fotos
Julian Assange's letter - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange wrote a letter to Cumberbatch trying to persuade him not to take up the role in 'The Fifth Estate.' However, the actor did end up taking the lead role.
© Getty Images
20 / 27 Fotos
#Chocobatch - After being voted "Britain's dishiest TV drama actor," Cumberbatch won a life-sized statue made of Belgian chocolate as a prize.
© Getty Images
21 / 27 Fotos
Gender pay gap - He's been vocal about the gender pay gap in Hollywood. He said in an interview: "Look at your quotas. Ask what women are being paid, and say: ‘If she’s not paid the same as the men, I’m not doing it.'"
© Getty Images
22 / 27 Fotos
Audition - His audition for 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' was filmed in a friend's kitchen, using an iPhone.
© NL Beeld
23 / 27 Fotos
Bulk up - The actor consumed around 4,000 calories and trained two hours a day to prepare for his role in 'Star Trek: Into Darkness.'
© Getty Images
24 / 27 Fotos
Most embarrassing moment - A six-year-old Cumberbatch got stung by a wasp in a Greek market. According to the actor, a widow pulled down his pants, held him upside down and rubbed an onion on his butt.
© BrunoPress
25 / 27 Fotos
Funeral song
- The actor would like to have 'The Only Way Is Up' played at his funeral. See also: (London Theatre) (The Independent) (The Telegraph) (Ancestry.ca) (The Guardian) (Radio Times)
© BrunoPress
26 / 27 Fotos
What you don't know about Benedict Cumberbatch
The striking British actor turns 47 this July 19
© Getty Images
Benedict Cumberbatch is currently one of the world's most popular actors. From the stage to the big screen, his performances are critically acclaimed and admired by fans worldwide.
The award-winning actor was born on July 19, 1976 in London, England. His parents, Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, were also actors. But despite trying to steer their son away from an acting career, Cumberbatch eventually fell in love with the craft and became an actor himself—and a very good one!
From 'Sherlock Holmes' to 'Doctor Strange,' Cumberbatch has played a number of iconic roles that will forever be associated with his name. But his looks have also played a part in his success. The actor's elegance and style made him a constant presence in several "Sexiest Man Alive" lists. And not only is he talented and handsome, but Benedict Cumberbatch's charitable work has also earned him brownie points. He supports a number of causes and regularly donates to charity.
But there's a lot more about the actor that you probably don't know. Click on the gallery and learn some interesting facts about Benedict Cumberbatch.
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