Benedict Cumberbatch
☼ Born on 19 December 1976, in Hammersmith, London, England, UK
Biography
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born and raised in London, England. His parents, Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton (born Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch), are both actors. He is a grandson of submarine commander Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, and a great-grandson of diplomat Henry Arnold Cumberbatch CMG. Cumberbatch attended Brambletye School and Harrow School. Whilst at Harrow, he had an arts scholarship and painted large oil canvases. It's also where he began acting. After he finished school, he took a year off to volunteer as an English teacher in a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling, India. On his return, he studied drama at Manchester University. He continued his training as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art graduating with an M.A. in Classical Acting. By the time he had completed his studies, he already had an agent.
Cumberbatch has worked in theatre, television, film and radio. His breakthrough on the big screen came in 2004 when he portrayed Stephen Hawking in the television movie Hawking (2004). In 2010, he became a household name as Sherlock Holmes on the British television series Sherlock (2010). In 2011, he appeared in two Oscar-nominated films - War Horse (2011) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). He followed this with acclaimed roles in the science fiction film Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), the Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Fifth Estate (2013) and August: Osage County (2013). In 2014, he portrayed Alan Turing in T
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he Imitation Game (2014) which earned him a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Cumberbatch was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2015 Birthday Honours for his services to the performing arts and to charity.
Cumberbatch's engagement to theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter, whom he has known for 17 years, was announced in the "Forthcoming Marriages" section of The Times newspaper on November 5, 2014. On February 14, 2015, the couple married at the 12th century Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on the Isle of Wight followed by a reception at Mottistone Manor. They have three sons, Christopher Carlton (born 2015), Hal Auden (born 2017), and Finn (born 2019).
In the role of actor
2024 Oscar-Nominated Short Films: Live-Action (18/02/2024)
Short films are traditionally an outlet for up-and-coming filmmakers to develop their craft. However, three out of five of the 2024 Oscar-nominated short films feature established stars and filmmakers, including David Oyelowo (Selma), Britney Snow (Pitch Perfect, X), and of course a star-studded Roald Dahl adaptation by Wes Anderson (Asteroid City, The Grand Budapest Hotel). […]
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (13/05/2022)
A new threat emerges that threatens the multiverse in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. When an interdimensional threat arrives in New York City, Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) comes into contact with America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a young woman with the ability to travel between universes. This sets the stage for a battle […]
Spider-Man: No Way Home (19/12/2021)
Spider-Man and Doctor Strange inadvertently open up the multiverse in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The world of Peter Parker (Tom Holland) turns upside down after J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) publicly reveals a video, where Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) reveals Peter’s secret identity as Spider-Man and frames him for Mysterio’s own death. This turns the world […]
The Power of the Dog (17/11/2021)
A coldhearted rancher has an antagonistic relationship with his brother’s new wife and her son in The Power of the Dog. Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a cowboy in 1925 Montana, who owns a ranch with his brother George (Jesse Plemons). While on the range, the brothers stop for dinner at an establishment run by […]
Avengers: Endgame (27/04/2019)
The Avengers regroup for one final battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. After suffering defeat at the hands of Thanos (Josh Brolin), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) are left in a […]
The Grinch (08/11/2018)
The popular Christmas story by Dr. Seuss gets a new animated adaptation in The Grinch. The Whos in the town of Whoville like Christmas a whole lot, much to the annoyance of The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch), who would rather stay home alone with his dog Max. Finally getting fed up with all the cheer, The Grinch decides […]
Avengers: Infinity War (28/04/2018)
The heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe face their biggest challenge in Avengers: Infinity War. As The Avengers remain divided, following the events of Captain America: Civil War, the intergalactic tyrant Thanos (Josh Brolin) has embarked on his mission to acquire the six infinity stones, which would give him the power to eradicate half of […]
Thor: Ragnarok (04/11/2017)
Thor tries to save Asgard from the Goddess of Death in Thor: Ragnarok. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard after he has repeated nightmares about the prophesied apocalyptic event of Ragnarök. In his absence, Thor’s brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has ruled in the guise of their father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), a consequence of which is the […]
Doctor Strange (05/11/2016)
A injured surgeon becomes a master in the mystical arts in Doctor Strange. Dr. Stephen Strange is a gifted, yet arrogant, neurosurgeon who works at a hospital with fellow surgeon and girlfriend Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams). After a near-fatal car accident, Strange ends up with extreme nerve damage in his hands. Desperate for a cure, Strange […]
The Imitation Game (25/01/2015)
Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley star in this biopic about mathematician Alan Turing. During World War II, Turing (Cumberbatch) is hired by the British government to join a top team of code-breakers, fellow members of which include Hugh Alexander (Matthew Goode) and Joan Clarke (Knightley), who are tasked by MI6 chief Stewart Menzies (Mark Strong) […]
Star Trek Into Darkness (19/05/2013)
This review contains plot details, which may be considered SPOILERS. After rebooting the Star Trek franchise in 2009, director J.J. Abrams ups the stakes in this follow-up. A rogue Federation agent named John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) attacks Starfleet, which results in Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his crew, including Spock (Zachary Quinto), McCoy (Karl Urban), […]
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (03/01/2012)
I delayed my list of my favourite films of 2011 as I went out to see some last-minute possible contenders. I saw War Horse on Sunday and I now I went to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy today. The film is an old school Cold War spy thriller in which a British spy named George Smiley (Gary […]
War Horse (01/01/2012)
It’s definitely been a busy holiday season for Steven Speilberg, with War Horse being the second film of two simultaneous films directed by him to be released this season. The film is adaptation of the novel and stage play (which actually opens in Toronto next month). The film tells the story of a horse named […]
Doomsday (15/03/2008)
I’ve probably said this a million times by now, but Doomsday is what you get when you take films such as 28 Days Later, The Road Warrior, The Warriors, and Escape from New York and combine them with a dash of Excalibur. So yeah, the film is not that original and that is probably its […]