I swear, I wasn’t going to write about Benedict Cumberbatch today. Then I chanced upon this absolutely lovely article in the local Tulsa, Oklahoma newspaper. As you probably know, the entire cast of August: Osage County filmed on location outside of Tulsa last year, and there were sightings of Ewan McGregor, Meryl Streep, even George Clooney all around. And of course, Benedict Cumberbatch was there. He spent a lot of time filming in America last year, and he’s been quoted many times praising the nice people of Oklahoma and Louisiana (where he filmed 12 Years a Slave). I think Benedict was just surprised that people recognized him at all – apparently, people were coming up to him, all “OMG, Sherlock!!” Well, The Tulsa World spoke to two women who had direct contact with Cumby, and their stories are absolutely charming:
The request was simple enough, considering that Lee GrothOlson is the general manager of Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra: A person needs piano lessons, and they need to know how to play a couple of songs within a month’s time. Can you do it? She agreed, knowing that the request from the production team for “August: Osage County,” which was filming the movie in the area in the fall of 2012, meant it was lessons for one of the actors to perform on camera.
But which one from the star-studded cast? Meryl Streep or Julia Roberts? Ewan McGregor or Chris Cooper? It was to be Benedict Cumberbatch, the British actor known for his “Sherlock” TV series and for his 2013 films including “Star Trek Into Darkness” and “12 Years a Slave.”
“A friend familiar with the play said the only person who plays piano and sings is his character,” GrothOlson said of Little Charles, by far the quietest and most gentle soul among the Weston family’s over-the-top characters. “Once she helped me figure it out, and it was the person I just love from ‘Sherlock,’ I did a little shriek, but I kept it inside. When the time came for the lesson, and there he was at my door and I led him into the piano studio in my front room, I tried really, really hard to not be a drooling fan. I mean, he was to be my student.”
GrothOlson served as his instructor for about two weeks over 10 lessons, sitting down at her piano and playing a pair of songs from which the director would choose the one for the film. In the text of the prize-winning play by Tulsa native Tracy Letts, Little Charles is said to be sitting next to the woman whom, unknown to the rest of the family, he is in love with. “I wrote this for you,” he says. “(He plays, and quietly sings a gentle but quirky love song …).” The song chosen for the movie, “Can’t Keep it Inside,” was one that Cumberbatch (who had some previous piano experience) learned beside GrothOlson in sessions lasting up to 90 minutes at a time. “That’s just him, and it’s really gorgeous. He can sing.”
When Cumberbatch sat down at the organ, he acted out his scene and played “Can’t Keep it Inside” 14 times, seven times with the camera aimed in one direction, and seven more times with the camera in a different position.
“There was only once that I had to say anything to him, because he was that good,” GrothOlson said. And yet, she couldn’t help herself from having a bit of nervousness when she finally saw the movie at a November premiere at Circle Cinema for those who had helped with the film’s production.
“Benedict really was such a sweet gentleman, just no pomposity about him. He was just a hard worker, and very much a humble student, willing to learn, and I’m amazed at his ability to learn so quickly.”
Lucky ‘fangirl’ wangles a dance with Cumberbatch
During the filming of “August: Osage County,” producer George Clooney was seen dining at Biga and Juliette Lewis rolled a few balls at Dust Bowl Lanes in Tulsa. Ewan McGregor tweeted about his many backroads Osage County bicycle adventures, and director John Wells was caught downing gourmet hot dogs at Pawhuska’s Prairie Dog. But who was that dancing with Benedict Cumberbatch? That was Maria Gus, executive director of the Bartlesville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
To set the scene: The “August: Osage County” crew and cast were invited one night to Frank & Lola’s, a popular restaurant in Bartlesville, where all were living during the film shoot. The production had rented out the eatery for a special dinner and a live performance by Oklahoma rockabilly star JD McPherson. As a liaison between the filmmakers and Bartlesville, “I was invited to that event, and so was my friend Mary Beth Babcock (the owner of Tulsa’s unique Okie-centric retail store Dwelling Spaces), who I attended school with in Bartlesville and who had provided the cast members with these great gift bags full of things that make Oklahoma great,” Gus said.
“As I was pregnant, I wasn’t drinking any alcohol on this evening, but I was told that I could drink all the fizzy soft drinks I wanted, so I may have been on something of a sugar rush. (Benedict) arrived, and I was trying to take a sneaky picture of him, but I waited until he was done with his soup,” she said, chuckling. “A little later, I really wanted to dance, and I’d been swing-dancing with my mom, and then something in my sugar high told me I should go ask Benedict Cumberbatch to dance.”
She saunters over, the music from McPherson’s concert driving her to his table. Perhaps Cumberbatch has heard a line or two before in a bar, but he had probably never heard a pregnant Oklahoma woman approach him and make this kind of statement: “You look like you want to dance. And he says, ‘You’re right, I do want to dance!’ and so we go dance, and I turn into a complete dork and say something like, ‘I’m really good at this.’ I have no idea why. But then he says ‘You are good!’ and it was just so great.”
As they finish dancing, Gus is joined by her friend Babcock, and she decides to go for it: a “selfie” request. “He was just so great, and my friend is there, and everything is telling me that I’ll never get another chance to ask for a photo like this,” she said. “He said, ‘Sure!’ to the photo, and it was just perfect. I think it’s important that you know that as the liaison between the film production and the community, I was very professional while they were here,” Gus said with a laugh. “But in this situation, I turned into a fangirl.”
Benedict Cumberbatch, charming the socks off pregnant ladies since 1976. Benedict Cumberbatch, the lovely student who makes older ladies proud of his hard work. God, I love him. I love that he was totally up for dancing with a pregnant lady AND taking a selfie with her. He’s so awesome.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I’m nine months pregnant in NY, come dance with me!! 🙂
congratulations Dorothy#1
This is exactly the kind of behaviour that makes me unwilling to believe that recent, horrible BI about him – please don’t ever change and turn into just another f*ckwit like all the others Mr Cumberbatch! You are giving cynics like me hope that there are still decent people in this world…
what BI are you talking about?
The BI that he paid out $25,000 for escorts on a recent trip to Ibiza I think it was – go back a few posts and you’ll find it – all very depressing if not entirely believable…
I’ve notice that, for every horrible or catty headline about him, there’s a dozen really positive stories. He can be pretty problematic in general but he doesn’t come off as a deliberate ass, just as a privileged guy who doesn’t quite handle it as well as he could sometimes.
I think he’s brought his celebrity to a sort of an art form; he’s interesting, does not insult fans intelligence and seems to enjoy the interaction. But is human after all.
Maybe I just don’t know of bad episodes.
I don’t think someone who has spent a lot of time working, studying their craft and finally getting a huge paycheck, would squander it on something like hookers. I mean, jeez. He doesn’t strike me as being that stupid. His parents would have been the perfect example of how fickle a job acting can be. I think he’s saving his money for what’s really important….ME. Sorry, I meant, the remodel of his home.
I also don’t think that Russian model is a hooker. So the BI doesn’t fit. IMO.
It’s not too far out to think that Katia E was an escort/prostitute. The way she described her time as a “model”, it sure sounded like she worked for an escort service. She outright said her agency would sometimes send her out – not to modeling gigs – but to act as company for older men at parties.
@mena
You don’t have enough to say this kind of BS about Katia. I’ve read her interviews and she never implies being an escort.
Hate to say it, but this is standard practice for higher end escort agencies. They will never talk about orostitution. Their employees are always “models.”
It is entirely possible for someone to be an expert charmer and a total douche who hires hookers.
Miss Jupitero, of course someone can be both, but I never spoke about his charm. I spoke about his knowing how fickle this business can be. Someone like that wouldn’t squander their money on an escort. There are plenty of women willing to be friends with benefits (with benedict). Some have implied Alice Eve fit that bill at one point or another. He didn’t make THAT much money on Star Trek or Sherlock and he’s not really a spendthrift (look at his wardrobe, lots of repeats).
mena: the only reason some people are putting her into this BI is because she’s Russian and they were photographed together. That, IMO, is sad. Not every Russian woman is a mostitute.
Can I just say, and this is just my opinion, I really didn’t think that BI was all that bad(IF it is true). I mean it didn’t say he was a d-bag or anything. It just said he’s not looking for a relationship right now, but he is also not a womanizer. So, ocassionaly he pays for the services of a woman. As long as he’s being safe, who cares? I’d much rather that, then find out he’s a boozy jerk who sleeps with multiple women evey night. And I’m sure he could of he wanted to….
It’s an industry that profits from abuse, rape, exploitation and human trafficking. It ruins lives. I’m not suggesting facile solutions, but is not harmless. Not by a long shot.
I don’t see how a man can use prostitutes and not be a d-bag.
Agree with Miss Jupitero and FreeBunny – totally
That was pretty much my stance too Marty but then I read Miss Jupitero’s post a couple of days ago and I’m torn. On the one hand, who cares that he pays for it BUT I can also see now how it can be harmful. All decisions are not without consequence I guess..
I see what you all are saying, and I never said it was harmless, but my point is he is a grown man and can do what he wants and with who. I am very far from a Cumby fangirl, but this is Hollywood, moral compasses are off at best. It’s up to you decide to decide if you still want to support this man or not. Honestly, the R.Kelly thing bothered me more than this possible true blind.
You just can’t separate his actions from the actual realities of that industry. The abuse is systemic. There aren’t any free range, exploit-with-a-free-conscience hookers running around out there. The economic exploitation alone is hugely damaging. You have to put on serious blinders and a helluva lot of privilege to ignore the damage.
How am I seperating realities? Did I say prostitution is a good thing? Did I say there is nothing wrong with it? No, I did not. I know very little about Cumberbatch other than what I’ve read about him on this site. I don’t know if this is even true, so how can I judge him on a blind item alone? Many celebrities brake the law, and do things many people would see as morally reprehensive. It is up to the fan to decide if they want to continue to support him or not based on actual facts.
If you want to state your opinions and thoughts on the matter I fully welcome that. You might make me see things in a way I didn’t take into account before. Although I did agree with you. I’m just really not sure why you felt the need to insult me? Especially when you know nothing of me or my background. I respect your opinions and have responded in such a way. I only ask that you please do the same for me.
I don’t think Miss J was referring to you, Marty. She meant the person buying the sex (in this case, potentially Benny the Blind Item) would have to “put on the serious blinders” and have a “helluva lot of privilege”. Not you that would have to do that.
I am not particularly invested in whether or not this blind item is true – Benny isn’t on my list – but I do agree with Miss J on this topic generally.
I have no objection to prostitution in principle. Likewise, I have no objection to recreational drugs on principle. Your body. Your choice. Your risk.
But these industries do not take place in a vacuum. They aren’t free markets with free participants.
You buy a prostitute and somewhere in the chain you involve yourself with, someone has enslaved, addicted, abused or raped a woman – even if not the woman whose services you bought. You snort some coke and somewhere in the chain you involve yourself with, someone has been shot, stabbed, died from overdose or poison from bad/fake batches, died being a mule, watched their foot rot off from stamping the leaves, or whatever.
What Miss J was saying that IF the blind item is true, it’s not the act of buying sex that should necessarily play on Benny’s conscience; it’s the activities of the sex industry. And in Benny’s case in particular, those activities do not match his words on feminism.
PS and to lighten the mood: I’m afraid Cumby will forever be Benny the Blind Item to me now.
@Miss Jupitero
I’m a former escort and while that is an industry issue, I never once encountered that problem and found all my clients to be extremely respectful of the fact that I was there in a professional capacity. Bad things do happen, but it is hardly the desert of douchebags you seem to expect. The average client would probably surprise you.
Oh for heaven’s sake, it was a Blind from crazydaysandnights, a site that openly admits it sometimes makes things up and also a site that reuses or alters items after they are posted to make them fit. Why is this weighing so heavily? There are FAR worse stories on that site. *yawn* call me when something more credible (like the Enquirer) runs the story.
Yeah, I don’t get why people are freaking out, or why they even read those blind items for anything other than a laugh. And this even goes for the internet in general–you can write ANYTHING you want. Anything. It doesn’t have to be the least bit plausible or true. When we’ve got some girl going to every tabloid she can, about how Cumby paid 25k a week for him to be able to suck her toes, then we can talk.
People need to move on. Personally I don’t believe it but its old now.
He’s really interesting, I’ll give him that. He seems to be highly intelligent so I do believe he can be kind, decent and lovable while simultaneously having a selfish dark side. All in all, it makes him very human, he can be bitchy, catty, insensitive, honest, polite and charming.
Lets hope if the blind is true, he isn’t fully aware of the extent of damage he’s doing to innocent victims of prostitution when he hires a “willing” high-class escort.
But I pray the blind is a lie, I kinda doubt that he doesn’t realize that it’s very wrong to women in general.
Still a fan of his acting though.
I’ve said before that I (personally) believe he’s a good, decent person who is “essentially” the person he sells himself to be (bearing in mind that NO ONE is perfect), but that at the same time I also believe he’s a real handful in relationships. That’s because I think he’s likely incredibly spoiled and emotional. Spoiled, emotional people can grate and offend in ways they don’t even necessarily intend to — or even aware of. They can be really, really exhausting, too. This type of man is especially difficult for a woman who is the total opposite. Like, a woman who grew up in a big family and was never accustomed to being the very center of anyone’s attention and who was raised with discipline and self-control will have a hard time with the often clueless selfishness of a man who is an only child and was coddled by his older parents and everyone else around him, on top of having been a shy, artistic, and sensitive child. Still, I think there is a woman who is the perfect type for a man like that: a woman who likes to mother her man. Ben needs to find that type of woman!
@maureen
I’d kind of agree with the type of woman that may be best with him. It’d have to be someone who has a high tolerance for “taking care” of her significant other (you know Cumby wouldn’t appreciate someone implying his wife is mothering him). But that’s just my opinion, as a VERY MUCH outsider looking in at what little bits of his personality he reveals in the press.
Ah well… who ever she is or isn’t, as long as they’re both happy!
@Maureen
He seems to favor very strong, independent women for whom their career is very important (Oliva, Anna) and yet he also speaks of someone in interviews who can “take care of things at home.” (He also seems very emotionally needy and I bet it’s hard to compete with mum.) I’m sure this wonderful woman exists….one “type” is not mutually exclusive to the other…but I can see why it’s taking him some time to find her.
@EleanorRigby
I think it’s taking so long because he’s looking for her in the same social circles over and over and over since he’s been single. That type of woman — the one we’re talking about who is independent, educated, and talented but who loves the home and hearth at the same time and is willing to put aside her career and commit to family — is NOT going to be found in those social circles. Otherwise, he’d have found her already.
I feel for him, and for men and women in the same situation where they only have one social type they’re surrounded by but helplessly watch the years pass by without being able to find a committed partner from the only social life they have ever known. Think about it: where’s he going to meet women who AREN’T in the entertainment/arts field? He would have to meet such a woman from the inner circles of his other friends, but it’s obvious THEY don’t know such people either.
His world is strangely large but yet very insular and exclusive at the same time. This is what happens when you make your work bleed into the rest of your whole entire f*cking life. This narrow, insular world of his is of his own making. He’d have a better chance at happiness and stability if he would break free of the social box he’s in.
@Maureen
The “acting” world in the UK is also notoriously small. I agree he needs to break out and expand his options. Maybe now that he’s got a bit more flexibility in his schedule he can go to more events, meet more people. I could totally see him with someone in academia or someone who works in museum curation or something of that sort and since he now feels “the world is overpopulated with models” that can only work in his favor. 😉
But he doesn’t only exist in the acting world in the UK. He’s in and out of New York and LA very frequently. He IS part of Hollywood. He IS part of a large, but yet very narrow, world. This is the point I was trying to make. It’s a big pond but the fish are all the same. There is no variety in that social scene. Plus, it’s a scene that is comprised of so many of the very types of women he claims to not be interested in. You’d think that frustration alone would force him out of the box but it doesn’t seem to be so.
I’m late to this discussion, but I’m with Maureen on this assessment. When most (if not all) of your close friends are “in the biz,” and most of THEIR friends are in the same circle, then you don’t really have an opportunity to meet someone who isn’t an actress or celebrity PR person.
I think he needs to somehow meet someone who isn’t in this industry, and who is smart but doesn’t mind being at home. I do agree that he probably needs someone who can put her career on hold.
I’ll admit it, I am a spoiled emotional person too and I have never dated an only child (I am one too) but I have begun to wonder if I should seek out another only child. It would either be a huge disaster or a why didn’t I think of this sooner moment? Maybe he needs to date another only child? I have always felt like a lot of men have felt SUCH jealousy if my father sent me money, talking to my father on a regular basis etc. Men I have found are extremely needy and most cannot seem to relate to an only child. For someone to get how I can get in my own little world at times as well as wanting intimacy other times would be fabulous.
I don’t know if it’s the same lady or not, but back during the filming, someone posted on twitter that she danced with him at a local (to the town) place and he was quite good and a real gentleman and didn’t do anything goofus or rude, etc. Had a little firestorm on her twitter, apparently, from fangirls demanding to know more, etc.
Nothing to add except, best…headline…ever! 🙂
My thoughts exactly. I want that headline on a t-shirt.
Love this story. He looks so cute and he’s doing trademark pointy finger.
He seems like such a nice bloke you could have a great time with.
I must be the only one who hates the pointy finger and finds it cringe-inducing. But then again, his most hardcore fans love every single thing he does/says/wears without question. I do hate the pointy finger!
It got old fast, that gesture. Now he does it in almost every pic… He’s either become aware of his habit and thinks it’s funny, or he really thinks it’s a good way to take a pic…
I think he’s aware of his fans and the Internet WAY more than he lets on. Either himself or I suspect a combination of his friends and PR.
Maybe he just thinks he needs a thing, that people expect it.
I just like any excuse to see his hands. They’re pretty scrummy but then I have a thing for mens hands when they’re expressive. 🙂
I agree he knows more than he lets on!
He knows more — way more. He’s let that cat out of the bag numerous times in interviews. In fact, he’s been so divulging of what he knows (while saying he stays clear of “all that” in order to keep his head straight) that it almost seems like he’s totally lacking the self-awareness to know he’s talking out of both sides of his mouth on this issue — and that we can all see his duplicity.
Cute stories! 🙂
What a perfectly lovely story! Thanks for sharing this, Kaiser. There is so much negative gossip out there so it is refreshing to see a story like this. 🙂
It is a lovely story, but I don’t understand what “so much negative gossip” there is about him. I think his reputation is really, really good and the people who matter the most (his friends/family/colleagues and spontaneous encounters with regular people) indicate that he is a lovely, down to earth person. I would say I keep fairly abreast of his goings-ons and the only so-called “negative gossip” I come across are items that are in no way proved to be him. It doesn’t count as “gossip involving Benedict Cumberbatch” when it’s an absurd blind item that is so vague it could fit 100 other men. What I mean to say is, I don’t think there really is “so much negative gossip” at all. There are only random silly stories that come across as totally manufactured.
Sorry, I should have expressed myself more clearly. What I meant to say is that gossip in general about actors and celebs tends to be of the negative variety. I was not referring to Benny in particular. So it’s lovely to see a story about someone without any negativity at all. A nice change.
I didnt read janeite’s comment about negative gossip applying specifically to Benedict Cumberbatch – I read it in a general sense of the negative gossip about a large number of people which – if a fraction of it is to be believed – is incredibly depressing about the state of the entertainment industries and the seemingly institutionalised sexism (as Meryl Streep put it recently) that continues. I also find stories like this about apparently decent people refreshing – that said I also think there are very many stories that are totally manufactured and whose to know what is real and what’s not in a business where careers are built on image and promoted by a huge PR machine? Oh well there goes my New Years – I will not be totally cynical – resolution!
Oh, I see!
oops dont know what happened there I was responding to Maureen and the post came up in the wrong spot – must be the time difference or something – just ignore me and I’ll go away quietly….
Just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, he does shit like this!
If he takes his parents, one or both, to the Golden Globes or Oscars, I think I’ll actually melt into a puddle of goo, sighing “awwwww!” the whole time.
I know he brought them to the BAFTAS a few years ago. I remember seeing his mum sitting beside him. Coukd have been 2011 (so he was single)
Is he going to the Golden Globes?
Lindy79: I remember that. It was adorable lol, because how often do you see that, and someone who so openly appreciates and praises his parents for their support and love? They’re awesome, at least in print (who knows what’s going on behind closed doors but still, I doubt it’s awful).
Aw…such a nice person.
AWWW, Cumby! He is so growing on me so much. Adorable.
This post melted the frost on my cold, cold, heart. Ahhh Benny boy, may my Cumbers Wumbers Bumbers never die.
O my goodness. He is totally winning me over with all his loveliness! Can I become a Cumberbitch please?
Resistance is futile. Come over to the dark side…
I resisted for quite a while, then found out about his intelligent conversation and sense of humor and I was a goner…
“Resistance is futile”. Boy you’re not kidding. For the longest time I tried hard to resist. Then I just gave in to Cumberbatch. He charms the hell out of me and he’s a delight to watch. Heck, even my parents are fans.
My parents wouldn’t have a clue who Benedict Cumberbatch is, so he is my dirty little secret!
I watched the film last night and really enjoyed it btw. I understand now why people were saying Julia owns the film and outshines Meryl.
Cumby’s small part was sweet but creepy in context. He has a nice singing voice too.
Love him! He’s so great.
From the articles I’ve read and reading comments about him on various sites, his fans think the world of him. I’m going to start following his career. Would someone recommend films to start me off please?
He has small parts in The Other Boleyn Girl, The Negotiator, Four Lions (his part is supposed to be comedic but the movie has a rather dark turn and some very dark themes and may be triggering to some people), he was on the sitcom Fortysomething in the UK (his first “big” role I think? He played the eldest son of Hugh Laurie’s character). But if you want something “bigger” there’s To The Ends of the Earth, which was another early role of his, and Van Gogh: Painted with Words. “Hawking” is often considered to be the first major role where his range and ability are really on display.
Check out Starter for 10… although he has a supporting role, he’s hilarious in it.
Thanks Miss Mary and GeeMoney.
If you have Netflix, Sherlock is a fun place to start. It’s a TV show, but not in the typical American mold. There are just three episodes per season, so it’s not a commitment in the same way as starting a series that already has 50 episodes released.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I just re watched it last night and his performance is nuanced and exquisite. Although, to be fair, that’s true across the board in that movie.
Parade’s End. For sure. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, though the movie itself is hard to follow.
They can be a little harder to track down, but I really liked him in Wreckers, Stuart: A Life Backwards (holy moley Tom Hardy is a force in that film), and Third Star. Also like him (and the movie in general) in Amazing Grace.
And Atonement, if you are trying to give up chocolate bars.
Stuart: A Life Backwards is on HBO Go, as is Parade’s End. Personally, I find Stuart quite problematic, in terms of the absolute lack of growth/consciousness of Cumby’s character, but Hardy gives a superlative performance in it. He absolutely owns that movie, and I’ve yet to see him match that performance (although I hear Locke (?) is excellent. The one with the man in the car).
What’s nice about the less vehicle-y works, like Tinker, Tailor, and Stuart (and I think Parade’s End can fit this, too), is that it really showcases the talent these boys have. Anyone can chew scenery, but these pieces really show a gorgeous restraint and level of attention to detail that you won’t see in the bigger budget stuff. BC has one tiny background scene in Tinker Tailor, and in less than two wordless minutes, you get a full story about a character.
@T.Fanty
I agree with the S:ALB assessment. It’s forefront in my head because it’s the last thing of his (other than Sherlock S3) that I watched for the first time. If I’m being honest, it’s Hardy’s performance that has stuck with me, and the sentiment of the movie, which is why I’m so eager to recommend.
I know exactly what scene you are talking about in TTSS, and it’s one of the best of the film, if not one of his personal best of all time IMO. If he has a highlight reel, that should be on it. TTSS was on HBO over the holidays while I was at my parents, and I turned it on and watched most of it. Later my dad remarked how I had “wasted” the afternoon on tv and I promptly and forcefully corrected him that it was not tv, it was Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict, Tom Hardy, and many others and demands to be watched any time it is airing. He did not argue with me further.
I missed so much the first time through Tinker Tailor! It’s a movie you should watch multiple times to really appreciate the performances and catch everything that is going on. It’s one that improves with repeated viewing. And that little BC smirk as he passes Smiley in the final scene is perfection!
Just to echo on how good Tinker Tailor is. I have watched that film a dozen times at least, and there’s something new every time. The perfect example of less is more.
Sherlock is an obvious place to start. Hawking is great role from his early career which is very impressive, it’s on Youtube or at least it used to be.
If you like Edwardian period dramas of the BBC kind, look at Parade’s End. Beautifully made and such a good story. Some people think it’s boring though. I loved it.
I haven’t read all the answers to your question, @Kate, but I’m sure the others have covered everything. Just wanted to add that I LOVE him in Parade’s End, and I also love Wreckers. I think his performance in Wreckers is very subtle, nuanced, and he pulls off a really interesting ambiguity in that which hits somewhere between sympathetic/endearing and creepy/foreboding. He also does something really cute/funny with a clump of broccoli (or maybe it was lettuce), and holds a baby.
Cumby is doing something funny with a clump of broccoli and holding a baby? That’s all I need. I am a simple soul really.
I want to thank you all for the responses. IMO I think Cumberbatch and HIddleston fans are some of the nicest people on social media. I’ve gone on several media boards and notice it’s not a war zone. Thank you all again
@Kate
If you stay off Twitter and Tumblr you can almost forget the crazies exist! 🙂
@Kate: I second everyone’s excellent suggestions, and just want to add some of my own.
The great T.fanty recommended BC reading Chicken Little to me a while back, and here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKnvC67ECMM
What I think is always fun to watch is any interview he does. He has such a great personality and makes an interview feel like a conversation between two friends. I don’t know if there’s any one I really enjoy, so just take a look at YouTube.
I don’t understand how this odd looking guy is considered a sex symbol and get more attention than people like Chris Hemsworth. And it not like he is doing anything different. Such a cliche to date a blond model who is 11 years younger. Why do people even like this guy who cares about stories like these.
Different people are attracted to different types, both in terms of appearance and personality.
As for attention, 2013 was a huge year for Cumberbatch. He had SEVEN projects out this year, including two blockbusters (Star Trek and The Hobbit) and two movies that have awards buzz (12 Years a Slave and August: Osage County). Hemworth seems like a nice man and a good actor, even if he’s perhaps a little too traditionally hunky for my taste, but he hasn’t been as busy this year. He had one blockbuster (Thor, which he wasn’t as active in promoting), one prestige picture (Rush), and some voice work for the Star Trek movie. I don’t think it’s surprising that Cumberbatch is getting more attention than Hemsworth this year.
He has a brain and can speak in words of more than two syllables – that with the speaking voice does it for me every time…
Because it’s not about looks. He’s talented and charming and passionate and so likeable. He’s relate able and humble and works so hard on projects even if they don’t do well or aren’t blockbusters. Being a sex symbol isn’t just based on how good looking you are. He’s warm and genuine and not the ‘norm’. All these little things about him making him so desirable.
Because not everyone is attracted to the same type?
IMO, I find a man who’s a good conversationalist, sexy. After seeing interviews and television appearances, I can see why his fans and others find him sexy.
Different strokes for different folks. Not everyone has the same taste in men. You may think Cumby is unattractive, while there are others who fancy him. And you may think Top Shelf Hemsworth is hunky, while others may not be attracted to him. Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean everyone else will dislike it.
Talent and charisma.
True, Hemsworth is better looking, but Cumberbatch is a better actor and a more interesting person overall.
Ah, that’s adorable!
Hi Lunchie!
Yeah, it’s a really sweet story. He seems like a good man and a nice person. And the talent speaks for itself.
If Hiddles did the exact same thing, he’d be branded a try-hard and fan-enabler, yet this guy gets a pass O.o
Anyway, cute story. Sweet man.
There might be some who would say that, but I would not be one of them.
Like Janeite, I would find that equally cute.
Do we really have to turn every post about either of these guys into Fan Wars?
I think it’s unavoidable at this point. It happens every time.
True, but BC does this so rarely, almost never really, maybe that’s why this gets a pass.
Hiddles is more open and accepting of basically anything, BC is reserved and keeps his distance. Probably why this story seems so unusual, for him anyway.
I don’t understand why people will go to a post then gripe about the person the post is about. If you don’t like the celebrity- skip the post.
Don’t mean to be…well, bitchy but it’s just weird to me.
Thank you for the Cumberbatch posts. Keep the love going!
awww loved the article. His instructor had such kind words. Also Kaiser your comment “Benedict Cumberbatch, charming the socks off pregnant ladies since 1976. ” had me in splits
Here’s a radio interview that BC did today morning for the promotion of A:OC and also talks about fame. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOT-ooZ_6wI
The interviewer was such a fan and even said some girl here want to marry you and BC giggled and said he is flattered and will let his mother meet her and know who her future daughter-in-law is lol.
His morning voice is so dreamy
Also Spencer Hart kinda gave it away that Benedict will be attending golden globes this Sunday as he’ll be wearing his favorite designer as usual.
speaking of Spencer Hart http://instagram.com/p/jA5hQAj4vC/
This is cute, but please tell me I’m not the only one laughing at the rather ham-handed way both women tried to sneak in the names of their businesses/organizations for publicity?
Or am I being particularly b*tchy today? 😉
I have to laugh at how so many of you are believing a site (crazy days and nights) thats been proved to post lie after lie. So if I set up a site and posted lies on actors you’d just believe it all at face value. Bizarre. A lot of you tend to post dry rather withering messages about celebs but yet are as gullible as they come.
I’m pregnant, live outside of Tulsa & go to every JD concert I can get to… come back & dance with me!!
I love everything about the story 🙂
He so lovely, what a nice story. I can’t with anyone who believes a word that comes out of CDAN, the man has been busted by numerous places for being a complete fraud and Blind Gossip won’t even use him (even though it’s just gossip). He goes back and “alters” previous blinds to fit real life scenarios, and is right about 1% of the time and in that case it’s usually educated guessing that other sites made. ENTY’s crap about rape and incest is what really turned me off, he crosses the line from “gossip” into just disgusting, malicious stuff. I’m really excited for Benedict if he got Star Wars for real, that will be huge for him
Just wanted to say this—
I finally watched all of the ‘Sherlock’ episodes–my God what a finale! I felt like crying at the end….does anyone know when the new episodes will be on Netflix???
I love Molly, the best.
In UK, finale is tomorrow. Empty Hearse airs in US on the 19th. I would expect it would be available on Amazon that week. Netflix usually waits several months.
A freaking blind item? I guess people do believe everything they read on the Internet.
ABDL fetishist. I’m calling it! I’ve dated enough of them to know. He idolizes woman and craves the attention that he got (and likely still gets to an extent) as an only child with a dominant mother. He wants the stability he got in childhood, as he doesn’t get that through his job or brothers/sisters. He needs to find a woman outside of acting circles, who is career minded, intelligent and creative, but has the type of career that can either move around wherever he goes (writer, artist, journalist, photographer…) or that can be put on hold (some type project work). And someone who grew up in a big family and doesn’t need constant attention themselves (preferably an oldest child, as they will have taken on a sub-mothering role at a young age and already have that side to them). Good luck to him, as I think he’s a talented guy and deserves to do well.