Benedict Cumberbatch made Vanity Fair’s ‘Best Dressed’ list: #AlltheVelvet

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Vanity Fair has released their annual Best Dressed List, which appears in their September “Style Issue” every year. This year’s Style Issue has a cover with Natalia Vodianova (go here to see). This year’s Best Dressed list includes: Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Neil Patrick Harris, Michelle Dockery, Emmy Rossum (??), Pharrell Williams, Emma Watson, Eddie Redmayne, amongst others. And Benedict Cumberbatch, of course. I’m including the short write-up below and you can see the full VF package here (I wish we could see Cumby’s “package”).

Benedict Cumberbatch

OCCUPATION: Actor.
RESIDENCE: London.
FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING: Blue Ernest Alexander shirt.
FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP: Paris and New York.
FAVORITE SHOES: Edward Green.
FAVORITE ACCESSORY: Sami bracelet.
SCENT: Annick Goutal Eau de Monsieur.
WATCH: Omega Seamaster.
STYLE ICON: Steve McQueen.

[From Vanity Fair]

#AlltheVelvet #Cumbertux #TheBatchingofVF #CumbercurlsAreAlwaysInStyle #WhatAboutThatMcQueenSuitHeWoreToTenEvents #CumberOscar #Cumberstyle

Now I’m kind of obsessed with finding out what he smells like. I’ve never heard of “Annick Goutal Eau de Monsieur” but I imagine is smells rich and musky. Mm… #Cumbermusk. Let’s see… apparently, it’s sandalwoody and junipery. Why can’t I know how Benedict smells?!!?

Also – his style icon is Steve McQueen? The late actor or the director he recently worked with? And he shops in Paris? Bless him.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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260 Responses to “Benedict Cumberbatch made Vanity Fair’s ‘Best Dressed’ list: #AlltheVelvet”

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  1. Mrs McCubbins says:

    Not attractive! Doesn’t matter what he’s wearing.

    • kri says:

      Oh, dear, oh, dear! I know what the Batch smells like. Yes, I dated someone who wore Annick and..sigh. I know BC isn’t everyone’ s cuppa, but for me it all works. He should do an audio for The Velveteen Rabbit.#Hotasf&ck.

  2. FingerBinger says:

    I do think that B.C. dresses very well. He looks very good in suits and tuxes,but his casual style is pretty awful.

    • Green Girl says:

      I know, right? Then again, when he turns up in a tux or suit, he brings the style and charm times ELEVENTY and all is forgiven/forgotten (except that time he posed with a pretend lamb) (and I guess that time he wore the Indiana Jones-esque hat with a formal suit) (oh, and that outfit that I think a few fans refer to as “50 shades of grey,” but not in the fun way).

      I have a question for you all: Is “Blue Ernest Alexander shirt” the same blue shirt he wears everywhere?!?

    • TheOriginalPuppy says:

      What casual style? They’re all photos of him in suits. Where’s the variety?

  3. LadyMTL says:

    Gah, I hate the smell of sandalwood. I prefer men’s cologne to smell fresh and clean, not…thick and musky, lol. I might not be a Cumberfan but he does wear a suit well. His street style isn’t so great but hey, can’t win them all.

  4. K says:

    The posh practically flew off the write-up box

  5. Maya Dragunova says:

    Yes! HOT!

  6. Green Eyes says:

    Mmmmmm…..velvet….

  7. Freebunny says:

    Paris is his fav place to shop????
    He bought a hat in Paris and maybe few Lacoste shirts, I doubt he goes to Paris to do his shopping. I guess his PR team wrote this.

    • GeeMoney says:

      He might shop in Paris… it’s just a 2 hour train ride away from London… you never know.

    • Clairewobble says:

      Maybe he shops in Paris only once a year! Haha! Thanks to that recent Paris trip, he got some new Lacoste shirt for Comic Con!

    • Freebunny says:

      I know Paris isn’t far, it’s just that he has been seen only one time in Paris to shop his tiny hat.
      On the other hand he spends a lot of time at New York, so I believe he must shop there.

      • PunkyMomma says:

        Please don’t tell me he purchased the tiny hat in Paris. Eek.

      • Freebunny says:

        Lol, I think he bought it for Roland Garros.

      • Green Girl says:

        LOL about him buying his Martin Freeman-sized hat* in PARIS, of all places. I don’t know why, but this is cracking me up. And no one was there to suggest he purchase a larger size?!

        *I think one of you called it that, and it’s so true!

  8. GeeMoney says:

    I love it that he loves NYC and Paris as much as I do. And yes, he can wear the hell out of a tux… but those casual maroon pants have got to go.

    Maroon pants or not, l still love him though.

  9. astrobiologiste says:

    According to Fragrantica, he smells like citrus, bergamot, and mint, and geranium, with a base of patchouli and sandalwood. To that I say, “Yum!”

    http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Annick-Goutal/Eau-de-Monsieur-20449.html

  10. Kazlock 1307 says:

    He once mentioned in an interview that he also buts from charity/second hand shops. He is eclectic in his tastes.And obviously he has a sock addiction!

  11. Clairewobble says:

    Cumby better buy some more of those perfume of yours! Your cumberbitches will make them out of stock by tomorrow!

  12. Dulcinea says:

    Thank you for this! love it!

  13. Dani says:

    His casual wear is awful but he can seriously rock a suit/tux. That’s one hell of a watch though.

  14. Green Eyes says:

    Didn’t Lord Cumby work in a perfume store for a bit before he became famous?

    • MissMary says:

      Penhaligon’s, iirc. Even has a story about when he was wrapping a purchase for some famous sort and he had a cold and dripped snot all over the wrapping. (I wish that story didn’t stick in my mind so vividly).

  15. Leaflet says:

    I must say that I don’t find this dude (Benedict) to be attractive in the least. I don’t really jive with his personality either; he’s sort of annoying. He just doesn’t do it for me, blah. I don’t know about Blanchett’s style. Sometimes I feel that she dresses too old for her age, sorta 70’s like. Then, sometimes I like her fashion. I don’t know Cate’s either a hit or miss for me. I agree about Idris’s style though, loved it this year. I liked Nyongo’s style sometimes. Sometimes, not so much. She was either a hit or miss for me as well, but I’ll cut her some slack with her being a newbie to the red carpet and all.

    • Pinky Rose says:

      Well, obviously Cate B crazy couture is not for everyone. But one thing that is undeniable is that she has style and knows how to carry clothes in a way many celebrities nowdays do not. Like who else in the nineties would have dare to wear a Valentino Haute Couture dress with simple jeans or those Mcqueen inspired by Jack the Reaper with flats to a major movie premiere and make it all her own, without pretense, so effortless and soignee. She has true style and that is what fashion is about.

      • Maggie says:

        Cate certainly does have style and she looks amazing in most of her red carpet choices. I love the nude, embellished dress in this VF feature. Gorgeous!

        She has such beautiful skin and looks naturally beautiful and, as you say, effortless.

  16. Duri says:

    BC talking about fashion and clothes makes me laugh. But I don’t think anyone wears a suit as well as he does.

    Also now I am really tempted to smell that fragrance.

    • jammypants says:

      I don’t know. I actually think Idris Elba, Tinie Tempah, and Eddie Redmayne also dress impeccably, casual or formal.

  17. TheOriginalKitten says:

    As others said, he cleans up nicely but let’s not forget the mom jorts, the array of sassy hats, and the flip-flops and blazer combo.

    Still, it’s nice to see Cumby on this list instead of the usual dbags.

  18. g says:

    BSM
    Beautiful Specimen of a Man

  19. Kaiser says:

    I wonder why the Dragonfly King wasn’t on this list…

    *tosses Hiddlesbomb casually into the thread, leaves*

    • Duri says:

      He is too big of a star for Vanity Fair

    • 'P'enny says:

      because he’s spent all year in a black cardigan and blue -t shirt. He just hasn’t been hitting the red carpets to smooze up to Vanity Fair.

      • Duri says:

        Why do you have to disregard BC making the list by indicating he only got in cz he sucked up to Vanity Fair just to defend your precious Tommy’s absence.

      • Innie Outie says:

        @Duri: you’re trying too hard 😉 It’s funny how people overreact to snark these days. Something weird has happened to Benny and Tommy threads, there used to be much much more snark and everyone took it in stride, and now people are fretting over the slightest sarcasm lol.

        I’m deciphering what ‘P’enny said: Ben has been hitting red carpets all year – and not doing too much filming work came in quite handy for him. He was free to socialise and network and remain very visible. Hence Vanity Fair list. And he really DOES deserve it, his red carpet style is immaculate, by the way.

        Tom, on the other hand, has been working basically non-stop, it’s his 3rd back-to-back project now, going into 4th. Also, it seems that he’s stopped any non-work related red carpet appearances.

        Such a pot stirrer, Kaiser 😀

      • jammypants says:

        haha! some people just want to watch the world buuurn

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @jammy pants, yes! Watch the world burn and then I want a good seat to watch Asgard burn too!

      • 'P'enny says:

        @Duri

        I shall say this only once…”I meant no snide at Benedict,” i am not stupid, Tom was winning a lot of best-dressed this and that last year when he was red-carpeting all the time. SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS – Deal, Sweetie, deal.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @’p’enny, darling, anyone who ever reads you knows you would never be snide at your Lizard King. Have a slice of lime raspberry tea bread that I just baked while I mix a gin & tonic for you and Mark brings the Jag around for you to take a spin.

      • Katie says:

        ‘p’enny’s a wonderfully funny fan of both, Duri. Overreaching and really unfair here.

        That being said, I agree with Innie Outie, it’s a problem on both sides and I sometimes think there’s crossover from other places. Heck, someone from here has been going after Delorb on another board for days because of the last TH post. It’s pretty messed up.

      • jammypants says:

        @Lilac, delicious monologuing while watching the world burn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0mHMSVwESA

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @jammypants, pass the bourbon, please.

      • jammypants says:

        It would be my pleasure. Would you like it with a spritz of water or just plain?

    • TotallyBiased says:

      Because this was a POLL, ostensibly, that somehow slid under our radar? Even Cardi and Tees are an improvement over thumb hats and jorts. Guess Luke and company didn’t bother putting in the effort to get him nominated–you know we dragonflies would have voted him in. 😉 (On the strength of his 2014 Olivier Awards look alone!)

      • Duri says:

        wow Tom fans are sooooo damn eager to find excuses. First of all this wasn’t based on any kind of poll, no one in BC’s fandom voted for this. The list was made by Vanity Fair only.

      • icerose says:

        Ben looks better in formal wear than casual and to be fair he was on the red carpet at awards ceremony far more than Tom in the last year in the USA.
        Tom has made the best dressed in the UK several times so it all balances out in the end
        Both Tom and Ben lost out to David Tennant in the Radio Times Television awards .I was a bit surprised that Benny lost because unlike Tom he does have a television show at this point in time. It was mainly UK orientated with 9 million votes although many of them may have been repeat voter.

      • TotallyBiased says:

        wow @Duri–reading comprehension issues?
        “VF The International Best Dressed POLL
        Lupita Nyong’o was an obvious shoo-in, but the voters also anointed Donna Tartt (who loves her buttercup-yellow kidskin gloves), Idris Elba, and Neil Patrick Harris.”

        Right there at the top of the page.

        Guess the winky emoji didn’t sufficiently convey sense of slightly snarky jest, either.

        Could have gone for the short (and snotty) “Because Tom is WORKING.”
        But I don’t actually evaluate the world as a “Tom vs BC” POV, and I rather suspect they don’t, either.
        Rather pleased they both came in second (because they DIDN’T go head to head) to my second favourite Doctor in that Radio Times poll.

      • icerose says:

        @TotallyBiased I was kind of glad they did not end up going face to face and Tennant has done some excellent TV work since leaving WHO

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Duri, according to the Vanity Fair article, yes, it was a poll. You may not have voted but fans of Vanity Fair apparently did. As for excuses, Kaiser asked why we thought he wasn’t on the list; that is why people are putting forth why they think he wasn’t on the list and their reasons have all been valid. But okay, to make you happy: our Dragonfly King isn’t on the list because he is a horrible person and bad actor and he dresses indecently and he smells bad and looks awful in comparison to the God of All Gods Benedict Cumberbatch, even when he is wearing his tiny hat and salmon pants and silver shoes. And every other man and woman on this planet who lives, ever lived or ever will lived pales in comparison to the almighty Cumberbatch too. But we love our Dragonfly King any way because we’re bad people too. Feel better now?

      • 'P'enny says:

        @lilacflowers
        have you been following that tumblr thread again?

        “…but okay, to make you happy: our Dragonfly King isn’t on the list because he is a horrible person and bad actor and he dresses indecently and he smells bad…”

        they now say he is a chain smoker too.

      • Katie says:

        Lilacflowers, is the TH stuff a Tumblr thing? Sounds like a nasty place!

        I love BC but he can’t dress himself if left to his own devices. I did like the silver shoes though 😀

      • Pinky Rose says:

        Lol, it is not a poll actually. The only who are allowed to vote are Reinaldo Herrera, Amy Fine Collins, and some other fashion editors in the style of Eleanor Lambert, the creator of the list. The only poll that is public is the one that allows a normal individual to summit their looks.

      • jammypants says:

        @Lilac, awful indeed 😉

      • TotallyBiased says:

        @PinkyRose –I see (with a little research) that it isn’t quite as generally ‘public’ a vote as when they threw it open on FB in 2012, but it is evidently still fairly widespread across both professionals and readers.
        A GQ fringe writer discusses his ballot and the popularity aspect of it; LA Times profile of Donna Tartt and her win had this to say: “the list comes from Vanity Fair, perhaps the most highbrow of best-dressed-listmakers. Its list included votes from readers, who liked Tartt’s taste in gloves.”

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Katie, no, I didn’t get that stuff from anywhere. I just made it up rather sarcastically.
        @’p’enny and jammypants, it’s good to be bad!

      • Allegra says:

        Hi, new one on board:

        It was a poll. I guess we all missed this one.
        I don´t know way but the link still open for votes.
        http://www.thissurvey.co.uk/surveys/QM2V-44C7/HQGBDDZS/?bestdressed2014

    • Lilacflowers says:

      My Dragonfly King has been too busy to walk red carpets or attend fashion galas or premiers or do other public appearances where he would be noticed by fashion people since the Thor 2 World of Loki premier in LA last November, with the exceptions of Top Gear in February (the red exercise shirt, the glasses to drive, the death by snap-pocket black pants, black t-shirt, and black cardi combo) and the Oliviers in April, at which his entire ensemble and grooming were set to “stun all living things with eyes” because he has been working non-stop. I doubt he really cares about the Vanity Fair best-dressed list since he gets to nude-sunbathe on a balcony. I anxiously look forward to his return next year as he will buzz about endlessly promoting the releases of his three films and who only knows what else and he will make his triumphant return to SDCC as God of Hall H, at which time fangirls and geek boys alike will crash the internet in his honor.

      • 'P'enny says:

        yeeeeeah! Lilac I love you 🙂

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I love you too, dear and Colin is bringing you your gin & tonic. Mark has brought the car around for you and Jack Bauer is going on your spin with you. No, I haven’t been to the site in weeks. i will have to break dear Thomas of this bad habit, which means I’ll get to spend some time with the new linen dark blue shirt and the gray linen pants, which don’t seem to wrinkle like my linen things do. He’ll have to explain how he does that. I will be throwing the white shoes away.

      • icerose says:

        @Lilacflowers Work has nothing to do with it. Tom is too busy flirting and trying to organise daily hook-ups ,not even daily hook-ups, thrice daily hook-ups and foursomes. Have you not been following the latest High Rise anon .How can he be expected to think about fashion and PR when his sex life is surpassing Micheal Douglass and he will soon have to attend sex addiction therapy on top of his workload.
        Luckily I have just finished my training and will be starting a group soon which will included Tom, Luke Evans, Bill Nighy, Mark Strong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Micheal Fassbender,Benny are the current sign ups.
        I am looking for a co therapist .Any volunteers. I can offer lot’s of tea and delayed gratification.

      • Camil says:

        @Lilacflowers

        OMG, I love your answers 😀

        Next year will be amazing for our Dragonfly King

      • jammypants says:

        Tell us how you really feel Lilac 😛

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @icerose, I was momentarily stunned into a trance with the sight of the words “Bill Nighy”, but I’m okay now. I volunteer although my exposure to Fassy must be kept at a minimum for reasons I explained on today’s Fassy thread. I believe Lee Pace, James McAvoy, Idris Elba, and Ewan McGregor may also need some training. And Viggo too. But I believe we may need to borrow the ball gag from Sixer. And I will start with Thomas. It seems he needs much careful attention.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @jammypants, I’m ready to fly to San Diego to get in line for the Saturday in Hall H at next year’s Comic Con right this minute. As I said above, it is good to be bad. And do you all realize that he could still film something early next winter that would also be released in late 2015? Giving us FOUR Tom films? Odin help us all!

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Camil, thank you!

        Now, picking up on filming a film early in 2015 for release later in 2015; I’ll be starting a novena for a dark farce, requiring physical slapstick comedy and witty repartee.

      • sigh((s)) says:

        I volunteer for McAvoy duty. I will be militant, yet fair. Not that he seems to need much training. I fear there may be lots of downtime. Must think of something In the way of rewards for good behavior….

      • Lilacflowers says:

        In case anyone needs a reminder of the “stun all living things with eyes” look at the Oliviers. WARNING! Painfully stunning photograph at link! http://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Tom-Hiddleston-LMK-112973.jpg

      • icerose says:

        @lilacflowers My lovely aging Nighy has been having trouble with his back recently and has been told to cut his daily activity down and do not be fooled by his laid back personality he is all there when it counts

  20. BetsyC says:

    Maybe Paris is a clue. Sophie Hunter lives in France.

    • MissMary says:

      A clue for what?

      He’s been to France often, most visibly for promo stuff for the Beeb and for film festivals.

      I get the feeling he said “paris” as a go-to answer because his PR was nudging him going “Don’t you DARE say you get some of your stuff at Chelsea market!”

      • Freebunny says:

        He’s *not* often in France or Paris.
        He was at the tennis Open and that’s it. Most of the time he’s in London or New York, not Paris.

      • MissMary says:

        Well, not as often as some folks sure but I know he’s been many times at least visibly for promo stuff/film fests, and who knows what he gets up to when he has time off (though probably not as easily now as before sherlock made him a big name in some circles).

        I just feel like Paris was his go-to answer, tbh, and his PR was going “say Paris because that’s where the dresser for his event saw the suit. Don’t say Marks and Sparks!”

      • Freebunny says:

        I’m french and I never saw him promoting anything in France, and believe me I would have known ;).

  21. EscapedConvent says:

    Well. This is hilarious. It makes me laugh for a few reasons:
    1. There’s no mention of Spencer Hart, which is where he said he shopped, & who first got lovely tailored suits to drape over his glorious bod.
    2. The hats alone should disqualify him from this list.
    3. His normal wardrobe should disqualify him from this list. There’s the blue striped tee-shirt, the maroon jeans of course, & the mustard-colored suede loafers which burned holes in my eyes recently.

    However, he dresses beautifully in suits & at events, as he is not dressing himself. And he has wonderful socks. & he’s lovely & I’m crazy about him.

    BTW, I don’t recall ever hearing so many women talk about wanting to know what a guy smells like. What is that? Ha!

    • Green Girl says:

      “the mustard-colored suede loafers which burned holes in my eyes recently”

      I have been telling myself those were a weird shade of beige all along. Now that I know they’re actually mustard, it is all I can do not to shake my head.

      • EscapedConvent says:

        Green Girl, not only were they mustard-colored, but he wore them (suede) without socks, in *July* in a very warm climate (San Diego). Maybe that’s why there were pics of him barefoot at the Comic Com, he must have been steamy hot!

      • Green Girl says:

        Wha-??? He must have been getting blisters, too.

    • TotallyBiased says:

      @EscCon–
      How have you ‘escaped’ the TH convos re smell? ALL OVER the net! My single biggest regret re his lack of appearance on this list is that we’d get an answer once and for all as to what he wears. 😉

      PS–yes to your statement re hat.

      • EscapedConvent says:

        Hello, TotallyBiased!

        I guess I’ve never really seen much of that. I’m not surprised women want to know what Hiddles smells like; I probably am out of the loop on that. I have always thought it was funny that we’re so curious about what scent Cumby wears, etc. :-]

        Didn’t Cumby once work at Penhaligon’s? I love their scents.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        What I find really amusing about the “what does HIddles smell like?” query is that it was started by Mark Ruffalo and Guillermo del Toro. Such a totally random topic for guys to discuss in interviews. I can’t imagine what would ever make me tell an interview that my co-worker smells really good.

    • jammypants says:

      I wonder why he wears hats? He has lovely hair.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      @Escaped Convent, you may need to run for your life soon. Quick, hop into the Jag! You may hide in the boot since Sean Bean seems to be out and about promoting some TV show at the moment. Mark Strong will protect you.

  22. may23 says:

    But what about Tom? What is his PR manager doing? Aren’t they managed by the same company? Benedict is everywhere doing everything while Tom is still on his way to super stardom it seems…

    • Freebunny says:

      They don’t have the same PR team. And contrary to the common belief here they’re two different guys.

      • 'P'enny says:

        noooooooo, I thought they were same.

      • Anne tommy says:

        I think Benny’s more unusual looks and memorable name are kinda in his favour – once seen never forgotten…Tom is indeed the king, no the emperor of dragonflies but is more conventional looking. Amazing looking but not as ” unique” as BC ( I am desperately trying not to use the word odd as BC is ok by me, just does not produce the Hiddleston effect…). Tommy deserved to be on the list for the Olivier Awards alone.

      • jammypants says:

        lol Penny!

      • icerose says:

        @Anne tommy Tom rocks a tux like no one else and he always looks amazing on the red carpet and in interviews etc but it is also about where and when you were seen in the preceding year.
        Benny looks great in particular outfits although on occasion he has a little bit of a penguin look body wise but it was his year in terms of events like the Oscars and people probably were more aware of him than Tom as the archetypal male of British gentry.
        Tom has become all work and no play at the moment unless he is having it off with half the female cast of High Rise whilst eating dog meat, twiddling his bottle of morphine and naked sun bathing.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @icerose, and next year, he will make the list for being the best dressed naked sunbather, no doubt.

      • Josa says:

        @Lilacflowers, “next year, he will make the list for being the best dressed naked sunbather, no doubt. ”
        Tom in his birthday suit will win any best dress contest!

    • icerose says:

      Tom is in hibernation tweeting Ballard quotes and weird pictures of himself, Wheatley, Luke Evans plus another cast members. He and Luke seem to be getting quite pally and were seen enjoying the Belfast nightlife. And when he is not filming he ensconced in Northern Irelands top spa hotel

      • Lilacflowers says:

        The only one in the picture without facial hair!

      • icerose says:

        @Lilacflowers Best dressed naked sunbathers requirement is the ability to tan evenly all over -hence the lack of facial hair

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @icerose, now you’ve done it. My mind has gone to wondering about waxing. Ouch!

    • MissMary says:

      Tom switched representation around the time of Avengers, iirc, and he hasn’t been promo’d as hard as his smaller firm was doing, it seems.

      • icerose says:

        @ MissMary He switched his USA agent around that time but is still with the same UK agents who head hunted him at Cambridge (Hamilton Hodell) who also manage Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie and Ben Whishaw amonst others.
        As fat as I know he still has the same UK publicity tea which includes Luke. But he has been on a non stop work treadmill since he got of the Thor merry go round. The year before he was out attending theatre and film openings and photo-shoots etc, so not much room for work.
        Next year Ben will be working non stop and Tom may well be on the PR circuit. It is all swings and roundabouts

      • Katie says:

        “Next year Ben will be working non stop and Tom may well be on the PR circuit. It is all swings and roundabouts.”

        Completely agree, icerose. They’re both wonderfully ambitious, so work + PR is the name of the game.

      • jammypants says:

        Everyone needs an off year.

    • Encumbered says:

      What about WHO???

    • jammypants says:

      He doesn’t need PR. The last few months, he’s been on a set of some sort, barely ever out of costume. PR is for when an actor goes out to promote his work or himself. Since he’s a bit tied up with work, he can’t do PR.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I would like him to be tied up with me while in his sunbathing costume. But that’s just me.

      • jammypants says:

        oh but then he would get all the awkward tan lines from being tied up. Do tie him up tastefully? Perhaps you can artfully arrange the bonds to form the words s-e-x around his midriff?

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I will do my best, jammypants. My name may appear in other places.

  23. Sam says:

    Read the DM article on him. It was both inconsistent and brutal.

    • Freebunny says:

      Lol, I don’t know if it was inconsistent but it was really brutal.

      • Sam says:

        Not sure I believed all of it. He seems a lot more confident than they were making him out to be and he has too many female friends to buy how painfully awkward they made him out to be. That was the inconsistency that I was talking about.

      • Freebunny says:

        For me this article is full of exaggerations and half-thruths, it was so weird that it made me laugh at the time.

    • Green Girl says:

      Which article?

    • MissMary says:

      The article from last year or so, where they were bashing on about his “anxiety disorders” and being cheap? Or is there a more recent one?

      • Sam says:

        Miss Mary, it was that article. It was really brutal and unnecessarily so. I say that as someone who is not even a cumberbitch

      • MissMary says:

        @Sam: It seemed like the Fail had it out for him with that one. IDK if it’s because they can never get any solid dish on the man and it annoys the writers, or if he pissed in their Cheerios but it was a pretty rought write up.

    • icerose says:

      Are you referring to Tom or Ben?

    • jammypants says:

      Do they have some sort of gripe with him? I hardly read nice things about him on there.

      • Katie says:

        DM’s known for going after actors who don’t want to talk to them, jammypants, so probably? But I can’t blame celebs who avoid DM because they’re not known for accurate, well, anything really LOL,

  24. MissMary says:

    Aren’t these polls usually all PR anyway? I mean, gods bless the man for wearing the Hell out of a suit but we have all seen his “street style” and it’s kind of… well, not “best dressed” list and more “guy who lives two doors down and locked his keys in the car one morning while wearing whatever he had on to run to the laundrymat.”

    • Anne tommy says:

      Amen miss Mary

      • MissMary says:

        NGL, I’m also side-eyeing him for wearing a chambray shirt that costs over 100 bucks. Maybe it’s because I live in Real World ™ Land, lol, where a chambray shirt doesn’t cost more than 30 bucks, max, that makes me side eye that particular favorite of his.

    • SophieK says:

      @MissMary Thanks for making me laugh during a particularly difficult week. 😀 I love BC in a suit but when he has to dress himself…well…not so much! LOL..I don’t mind the chambray shirts though. The maroon pants and little hats need to go, I think.

      Edited to agree w/ the cost of the chambray does not have to break the bank!

      • matilda11 says:

        He has got way more wear out of that shirt than out of a $30 one. He works hard, he buys a few quality items because he can afford them, and then wears the hell out of them. Nothing wrong with that!

    • Lilacflowers says:

      @Miss Mary, there is a place in the get-away Jag for you. Run to safety!

    • Katie says:

      Nah, I love him and I know he can’t dress himself LOL

      I don’t have an issue with the $100 shirt because he will, sadly, literally wear it for the next decade (I’m also assuming it wasn’t a freebie, but IDK).

    • Pinky Rose says:

      This isn’t a PR one, it is mostly choosed by fashion insiders. Because of that you see a mixture of actors and entertainers, with royals, models, designers, socialites, aristocrats, artists, etc.

      Having said that, I don’t find his style special at all.

  25. delorb says:

    He does look good in a suit. That posture! I don’t mind the casual look. If its who he is, then its who he is. I even liked the mustard shoes with no socks AND the flip-flops he sported later (he was seated so his feet weren’t on display. Pity, because he has good looking feet). I don’t even mind the small hat. As long as he’s not wearing an ill-fitting suit or glittery shoes, then I’m happy and satisfied.

    • Maggie says:

      @ Delorb

      Agree with everything but I have to say I take a secret delight in the silver, glittery shoes. They make me smile as do his hats, his jorts and the jandals/flipflops.

      Anything that makes me smile is good in my books and Benedict makes me smile.

  26. Shiv says:

    Great red carpet style put together by others.
    Awful casual style put together by himself.

    He has staple items and then mixes it up however he wears his staple items (the shoes, the expensive cardigans, the chambray shirts) and wears them to death. He’s been carrying his mulberry man bag for over 2 years now.

    He is in Greece now as spotted by two fans. One calling him Benjamin Cumberbatch haha! The little boy who was in the photo with his two sisters and BC in the restaurant in Rome was interrogated by fans. Before putting his account on private, he described his dinner date as ‘brunette’, ‘not too young 30-40’ and he thinks ‘it could be a girlfriend’ and ‘she looked like an actress’ These are the words of a young boy though so take with pinch of salt! Sounds like Sophie….

    • Freebunny says:

      Uhmmm… To be recognized as an actress, Sophie should have a career, something she doesn’t have, at all.

      Anyway, those informations come from the tea blog, people posting there have a very clear agenda, and the account is now private.

      They can say what they want about those tweets, no one can check.

      • Shiv says:

        Wrong. Seen them for myself before he went private.

        I think you need to check Sophie’s background out – she is more into directing so I wouldn’t say she doesn’t have a career….

      • Freebunny says:

        I don’t see how the boy could have recognize her as an actress. I saw her in Midsomer’s murders and she’s not memorable, at all.

        And it could be anyone but for some reasons this fandom is obsessed with her.

    • MissMary says:

      @Freebunny: B/c she’s friends with BC and was in that Burlesque Fairy Tales with him, and she’s been at some events with him so of course it’s true love. Until he stands next to Kinvara, or Alice Eve, or Loo Brealey, or Karon, then that’s true love.

      Re Sophie Hunter: But is it a career a kid would go “Oh, I think she’s an actress”? Though if he thought she was pretty, I can see a kid going “I think she’s an actress!” even if he didn’t recognize someone from a film or show.

      TBH, I’m thinking he was with friends that included some women in the group, or his family members that live in Italy (he has an aunt and, iirc, some cousins).

      • Freebunny says:

        I think Karon is his secret girlfriend, she’s always with him.

        Children are easily manipulated and tend to say what they think you want to hear (or read here).

        I didn’t see those tweets so I can’t say, if it was an adult who said “he was with a girl and I think she’s an actress”, I could believe him or her but it’s more difficult with children.

      • Shiv says:

        @freebunny Agree. I don’t know how he could either and also how he could describe her in an age range. He definitely did say it though! It was ridiculous , they were questioning him and he is only young. He must have been scared of the rabid fans!

        He didn’t confirm she was an actress just that she looked like one. No one but BC fans would know who it is.

      • SophieK says:

        Is Sophie Hunter the pretend-GF-of-the-week?? I’m trying to keep up. Last week it was Kinvara, right? Or the mystery blonde from SDCC? I’m losing track of it all. (Sadly, I have no idea who Sophie Hunter is.)

      • MissMary says:

        @SophieK: LOL Sophie Hunter is a go-to- favorite for the secret gf because she’s young, pretty, has a bit of name recognition in some circles, and has been friends with BC for years. He was sitting with her in the French Open pics (the ones where they look bored out of their skulls lol). She’s also been to some events in London where he was in attendance and that fires up the rumor mill, as well.

        It just flat seems like, not only does he stay friends with many costars, he has a lot of female friends. And it drives some folks batty that he is apparently single and straight but has female friends so they desperately want him to have a secret gf.

      • SophieK says:

        @MissMary Thanks for the info. I remember those French Open pics now. Well, they had absolutely no chemistry in the photos, so maybe that’s why I never thought she was in the running for secret-love-of-Ben’s-life. *sigh*

        I agree that it sounds like he’s got tons of friends and some of them happen to be girls..LOL…and if they show up somewhere w/ Ben then each one is cast as the secret GF.

        Where can I sign up to play the role for a week??? 😉

    • Leo says:

      Maybe my imagination is lacking, but what does “it could be a girlfriend” and “she looked like an actress” even mean? How does one look like an actress?
      Basically, there was a 30-40-year-old brunette who could have been anyone: the love of his life, a friend, a relative or someone he met the day before. Or anything in between.

      And on the side note, I know this is a gossip site and I don’t plane to take the high moral ground but I’ve got to say it. This isn’t nannying and BC is a big boy who can look after himself. But grilling an excited 10/12-year-old child for information really is quite low.

      • Shiv says:

        Read above.

      • MissMary says:

        That’s what creeped me out, tbh. I mean, on one hand, I’m sure some of the folks asking on the IG page didn’t realize the OP was a minor, but some did. I grok wanting to know and I’m not going to hate on folks who weren’t aware of the OP’s age or lack thereof, but I’m retroactively bothered by it. Not very whatever of me, I know… And I do wonder if the mom found out about the pic being posted because the kid was freaked out by the fans and said something to her (or maybe she’s just a good parent and monitors her kids’ online time).

        That’s my thing re the “friend”–“She looked like an actress!” can mean anything, esp coming from a kid. She was pretty, she looked posh, she was dressed nice, she was with an actor so she must be an actress… or maybe he really did recognize her from some role or something. I’m not hopping on the “omg secret gf!” train based on that.

      • Freebunny says:

        I agree, harassing a boy on twitter to get news it indeed low.

      • Leo says:

        @ MissMary, oh, I’m positive they knew or guessed his age and that was why they were brave enough to ask him anything. This is not like seeing a stranger and trying to determine if he is 33 or 35. If anything, this boy looks even younger than his actually age.
        Btw., that photo with BC and the restaurant owner was posted just an hour or so after that. The man in it is older, looks though, like someone who would tell you to piss off in a second. Guess how any questions he got? None.

        And how a boy his age could regocnize Sophie is really beyond me, especially since most of what he wrote was probably based on the input from fans. They didn’t just ask questions, they send him photos of various people for him to indentify.

      • sigh((s)) says:

        Lol. What kid talks like that? Brunette? 30-40? Most kids I know think anyone over 15 is older than dirt. My kid’s teacher asked him how old I was and he said 56.
        (I’m a couple decades younger than that, btw)

    • Kathryn says:

      Sophie Hunter is fug. She looks like a skeletal horse. Benedict has friends and family who live in Italy so it’s probably one of them. It was Wanda’s birthday this week so they probably went to visit her sister who lives in Italy and then on to their cottage in Greece. I’m tired of hearing about these “mystery dates” which are later revealed to be group outings, or him with his niece, or something related to business. It’s not a crime for him to be single.

      And people did post questions to the Italian man from the restaurant, but they were deleted. Whether that was his doing or the posters themselves is unclear.

      • MissMary says:

        I think it was his doing; I’m not sure but I read somewhere he was the owner or manager of the restaurant. It’d make sense, if that’s the case, he culls off the fanning and b.s. from the instagram so celebs who come to his place don’t feel like they’re going to be fodder for gossip columns. But it could also be he was random dude who saw him and wanted a pic and thought “eff this noise” when fangirls and fanboys started blowing up his feed.

      • Nic says:

        “Fug”?

        Charming.

    • Clare says:

      Apparently a brunette woman was with him in Italy too. He was there prior to going to Greece and was spotted by a couple of fans.

  27. Duri says:

    As usual BC’s thread is now taken over by Hiddleston fangirls….sigh

    • Shiv says:

      Big sigh!

    • TotallyBiased says:

      Yeah, too bad the OP had to throw the first Hiddlebomb into the thread. What WAS she thinking? 😉

    • 'P'enny says:

      @duri

      FFS! There are a lot of us on CB who actually love both actors and share in a jolly good laugh over them both, and happy to throw ‘funny’ jokes at both. I think we tried to say this to you before. Live and let live, and let people on CB have some fun.

      I mean, to be honest, there has been an effort not to hiddle-bomb the Benny threads lately. Sometimes there will be a cross over.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Yes, ‘p’enny, we have been very, very good lately. Most unusual for us. But Kaiser pulled us in this time.

  28. Encumbered says:

    Well, must be they forgot to include my information in that Vanity Fair poll. So here goes:

    OCCUPATION: Educator.
    RESIDENCE: Northeast USA.
    FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING: Black sweatshirt brought off clearance rack.
    FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP: Online.
    FAVORITE SHOES: Crocs (so sue me!).
    FAVORITE ACCESSORY: Silver ring, Celtic design from the Pyramid Collection.
    SCENT: Opium by Yves St. Laurent.
    WATCH: None.
    STYLE ICON: Don’t need one!

    • sigh((s)) says:

      🙂
      I like yours better!

      • Encumbered says:

        Thank you. And it proves I make shit for money doing a very responsible job where I’m required to hold advanced degrees! Oh, well…. I love BC, but a $150 work shirt is truly a bit absurd. I like the old days when he shopped consignment. But he does have an image that must be attended to.

        That said, however, if I had it to spend….

      • Felice says:

        Hey, Lupita stated she hates shopping lol

      • sonalaceae (Nighty) says:

        I don’t like shopping either… I’m like Lupita… Everytime I go to a shopping centre, I spent most of the time in the bookstore.. lol…
        As for clothes, enter a store, look around (takes me 2,3 minutes); if I see something I like, I’ll try it on, if not, off to the next store.. I really don’t get why people spend hours trying on clothes that they’ll probably hate… For instance: I don’t like dots, so I don’t try anything with dots.. why waste time??… 🙂

    • TotallyBiased says:

      CROCS!!!

      • joe spider says:

        Opium!

      • Encumbered says:

        Absolutely the most comfortable things ever to be put on human feet! Why they ever got a bad rep, is ridiculous. Plus, they are kind to animals. I hope BC still has his green Crocs and enjoys wearing them if only about the house!

      • TotallyBiased says:

        You put Opium on your feet? No WONDER they smell and feel so good! (Eh ehehehehe…..)

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I think I will put Opium on my feet tomorrow.

  29. joe spider says:

    Just my 2penn’orth:

    I looked at the Vanity Fair list and hadn’t heard of the vast majority of them – is that to my credit or detriment?

    Ben looks great in suit/tux but as for casual 🙄

    As for smell – we now have it on CAST IRON AUTHORITY that Hiddles reeks of cigarette smoke don’t we 😉

    • sonalaceae (Nighty) says:

      @joe spider Lol .. really, cigarette smoke? I thought that was Benny and Fassy department…

      • icerose says:

        @isonalaceae It is all of them -all actors are secret smokers who spend endless hours showering ,perfuming their smelly bodies, using mouth freshener and changing their clothes after multiple cigarettes,

      • Catherine says:

        I’m sure there was an extra on the Hollow Crown set who mentioned that, but it was a while ago.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      So Mark Ruffalo’s statement that he smells like a wonderful combination of citrusy-mint and GDT’s belief that he smells fabulous were lies?

    • sigh((s)) says:

      *fingers in ears* lala lala lala
      Does he really smoke? Ugh. Does everyone on that island smoke? I know they don’t, I know quite a few of them. Why do all the hot ones smoke? You guys are killing my Hiddles ladyboner.

    • M.A.F. says:

      God I wish that site will just die already. This week’s topic is “Hiddles is a smoker”. For all of June it was “He is a drug/woman-hater/godknowswhatelse”. July’s topic was “Look at his Twitter, he was banging this chick and that chick. Oh, and I really didn’t believe any of my sources. My sources were all liars. HAHAHA”. August’s topic seems to be the way the man smells. I can’t for September’s topic. Any guesses?

      • TotallyBiased says:

        That he’s gay? No big deal to me, but it would balance nicely with the womanizing/sex addict/sleeps with fans stupidity previously ‘promoted’. After all, why should ‘that site’ believe his personal statements, old MySpace descriptions, or track record if it disagrees with their idea of fun. Tumblr fairly defines ‘cognitive dissonance.’

      • MissMary says:

        I’m going to go with “OMG he’s totally stringing so and so along” as September’s topic. Seems right for the autumn.

      • sigh((s)) says:

        May we put in requests? I’d like to see the stripper/exotic dancer angle, with supporting photographic evidence, of course.

      • Dara says:

        Here’s a thought- maybe we can agree to leave that site and its anonymous rumors where it belongs? Read it if you want, follow it if you must, contribute if you are so inclined, but don’t comment about it here – even if it is to scoff and mock.

        Every time that site or one its rumors is cited here, the owner gets exactly what they are looking for – drama and attention. It doesn’t seem to matter if that attention is negative – hell, I think she actually enjoys the hostility. If that’s her thing, fine. Weird, but fine. Just don’t expect me to fuel that need. I’m the first to admit I’ve shared things here that I’ve read there (and regretted it ever since), but no more.

        I know it’s probably a lost cause, but can you imagine how vexing it would be if they were never mentioned here again, just quietly and utterly ignored?

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @TotallyBiased, why should she believe imdb, wikipedia, the archived websites of Cheek by Jowl and the Donmar, the filming schedule for Wallender or the listings for co-stars Branagh, Christie or McGregor? They were all altered to make her sources look bad! Oh, gay was covered in June but she mixed up the terms “swinger” and “bi.”

        @Sigh(s), that one gets my vote along with being traumatized by the death of a small pet, such as a hamster or turtle, as a child with issues lingering to this day.

      • sigh((s)) says:

        @dara- I still don’t even know what site this is. :)-

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Dara. Agreed!

      • Catherine says:

        @Lilacflowers What are you referring to?

      • M.A.F. says:

        @Dara-I totally agree. I only mentioned it because it was brought up up thread. But that site is like candy to me, I can walk away but I keep.getting.drawn.back.in. I must take up a permanent Lent attitude w/that site.

      • TotallyBiased says:

        @Dara–I have to agree with you that it is a lost cause, but i also find myself agreeing with you on the principle. Solemnly swear to no longer even snidely refer to subjects from there, and if I’m really smart I’ll just NOT GO THERE AT ALL! Ain’t nothin’ I need to read there nohow anyway!

      • joe spider says:

        I will do my best to adhere to the new code of conduct!!

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @M.A.F., here, have some healthier candy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFqaFu2maDg

        And have I watched it too many times that I have noticed he is not wearing gloves, then he is wearing gloves, then he is not wearing gloves while accepting the bag of heads?

      • Anne tommy says:

        A transvestite? Or maybe even a transsexual? Getting ready for the Lady Loki thing…and a ciggie-smoking transsexual at that…

      • Catherine says:

        TotallyBiased I’d say there’s a significant amount of cognitive dissonance on here too.

  30. joe spider says:

    I love the Eddie Redmayne one -styled by his PA – probably as well given he is colourblind.

  31. sonalaceae (Nighty) says:

    I’m sorry, but how can someone be judged for their ancestors past actions? It’s not his fault at all, like it’s no one’s fault what our ancestors have done 100, 200 or even 500 years ago…
    People enjoy criticizing everyone as if they are perfect and always do, say and act the perfect way.. No one’s perfect and life (unfortunately) isn’t fair. No one should be judged and blamed by life’s unfairness. And please, don’t tell me that if it was you, you’d give away the money, or your family would do that because, when it comes to survive and live and give everything in your power to your children, I doubt people would do that.
    Plus, considering certain comments he’s made, he’s pretty aware of his ancestors actions and condemns them, but at the time and contextualizing, it was a “normal” thing in society. I’m not saying it was right, never, but it was “normal” to own slaves. Probably, many things we accept as normal and politically correct nowadays will be judged and criticized by our descendents…
    🙁

    Edit: This ended in the wrong place… *???*

    • jammypants says:

      Exactly. That’s a weird excuse to hate on him.

      I can’t vouch for him for what he said about Elementary and Downton Abbey though. REALLY douchey. I still like him but had to side eye him for those things.

      • Katie says:

        Think he got screwed over with the Elementary thing, tbh. I’ve got issues when a celeb publicly calls out a mag/newspaper and they decline to back up what they printed, especially in the age of recorded interviews for just that reason.

        No idea what you’re responding to, sonalaceae, but yeah obviously it’s idiotic to blame someone for their ancestors’ actions. We’re all screwed if that’s the case.

        All the self-worth estimates I’ve seen of him tally to what he’d reasonably earned acting anyway. No trust fund apparently.

      • sonalaceae (Nighty) says:

        I was addressing a comment here that… well, it doesn’t matter…
        🙂
        What’s important is discussing his wonderful dressing abilities with tuxedos and suits, and then his awful maroon or salmon pants…

        On a kidding note: Does he have double personality?? 😉

      • From North of Boston says:

        The Downtown Abbey comments were taken out of context…IIRC he was talking about the depiction of WWI in DA. There was some recent article by someone who was there when the comments were made, and he talks about them being out of context:

        “I’ve spent a half hour with Cumberbatch myself, interviewing him, during which he was faultlessly polite, complimentary, warm and generous, as well as talking nineteen to the dozen. It was around the time he was saying some not altogether flattering things about Downton Abbey, but I heard these words in their context – later denied them by some publications – of accompanying ample praise of the show and the actors who play in it. ”

        http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/11003309/Benedict-Cumberbatch-a-Hamlet-worth-waiting-for.html

      • Katie says:

        Interesting but not surprised, North of Boston. That’s another Telegraph reporter there.

        BC talks too much and you can’t do that in print interviews.

    • Katie says:

      Don’t forget sparkly shoes 😉

    • From North of Boston says:

      Raising my hand up to say I actually love the maroon pants, and I’m fond of the salmon pants too from back in the day, as well as his entire ensemble at the Tamara Drewe premiere event at which he picked up the little plastic lamb. He really seemed to be having fun with it. I love that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. I’m also a fan of the seemingly endless assortment of chambray shirts.

      However, I’m not a fan of the black shoes with the tan rim around the bottom that he was wearing everywhere for a while (they just look old to me) nor of the flip flops that seem too small for his feet. (That one may be my own pet peeve coming through, though…I hate it when adults (especially men) wear too small flip flops…and if someone in them starts to scuff their feet like a depressed 15 year old, my normally gentle demeanor burns away in a fire of irritation and fashion rage)

      Also, I really wish he would get his eyeglasses and sunglasses adjusted so that they fit properly on his face. He’s got such a wonderful face, it’s a shame to throw the proportions off like that.

      But in white tie, or a fine tailored suit, no one can top him.

  32. Mrs. Darcy says:

    He rocks that tux and tails I must say. I think Cumberbatch is a magician of some sort. Like I can look at his picture and think “meh”, tiny eyes, giant forehead – but then his Sherlock voice creeps in my head and I think “hmm maybe”. I think in person he would probably hypnotize you with that sort of almost Alan Rickman tone and his physical presence might just be overwhelmingly irresistible…just a sense I get. Some actors who are only ugly hot in 2d are like insanely hot in person. Plus his fabrics would no doubt be touchably soft.

  33. Dara says:

    If you are going to name someone to a Best Dressed List, then you should at least give their stylist partial credit. I don’t think there is an actor/actress on the VF list that doesn’t use an A-list stylist for red carpet events and public appearances. Michelle and Lupita have the same stylist – someone at VF must owe her a favor to name two of her clients in the same year.

    Since this is a BC thread, I’ll make a Cumby-specific comment – as fab as he looks at official events (when he has obviously been styled), he looks equally wacky when “off-duty”.

    Not that I blame him (or any actor) who are seen in the same 5 things over and over when not working. If I spent my days being buffed, primped, powdered, wigged and generally fussed over at work by a team of wardrobe, hair and makeup people then the last thing I would want to do on my day off is devote any thought at all to wardrobe or appearance. Showered (maybe shaved), and wearing clothing that is stain-free and without holes is about all I expect.

    But, and I’m begging now, can someone save him from himself and shred, burn then bury those god-awful jorts?

    • TotallyBiased says:

      +1000000 to burning the jorts. And could the thumb-head making, *’Martin Freeman-sized’ hat(s) sorta fall into the burn-pit as well? Pretty please?

      *(I’d credit this if I had any clue who originally came up with it.)

      • Dara says:

        @Totally – I vaguely recall from my Girl Scout training that hats make excellent fire starters. You bring ’em, I’ll burn ’em!

        Speaking of Martin Freeman, I think he should have made the best dressed list far ahead of Benny. He’s one of the few actors who seems to actually enjoy dressing well away from work.

      • anon says:

        I believe that there is some method to how he dresses “off duty”. I totally agree with Dara that he wants to spend as little fuss as possible after having teams of people get you ready for work or red carpet appearances. I also think there is purpose in his “style”. I remember reading years ago that he had a pre-cancerous condition on his upper lip due to sun damage sustained in South Africa. He also has a lot of moles and is very fair, so definite risk of sun cancer. That’s why the hats and turned up collar, as well as the long sleeved shirt at Shutters. I actually like the look-total eccentric, self-possessed British dude.

      • Dara says:

        @anon – good point, and I applaud him for being cautious if that’s the case.

        Don’t get me wrong, I love a guy in a good hat, but Batch’s hats are the wrong size (too small), style, or he hasn’t quite figured out how to perch them on his head to best effect. If he was wearing hats as sun protection only, there are other more effective choices out there- so on some level he cares about the aesthetics of his millinery.

      • sonalaceae (Nighty) says:

        If he has tendency for skin cancer, smoking isn’t the best of ideas… It also helps damaging the skin, but who am I to criticize, I also commit that “sin”…

  34. Maria says:

    As far as the girlfriend rumours are concerned, he was also spotted with a brunette women when he was in LA recently (She’s in the final picture of this set of photos)

    http://fan-girl.org/2014/07/benedict-cumberbatch-listens-to-music-on-his-balcony/

    • Freebunny says:

      She’ has a boyfriend.

    • blended says:

      she was also in the photos when he was at dinner leaving with ‘mystery blonde’. he was with another couple. this particular brunette was with the other gentleman at dinner. so no she isn’t with him. the funny thing is that the other guy was also in the pics but this particular site chose not to include him in the set. i.e. they wanted to imply she was cumby’s gf.

      • Maria says:

        Do you have a link to the complete set of pics that do include the other guy?

      • Leo says:

        The other guy is already in this set.
        Click on the middle photo in the bottom row. He is sitting and BC is standing. He is clearly the man that was pictured with him and the brunette woman leaving the restaurant in Venice. It even looks like these photos were taken earlier the same day since the woman is wearing the same clothes.

      • blended says:

        ah yes he is in the set, although the thumbnail barely shows him.

  35. Clare says:

    It’s not the same guy: he has a different hair style and colour.

    • Leo says:

      I can’t be certain of course, but I think/thought it was the same man. I just assumed the hair was a bit darker in the Venice photos because of the dark and flash. The style/length looks the same to me, maybe just a bit messed up or tossed by the wind.

    • Freebunny says:

      It’s him, exactly the same face .

  36. Clare says:

    Looks completely different to me. One has a fatter face, different hair style and colour. One appears to have sideburns, the other doesn’t. Though that may be down the shading and the flash in the Venice photos. We may have to agree to disagree!

  37. anon says:

    Dara-couldn’t reply directly-but I clicked on the Vanity Fair link up above. The teaser pic of Ben (at least in Android land) is of him in a pink short sleeve shirt, charcoal trousers, the tan Trilogy (aka thumbnail), and THOSE sunglasses. I guess Anna Wintour digs the look?

  38. anon says:

    Sorry-Trilby. Spell check.

  39. Clare says:

    Fans have spotted him with a brunette woman in both Greece and Italy – so it seems the ‘secret’ girlfriend rumours are true.

    He has some major films out later this year (including The Imitation Game, which is the opening night film of the London Film Festival). Also, James Rhodes – one of his closest friends – is getting married soon. It will be bizarre if he’s not seen publicly with her at any of these events.

    • Leo says:

      Except if she really doesn’t exist, than it’s not bizarre if he’s not seen at these events without her. Just saying that’s a possibility. It seems to me like some people can’t fantom him being single or in a casual relationship.

      As far as I saw there was no mention who he was with in Greece. Could you, please, provide a link for that?

    • MissMary says:

      He also has relatives with dark hair, friends with dark hair… I’m not buying the secret gf rumor esp because it has no sourceable provenance.

      • Leo says:

        I really want to know the source for this sighting in Greece with a brunette. It seems to me like the internet has gone a little bit more crazy with the rumors than usual, putting it mildly.

      • SophieK says:

        The rumor mill has gone crazy re: Ben and his secret GF and there still is not one reliable source for any of these rumors. It does seem like people are unwilling to believe he’s still single/casually dating unless he truly is actively hiding a relationship. I don’t know why someone like him would do that, because it will come out sooner or later. Also, what would be the point of hiding a relationship now?? He is a celebrity whether he likes it or not and there will always be some level of interest in his personal life, so if Mystery Girl does exist, why not admit it and move the f*** on. Geez…what’s the big deal? I hope if this woman exists, that she bothers to show up at the Emmy’s with him and they make a spectacle of themselves on the red carpet!

      • MissMary says:

        @ Leo and SophieK: It seems that, with male actors who are considered popular and/or attractive, there’s a general notion in fandoms that they MUST Be dating otherwise that means they’re gay and in the closet. Which makes no sense. When it’s a female actor who is popular and/or attractive and she’s single, there’s no “OMG she has a secret bf” (or not as much of it) and it’s “oh, you poor thing” or “wow, she’s really awesome and an independent woman who doesn’t need a partner!” It’s a sad little dichotomy.

        The “spotted with a brunette” thing came from the kids’ IG pic after people grilled him about who Ben was eating dinner with at the restaurant in Rome. I haven’t seen anything about him with a brunette in Greece, just a post from someone who called him “Benjamin Cumberbatch” and another from a different tourist who mentioned seeing him in Galaxidi (where his family has a vacation home and has since he was a boy). On one of the tweets that mentioned seeing him in Greece, the lady posting it was just very “Oh, I saw him” and not “OMG *flail*” but jeebus the comments descended into a glut of “OMG LET HIM HAVE HIS PRIVACY! ” and snarking about fans buying Hamlet tickets (though I don’t think she actually responded to any of the comments on her post–I stopped scrolling after a minute because oy).

        He’s never been *secret* about his relationships. *Private,* yes. But secret? Not unless he’s a master of invisibility. Even when he dated Anna (who he was with for several months before he took her to Venice for the film festival), people saw him out and about with her and she visited him on set, etc. No one has seen him *verifiably* with a female companion consistently since their break up. Unless you count escorting Alice Eve to some premieres around STiD’s opening (he took her to the MiB premiere).

        The “secret gf” thing came up around Oz con and seems like it was started by that deranged fan of his (or someone similar)–there’s no sources, no more to the story, and it’s the same old fan baiting/celeb baiting “let’s make them comment!” stuff that always comes up when a well known actor is single. In Ben’s case, the tabs and fans are going with “OMG SECRET GF!” and in other cases, they say “OMG he must be a closeted gay man!” (richard armitage, for example–I don’t know or care one way or the other about his sexuality, but he’s the example that comes to mind).

      • SophieK says:

        @MissMary What I can’t fathom about BC and his crazy fanbase is why no one can grasp the concept of maybe BC is enjoying being single and having *gasp* casual hook-ups that he keeps on the DL. He was in a long relationship that ended and then dated Anna and that didn’t work either so why is it so hard to believe that he may just be, at this point in his life, enjoying his work, his family, his friends and his freedom to do what he wants. Then there is the automatic assumption that he “must be gay because he doen’t have a girlfriend.” (For the record, I could care less if he is.) Is there any evidence of that?? I don’t think so. He’s only dated women, correct?? (I am relatively new to the fandom of BC…but oy, it’s crazy!)

        So I am assuming he’s straight and single at this point and not in a committed relationship or engaged or married. And I don’t understand why this is so hard to believe.

      • MissMary says:

        @SophieK: Nope, no evidence he has had any male partners. Even if he did… meh. NBG. I don’t get why people have such a hard time thinking he might (is probably) single. Actors who aren’t seen in the company of either a regular rotation of obvious FWB/gfs (*cough* Leonardo di Caprio *cough*) or a steady gf/their spouse or partner tend to get the “OMG secret! OMG what is he hiding!” treatment and I don’t know if it’s because there’s a young fanbase that thinks the only way to be complete is to have a gf, or because rumors catch like wildfire or both, but the whole “*gasp* he was seen with a woman! oh, wait, here’s a pic of him within three feet of a different woman! OMG SECRETS! He’s dating both!” thing, while it can be entertaining, has gotten old super fast in the BC fandom (and his friend’s fandom but that’s for another thread) .

      • SophieK says:

        @MissMary I highly doubt BC’s fanbase would be thrilled if he were a Leo DiCaprio w/ a turnstile of models on his arm. Maybe they can’t figure out why someone like Ben would “choose” to be single. He seems happy now though so live and let live, you know? I have no doubt that at some point Ben will find someone and get married and have kids (since he’s publicly stated he wants to do that) but it seems, for right now, that he’s single. Maybe all this craziness is coming from the younger fringe of his fanbase, I don’t know. Hell, I’m certainly not young and I’m certainly curious as to what Ben is up to, but now it’s just becoming annoying. “He’s marrying Kinvara, he’s w/ Sophie Hunter, he’s got a mystery blonde, he’s got someone locked in a room in castle in Scotland!!” Okay, I made up the last one. 😉

      • MissMary says:

        @SophieK: LOL say it on the right forum and that’ll take off like wildfire! I expect to hear about it next week–“OMG BEN HAS A SECRET SCOTTISH WIFE TUCKED AWAY IN THE HIGHLANDS! SO ROMANTIC!”

        For the most part, his fanbase, while enthusiastic, doesn’t seem as rabid as some others, but there’s a very vocal part of it that makes me side eye a LOT, lol. A lot of men in the non-celeb world are happily single, and for a very long time, with no one asking why they aren’t married/dating/accusing them of having a secret partner of any gender, but when the guy is famous, it seems like the idea that he is single is unfathomable to some folks.

      • SophieK says:

        @MissMary If you see a rumor tomorrow or next week on another forum about Ben’s secret Scottish lass, you know where they got it from now!! LOL…

      • MissMary says:

        @SophieK: LOL I’ll know who supplied the “tea”. NGL, I think, the longer the break he takes, the more rabid the speculation will get. WHen he starts filming, we’ll at least have filming info and sightings interspersed with “omg my mom’s friend works at a shop and says she’s seen him with his gf a lot” and “his gf is super secret!” rumors.

      • SophieK says:

        @MissMary. Didn’t that happen when he was filming Black Mass? OMG, my mom’s friend’s cousin says he’s definitely got a gf and shhh..it’s a secret! If he shows up at the Emmys with Karon, I think the rumors might go away for a few hours.

      • MissMary says:

        @SophieK: Yep, the rumor that someone’s mom’s friend’s cousin’s roommate’s aunt or something works in a salon and has seen his gf “all the time” and described (a very generic, could be anyone) woman, someone claiming their aunt said they saw BC “kissing a brunette” outside his house in London (while he was filming in Boston so…way to go, Ben, figuring out transporters before science does!), and ad nauseum. When Karon went with him to the Oscars this year, some folks were “positive” they were dating irl because “omg her dress!” and “omg who takes their PR to the oscars?” (uh, most of the celebs?). If he shows up at the Emmys w/Karon, I am willing to bet my bottom dollar on a resurgance of “omg, y’all, he wants to keep his gf secret so he’s taking Karon! Poor Ben, respect his privacy, y’all!”

      • Green Girl says:

        To add to the discussion: Wasn’t his PA (and niece!) mistakenly identified as his girlfriend at one point? I wouldn’t want to assume anything. Although I am curious to see who he brings to the Emmys (if he goes) or to the Oscars.

      • MissMary says:

        @Green Girl: Yep, there’s always a random “OMG new gf! oh wait, that’s emily…” sighting when she is out and about with him, but one time it was apparently super crazy and paps were all over his car and in their faces when they came out of a film together.

        NGL… I really hope he takes one or both of his folks to the Oscars. I think that’d be an awesome thing for him to do, esp as he seems to really be humbled by and appreciative of their support and cites them as major influences in his career and getting to where he is now.

      • SophieK says:

        I so want to see his parents at the Oscars with him. That would be so wonderful for all of them. I think Karon will be the “date” for the evening at the Emmys. He did say he was attending, right? Oh, I forgot about another potential GF…Viki..I don’t know her last name. She was a fairly recent one. Another brunette, I believe.

        Watch Ben show up with some other new chickie at the Emmys and I’ll have to eat every word I wrote today!

      • MissMary says:

        @SophieK: He’s known Viki for years, apparently. She’s also friends with Tertius Bune and they’ve gone to James Rhodes’ concerts and the like together, but, by all accounts, platonically (lol, this is why I say his secret gf must be invisible or pocket-sized: he gets papped and fan-papped so often with women in platonic situations, but never romantic). They were pic’d back in the winter at a concert with Emily along, then on the tube later (no sign of Emily there but definitely not coupled up unless they were super dgaf about sitting near one another)

        I don’t think he’s said about the Emmys, but it’d be cute if he and Martin were “dates” again (though I doubt Martin’s going, despite a double nom, since he’s on stage in London and it’d be insane to do a show, fly to LA for the awards, then fly home and do another show a night or two later… man would drop from jetlag or just sheer tiredness! Though that WOULD lend some extra annoyance to his portrayal of Richard III, lol). I’m betting he’ll bring Karon along and also do some press for TIG while he’s in LA.

      • SophieK says:

        Don’t hate on me for saying this, but Ben had more chemistry with Zach Quinto than he did with some of these women. 😉

        Emmys are right around the corner. I’m looking forward to seeing more Batch in formalwear no matter who he’s with!

      • MissMary says:

        OMG, I thought that, too, lol!

        And I’m never going to say no to him in formalwear, no matter how sketchy his personal style can be, lol.

  40. Kathryn says:

    Where is the sighting of him with a woman in Greece? The only one I have seen was at the restaurant in Rome, and they were not necessarily alone. Keep in mind that his aunt and several good friends live in the areas of Italy that he was spotted in, and he and his parents own a home in Greece. It was also his mother’s birthday this week. This does not sound like a super secret sex holiday to me, but relaxing with family and friends before he starts the campaign train for Weinstein and filming Richard III.

    • MissMary says:

      This. I think most of us who aren’t on the flail wagon go with this.

      • Kazlock 1307 says:

        Is he still in Italy?Or was it Greece?Or Lindon?According to some other sights he was seen at all 3 ,on roughly same day!
        Did Scotty beam him up?Or is his waxwork finished and he’s sending that out to confuse people?

      • Kazlock 1307 says:

        @MISSMARY @SOPHIEK
        I’m now leaning towards him being single(possibly casual dating),but the secret gf has gone on WAY to long with no confirmed sightings.As you say with Anna and Lydia(?) he was seen and photographed with them. He never tried to hide his relationship with Anna.Why would he now if he us dating seriously?
        Unless I’ve missed some new news on him?

    • MissMary says:

      @Kazlock: LOL if you listen, er, read enough of the sites, he apparently has developed teleportation abilities because he’s always being spotted somewhere while he’s verifiably elsewhere. No news on where he is–he hasn’t made any media appearances and there’s no filming going on right now. No news at all re any gfs of bfs or any f’s, lol. There’s flail b/c some old Perez HIlton thing popped up *the Rebecca Eaton quote* but tbh, it’s all b/c of that tumblr with the b.s. He’s still enjoying his vacay, and likely single.

  41. Miss D says:

    He deserves it, but this list is ridiculous. Emmy Rossum and Lupita? PR! These two have good PR team.