Benedict Cumberbatch will receive the ‘Variety Award’ at the Moet British Awards

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It’s difficult to remember after the events of the past week and a half, but Benedict Cumberbatch was actually on track to have a pretty flawless year, career-wise. He surprised a lot of people when he won Best Actor in a Drama at the Emmys for Sherlock, and his role in The Imitation Game has been garnering awards pretty much everywhere the film goes. The Year of Cumberbatch! Except Benedict may have messed with his awards season mojo by getting engaged to Sophie Hunter. Or not…

Benedict Cumberbatch is to receive the Variety Award at the Moet British Independent Film Awards on Dec. 7 at Old Billingsgate, London. The award recognizes a director, actor, writer or producer who has helped to put the international spotlight on the U.K. Paul Greengrass was given the award last year. Previous recipients include Jude Law, Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson, Daniel Craig and Helen Mirren.

Cumberbatch’s latest film, “The Imitation Game,” has been nominated in four categories at the British Independent Film Awards: British independent film; screenplay for Graham Moore; actress for Keira Knightley; and actor for Cumberbatch.

Cumberbatch commented: “I am delighted to receive this prestigious award, and would like to thank Variety and the Moet British Independent Film Awards for this incredible honor. It is made even more special by the recognition of ‘The Imitation Game’ in this year’s nominations, a film I am very proud to be a part of.”

[From Variety]

Yay, he’ll have to attend another awards ceremony! And it’s in London too, which might mean that he’ll finally bring out Sophie Hunter and they’ll walk their first red carpet together. Holding hands. Maybe even kissing for the cameras. LOL, the meltdown would be epic if that happened. I do think it’s probably more likely that Sophie and Bendy would make their red carpet debut on “home turf” in England. Maybe for these awards (the Moet British Independent Film Awards) or for the BAFTAs or something.

Meanwhile, genealogy researchers claim that Benedict is actually distantly related to Alan Turing, the man he portrays in The Imitation Game. Who knew that Turing banged an otter at some point?! No, they’re like… 17th cousins. Basically, Benedict probably has a closer relation to an actual otter. Cumberbatch’s genealogy is sort of interesting though – we’ve previously discovered that his family was involved with Barbados slave trade in the 18th century.

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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524 Responses to “Benedict Cumberbatch will receive the ‘Variety Award’ at the Moet British Awards”

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  1. gg says:

    Bets on whether they have broken up by December?

    • Felice says:

      No they’ll be married by then. If it’s on my birthday that will just be something.

      Kaiser, I didn’t think of it that way but I honestly think they will premiere in NYC

      @Duri, yes I just realized that I was reaching too high and you beat me to editing this. But thanks for being so snarky :*

      • Duri says:

        Oh yea media outlets like Celebitchy and Eggsbenedish right???

      • Felice says:

        and I was beaten to editing again. Sorry for saying you were snarky. You’re right.

      • Just Here says:

        @ Felice: I don’t know much about the woman but she doesn’t seem very warm. I hope they’ll debut in NY too but I’m starting to doubt it…

        I get a weird feeling this won’t last, but I’m choosing to ignore it because BC has always seemed like a nice guy and I like the idea he is (maybe?) happy.

    • MissMary says:

      They wont split till march if he gets the nom, jan if he doesnt.

      • aly says:

        July, before Hamlet.

      • Felice says:

        For some reason even though I can’t stand her (or just fans fawning over her and including her in every BC post on tumblr) I don’t want them to break up. Idk I feel like there’s more to it even if he’s just settling for the best he can get.

      • Green Eyes says:

        There was a BI on CDAN, which was lifted from here or EB, that said that this was either a PR stunt or she’s pregnant. So, yeah, it’s getting on everyone’s radar. I wonder if he’ll ever be the same again after this? But, he made his bed and now he has to lie in it and all…

      • aly says:

        Yeah, Felice…honestly I haven’t a clue;)

      • Lucifer says:

        july

      • aly says:

        CDAN is full of cr*p …it wasn’t even a bv that made sense, more like a summary of all the theories thrown around here or on DL

      • MissMary says:

        I like the July theory…carry him through the summer with fewer and fewer “sightings” together, then BAM “angst” before he gets on stage as the melancholy Dane.

        Also… CDAN has been busted NUMEROUS times posting made up b.s. Not even gossip, just straight made up. The BIs can be fun and *sometimes* hit, but mostly, b.s. If you see the same BI from another site, then I’d take it as being somewhat influenced by reality, but if it’s just from CDAN alone, I’d side step it.

      • Green Eyes says:

        Yeah, I know that CDAN is shite and all, but just wanted to show how this rumor is starting to pick up steam.

      • MissMary says:

        @Green Eyes: I wonder of Harvey is gleeful or kicking puppies that so many people are seeing his Golden Boy for the season as being unhappy and having a PR based relationship? So many sites are picking up on the “Wtf” now instead of the “OMG she’s perf! *swoon*” posts.

      • moodgirl says:

        Are we taking bets? LOL!

      • moodgirl says:

        @missmary – Do you mean lovey, arm in arm, tongue in the ear, humping from behind appearances or duck behind the car, act like you don’t know me I look pissed at the world appearances? I need to know what to look for

      • moodgirl says:

        I bet HW is livid. Whoever came up with this hairbrained idea is going to be sorry. BC is a disaster and I wonder if he can recover in the US.

      • MissMary says:

        @moodgirl: Oh, I’m betting it’s “serious, tasteful, private” hand holding, a pained smile from him (the kind that parents get when they find out their kid did something super shitty but they’re in public or around teachers or someone they want to impress so they just smile with that LOOK) and a big “OH I’M SO FANCY” smile from her till the cameras are mostly on someone else, then back to the “ugh it’s cold/wet/plebian” expression she had on the LFF carpet. Maybe a hand on the back or a kiss on the cheek because *grand romance*.

        People think HW wouldn’t “encourage” a stunt like this but based on some of the ish I’ve read about him he so would. Esp if he has a panic that his Golden Boy or film may not make it as big as he thought. I am really looking forward to TIG but I think it’s being way underpromoted here as a movie (I barely see any ads for it, even as a trailer before movies and I go to movies pretty often) and all the news stateside is about BC and a bit about Keira. IDK if people are thinking “Ugh, Americans are too dumb to get it” so aren’t even trying, or if it’s a panic that because it’s about a gay man who helped do all these things, people won’t see it. I think, at this point, no matter the “reason” for the enGAGment and his attitude in interviews, his rep has been damaged. He hasn’t lost a ton of fans, but people are less interested in him. Way less. I think Weinstein may have overestimated BC’s appeal and by trying to shake the more “ardent” fans, may have cost some good rep/PR.

        Also: I wonder how hair-tearing-out the Sherlock showrunners are going to be about his attitude towards fans. Even Martin Freeman, super problematic as he is, has been gracious about fan interactions and toned down his attitude when meeting/greeting and discussing fans. Because he legit knows not to shit where he eats.

    • aly says:

      No offence ladies, but I think, at least from what I’m seeing on tumblr, Facebook, Twitter and other places that Ben’s reputation is just fine. While we might be noticing something weird (understatement of the year), the general public isn’t and won’t; the campaign is going fine so far and I can bet money that someone in his camp is taking note of the issues and will correct them.
      Also, it takes a hell of a lot more in Hollywood to ruin a reputation or a career than a couple of sourpuss faces.
      This is not HW first rodeo. And it may be Ben’s first campaign, but he is not stupid. The doom and gloom scenarios are not what’s actually going on out there. He will take the stick out of his b*tt .

      • Me says:

        The voice of sanity. Hallelujah!

      • MissMary says:

        IDK–I’m seeing some dedicated fans step back and wonder at his attitude, and the growing rumble of “well, okay, guess you don’t need fans after all” isn’t exactly going away. I’m not saying he’s going to have a mass exodus of fans or anything but I think there’s a definite shift in the temperature of the room, so to speak, and his PR knows it, HW knows it, and BC knows it. Otherwise why all the perfectly timed responses to stuff said on gossip blogs (more obvious than usual anyway) and the pandering to Knee Pads, InStyle, and now tumblr?

      • aly says:

        Because he effed up a little and will correct his mistake, but on a larger scale things are going fine. There is no mass exodus and I think his US press tour + the engagement PR will make him look less “alien”,more romantic lead material.
        Personally I wish he took a break, slept for a couple of weeks and then resumed the campaign.

      • Me says:

        Definitely some fans are wondering at the weirdness. And definitely PR looks at these boards. They don’t live by them but an intern, at the very least, is charged with looking with this stuff. “Saying, jeez. This is weird. Love that guy’s stuff anyway,” is different from how OTT people are getting here.

      • aly says:

        @Me: Oh, God…poor PR intern:) yeah…pretty much.

      • MissMary says:

        I don’t think he’s going to end up “fanless” but I think any change in his demographic will impact marketability. Though I do say that as someone not at all involved in PR, lol. I’m a spectator and an entertainment consumer, like most of us here, and I think if he alienates his core base enough, even while maintaining a wider fanbase who becomes familiar with his work via this US media surge (I just can’t get past the Knee Pads/InStyle thing), he’s going to be wrongfooted. He’ll have *fans* but it won’t be the same type of fanbase that’s carried him since Sherlock. Maybe good, maybe bad, but it’ll definitely be a change for him and something to which he will need to adjust.

      • OhHey says:

        Until he does take the stick out of his butt and get his shit together, I am changing my screensaver to Tom Hiddleston. So there, Mr. Over the Moon Sucking on a Lemon……

  2. Abbott says:

    I am so otterly excited!

  3. Lilacflowers says:

    Oh, thank God! A Cumberbatch thread! It has been forever since we’ve had one!

  4. Ellen says:

    Just the one thread about Benny today? Well there goes my theory he’s become a performing street artist statue

  5. Okay, I’m gonna get in here before the craziness begins. I hate posting when there’s craziness.

    Ben’s success makes me happy. He’s talented and just a real everyday guy. I really like him and wish him success in film, tv, theatre where ever his acting takes him. I hope he and Sophie have a fab future together.

    So I must ask why is it so hard to not wish this guy luck if you’re truly a fan? I never got how people can judge celebrities so harshly when they do things like get married or something. They’re human beings not sex commodities (although I’m sure Hollywood loves dehumanizing their stars).

    • Grace says:

      I wasn’t gonna say anything since you’ve got a point there. But think about this, it’s been at least one thread per day from last Wednesday and people are going to have different opinions, there won’t be 300-600 comments per thread all voicing best wishes.

    • Icarus says:

      I think it’s more the handling of the whole situation, he pretty much maintained he was single, even as early as the LFF thing telling people he was single backstage, and then out comes an engagement announcement. I’ve read a handful, and commented on a few of these, more to waste time than I really care whether he does marry her or not, the whole situs has been weird from the get-go. Maybe, that’s how they row, maybe it’s an oscar ploy (never too soon to campaign for those), maybe it’s a mix, who knows. I also think the almost radio silence from close friends who’ve bragged about his accomplishment also makes people question the ordeal, since it seems the engagement came out of left field.

      I’m a fan of his work, but honestly, the coverage lately have made me so bored and tired of seeing his face. I do agree, that he doesn’t exhibit true happiness right now, but that could be because he’s tired. Given his work schedule coming the next few years, this will be a long engagement. Whether they make it down the aisle or not, best wishes to both.

      • Well I guess I just don’t believe in questioning someone’s choice or making it I to a huge conspiracy theory. Ben’s made a choice abd I won’t pretend I know what factors dictated his choice. Maybe he told his friends to say nothing. Maybe he wanted to protect Sophie…I mean let’s face it some women out there be fierce crazy stalkerish over him. I don’t know and I won’t pretend that I know. I don’t need full disclosure of his personal life to like him and have a hard time empathizing with anyone that does. That’s why I’ve come to love reading Celebitchy because the boundary on the stories and gossip is pretty clear and only events others discuss (I’m new to posting here and haven’t formally introduced myself…so hi). I just don’t get those that get super crazy about it or hate Sophie.

      • lindy79 says:

        Her family have commented…his haven’t so its unlikely its to protect her.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Men and women define “single” quite differently.

      • wahine992 says:

        @Icarus – I totally agree, except that I don’t think this will be a long engagement. I think they’ll quietly get married sometime before rehearsals for Hamlet begin and wait to have a big blowout party til after Hamlet. And since I don’t think she’s currently preggers, I’m betting there will be a Cumberbun in the oven by next Christmas.

      • lu says:

        Lilacflowers (below), I don’t agree. I’m female, and I think “single” means “not married.”

        Anyway, the gossip (leak from a friend, I think?) was that they’ve been living together for months, so if you think that living together equals not single, then he just plain lied for apparently no reason.

      • Felice says:

        Nothing bad would’ve happened if he told the set people or bartender than he was seeing someone. People would either shrug it off or be like “lol yeah right”

      • disher says:

        He’d also told someone that he hadn’t met anyone special yet when The Hollow Crown was filming in Herefordshire. He could have said that he was seeing someone then, and it wouldn’t have been a big deal. If I had a man running about telling people he was single, he certainly would be from that point on.

      • moodgirl says:

        Sophomoric – The word I would use to describe their behavior for the past five months. Granted they may have wanted to save her from his crazy fans but such is life. Suck it up and carry on.

      • moodgirl says:

        @lu – How many months could they have been living together if they have only reportedly been together five months? They are fast movers.

      • Me says:

        I feel kind of badly for him when I read some of the harshest comments. I am, for better or worse apparently, a fan and I’d like him to be happy. But I agree. I just haven’t been impressed with the way he handled all of this. Especially if they’ve been together for months and just want privacy.

        The easiest and most mature/honest way to achieve that would have been to live their lives as normal and not give a toss if they were seen out or at an event together. It would’ve had hit the rags and there would have been commotion. And then, after not commenting on the subject, it would have died down and they would have been left with a McAvoy-Duff style of public relationship.

        It’s too late for that, if he’s trying to emulate his professional idol now. People are either obsessed with knowing everything about her/them/the relationship or they’re disgusted at HIS obsession with playing the public. If I were in her position, that is what would bother me the most – my partner greatly adjusting the way “we” related to each other and the world because of some bitter rebellion against the hoi polloi.

        Best wishes for his future happiness. But they are an odious couple.

        I know some would say there are other celebrities who have surprised us with romances and they weren’t judged. But there are differences – there are celebrities who surprised us because no one was really fawning over them enough to pay attention to their love lives. Or there are celebrities who were totally cheating on others (Rachel Weisz/Michael Craig; Brangelina) and the public didn’t say too much because we’re desensitized to infidelity and understand the secrecy). BC’s situation was just silly.

      • gg says:

        ^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^
        Not to mention that the timing of their going public (if that is what we are seeing) could not be worse, because now the focus is on the cute way he announced the engagement, and who is the woman who is finally getting him to settle down, instead of on the MOVIE. Or hell, Alan Turing. That man whose story Benedict has been saying for months he wanted everyone to hear about.

      • Cornish Pixie says:

        @Moodgirl – She returned to London in April of this year after having lived in NY for several years. Now THAT is moving fast if they’ve been dating for five months!! What weird timeline.

    • karen says:

      …he’s not really an everyday kind of guy..more an integral part of a cultural elite. Sherlock is exactly why reality tv had to be invented. So ordinary joes and janes could get a chance to break into showbiz. The thing that killed Sherlock for me was when they cast Watsons real life bankrupt girlfriend as Watsons girlfriend. Like a million other actresses couldnt have played the part. Do what you like with nbc etc but the bbc is funded by taxes and should really try to spread goods parts around. He’s part of the reason why the Octavia Spensers of the world have to struggle so hard for good parts.

      • lindy79 says:

        O…k
        I’m now picturing Octavia Spencer as Mary, so thank you for that

      • aly says:

        “”Sherlock is exactly why reality tv had to be invented. So ordinary joes and janes could get a chance to break into showbiz. “”

        O.o oookay….

      • AG-UK says:

        You are right he’s not an every day guy. He is a good actor but I don’t know outside the internet do people even care? I have friends who don’t have a clue . If he’s happy great I don’t care who he marries if he marries, but I think going forward if he wants to maintain his privacy he shouldn’t say much about his fiancée. I do agree that Sherlock S3 was awful or not awful but not nearly as good as the others. Casting her ruined it for me I think I preferred the dynamics of just the 2 of them plus it seemed more like a farce than drama. Maybe also he was everywhere at that point and I was getting sick of his face by then.

      • Felice says:

        They made Sherlock more like Bendy. S1 and S2 women wouldn’t look at him because he was a freak and now he’s suddenly being called “Sexy.”

      • Karen you bring up a valid point. He isn’t an everyday guy and grew up with famous parents but I guess his outlook on life and hos demeanor makes him seem more “everyday.” I see what you mean about the BBC but remember in the books Mary Watson dies so she will likely die in the Christmas special or sometime in the next series. I personally had no issue with Mary being played by her. Her character was incredibly dull and so was the actress. There was no way to liven Mary up.

      • icerose says:

        What killed Sherlock for me was when they cast his parents as his parents and we had to sit through all that home for a holiday rubbish

    • FLORC says:

      Same way tweens freak out when their crush gets a gf. The age of fans may have risen, but the mentality is the same. Fans can know the details of his personal life. They can approach topics about him not as a character, but as the person. In the end they still build him into their heads as a fictional character. A hybrid of interviews and characters. His happiness in his real life doesn’t fit into the image created.
      If HW came out with a press release on BC’s engagement I’d say sure. It’s a PR move. If we find out The bride wore marchesa to her wedding i’ll buy it. Until then he appears happy in a non-famewh0rey way.

      • ukbound says:

        I think that most of us would be happy for him. I think some people have gone way too far in saying nasty things about Sophie. I don’t like the squid video, and the pregnant belly rolling around was beyond pretentious. That said, she is very pretty and might be a very nice person. She just seems very snooty. I think the image of him is that he was that he was down to earth.

        I also think that it is easy to ignore what you don’t like when you like someone. Everyone has bad and good traits. If it had not been for him lying about his status, then having people speculate on the relationship, I think fewer people would care. It became a big gossip drama. Is he dating her, or are they just friends? It has now taken on a life of its own.

        No matter how much I want to avoid reading about him now, I feel I need to have an update on the soap opera it has become. I cannot miss an episode. Definitely, he is sexy. He has not shown the nice side of himself so much lately. You have to wonder which person he is. He deserves and I hope he gets happiness with Sophie. He will not win any awards for pretending to be happy lately.

      • Sooth says:

        @FLORC

        “He appears happy”

        Are you serious? Happy?

      • FLORC says:

        Sooth
        Does he pout as she drags him along? He seems for the most part private and not too showy. We only found out about her when he wanted us to know.
        So yea. Happy.

        UKBound
        He projects an image in his interviews of being humble and down to earth. His private life history is slightly different. There was a girl who was just a star*blanker* a while back. And now this girl. Her coming off snooty might be his cup of tea. He’s not perfect. He’s human. And a man. Not the living version of a hot Sherlock.

      • blended says:

        no he does not look happy. he looks the opposite of happy. that’s why the eyebrows are raised with those of us who have followed him for w while.

      • Sooth says:

        “Does he pout as she drags him along? ”

        What are you talking about? He generally looks really pissed off right now. His general demeanour isn’t one of happiness compared to how he used to be.
        And no, I don’t buy for a second that he’s grumpy because he’s overworked. He thrives not that and has always put a smile on for cameras. And no, it’s nothing to do with a few batty fans he couldn’t give a shit about.

    • Sooth says:

      Ugh. It’s to about not wanting him to be happy, or not wishing him luck or being ‘jealous’ and all the other predictable things that get thrown at people who aren’t weeing themselves with glee.

      I find it very hard to believe that anyone who’s a fan of fan of his could deny that there is some seriously weird behaviour going on and anyone who bothers to read what people say as opposed to writing them off as bitter fans, would surely realise that.

      • FLORC says:

        Sooth
        Not all. Let’s not start that all or nothing game.
        More that an image is created. Who you think he is is not who he actually is. How he wants to come across in interviews is not who he actually is. Maybe it is that plain, but doubtful.

        He is engaged. He must have fallen for someone. Maybe he finds it awkward to be so open about things. Maybe Weinstein is pushing him to be more open for pr, but the love is genuine.
        Unless, you and his fans have an inside line to him, his immediate family, or pr we’re all just guessing.

        Until something happens it shouldn’t be hard to just be happy an actor you admire has proposed.

      • Me says:

        Seriously. I was disappointed that his public persona was just as calculated as the next celeb’s, but this OTT “fandom betrayal” sh!t has gone overboard. No wonder he’s unhappy. His fandom if filled with looney tunes, overgrown stage tech gurlz.

        Yeah, his behavior is looking weird. We’ll never know why he decided to make such dumb decisions about all of this stuff. Doesn’t mean he’s engaged to a succubus.

      • Sooth says:

        @FLORC

        No, it’s pretty simplistic just to say ‘just be happy for an actor who has proposed’
        Some people don’t take things at face value. This is far from an average situation when it comes to how it’s been played out. If there hadn’t been such weirdness associated then people would not have batted an eyelid. It’s not about not being happy for him. How many times does that have to be said?

        And you said it yourself, “we’re all just guessing”. You don’t have an inside line to him either. So who truly knows of the ‘love is genuine’ or he’s absolutely ‘fallen for someone’ . You’ve kind of usurped your own point there as those things aren’t set in stone either. I’m not saying I think he’s not, but I’m. It saying he definitely is either. As you say, nobody knows.
        But I’m tired of hearing the ‘fans are just unwilling to be happy for him’ that’s unfair and plain untrue.

  6. Sisi says:

    if you are seriously going to devote a post to every single thing he wins this award season, even the small awardshows, we’ll all be sick of him in february. We’ve seen it before. Anne Hathaway won 50-something awards during the Les Miserables campaign, and Natalie Portman 30-something (and not all those wins even got a post because they were unimportant ones). Add to that about 30 red carpet events and then about 40/50 regular newsitems/ interviews/ sightings/ roundtables and such and it’s an avalanche.
    No matter who the celebrity is, more than 7 posts a week makes us annoyed with the celeb in the long run (just look at Clooney recently). It would be doing Cumberbatch a disservice really. He’ll never make it to March unscathed.

    • aly says:

      I don’t think it’s about Ben as much as the traffic his threads get.

      • FLORC says:

        Yea. It’s the traffic. As long as the threads get clicked on and discussed he’ll be talked about how he switched to organic sugar for his tea.
        And people are already voicing how they’re getting burned out at this pace of BC coverage.

  7. GeeMoney says:

    “Meanwhile, genealogy researchers claim that Benedict is actually distantly related to Alan Turing, the man he portrays in The Imitation Game. Who knew that Turing banged an otter at some point?!”

    I love Benedict, but Kaiser… I almost DIED laughing reading that. Too funny.

  8. Hazel says:

    Werk that awards show hustle. In regards to award season, I hope they pair him with Keira for everything because she makes him more likeable and less try hard.

  9. Just Here says:

    After seeing the last red carpet interview someone posted on the thread yesterday, I’m almost ready to put on my own tinfoil hat and hop onto the conspiracy train with the others. BUT my innate positivity is holding out.

    There’s no doubt in my mind, however, that this guy LOATHES many aspects of his fan base. No pity here for all the crazy surrounding him. He has done it to himself.

  10. Ellen says:

    We should make a film called Benedict the movie. The storyline is about an actor who hijackes all media outlets and controls them. He’s taken Sophie a young naive artist person and is forcing her to marry him in order to gain gobal recognition. This film also guest stars Sean Bean in the boot and Hiddles with bunny on their magic unicorn

    • OhDear says:

      Please let Sean Bean live through the entire movie!

    • jammypants says:

      I must see this film.

    • icerose says:

      Perhaps not a good idea to have Hiddles involved. Benny wil only have a hissy fit when he walks off with the film

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Payback for getting him killed in War Horse.

      • icerose says:

        Tom stole that section of the film-he aced that look on his face as he rode to his death and he his interview where he speaks in ancient Greek was mind blowing,

      • Ellen says:

        New plot twist to Benedict The Movie. Our villain has no b

      • Ellen says:

        Continued about Plot Twist. So Benedict was really angry about Hiddles, bunny and Unicorn that he decides to set up a tumblr blog that we shall not name in an effort to tarnish Hiddles good name. When that doesn’t work Benedict actually kills all three. Dragonflies weep at Hiddles funeral but behold a new knight in shinning armour appears to save the day- who is it?

        In the mean time The hostage Sophie is not happy because Benedict promised her that if she goes through with the wedding she’d be beloved like Queen Amal and Saint Angelina of Jolie. Sophie doesn’t like the bright lights and red carpets so seeks advice From a man named Harvey- can he be trusted? In the meantime Sophie has set up her own Tumblr page to document her desperation, she has to keep it hidden so it goes under the name eggs.

        Benedict has a new role, a role in which he is a king. Benedict likes this role very much and gains ideas from the former king to help in his conquest of ruling all media outlets. Does he know that this kings fate ends up under a car park somewhere?

        New ideas are welcome please add to the storyline of Benedict The Movie.

  11. scout says:

    Looking forward to all the PDA!

  12. Anon says:

    Give it up Kaiser! Everyone is fast getting bored of him and his antics. He’s reached his cumberpeak (love that word Telegraph used yesterday).

    Break up before December? Hell no. Likely a wedding before December.

    • disher says:

      I say a quickie wedding will happen if she’s preggers, but a breakup if he doesn’t get nominated or win. His behavior has been really odd lately, and not like someone concealing a happy secret. He looked practically drugged in LA, and almost had to be reminded that he’s supposed to be in love with this woman named in the engagement notice. He perked up a bit towards the end, but it’s too little, too late, even if she shows up in NY this weekend on his arm.

      • lindy79 says:

        I’m expecting Karon to have him hopped up on Mountain Dew and pixie sticks for the upcoming tv in the US..like a mom on Toddlers & Tiaras.
        I wonder will she stand behind the camera doing a dance for him to copy

      • Felice says:

        There’s actually a clip from the STID London premiere where she’s pointing to where he needs to stand.

      • disher says:

        She’d probably need to do that for the morning show even if he was deliriously happy. Those morning shows are the perfect speed for puppies whose water bowls are topped up with Four Loko and Jolt. But it won’t erase what people saw last weekend.

      • Ingrid says:

        @lindy79 -LOL, Toddlers & Tiaras 😀

        What still puzzles me is that he’s brilliant actor. Why is he failing in this?

        Or maybe he forgot Benedict home and this is Richard III doing the campaigning. Terrifying…

      • MissMary says:

        He’s been pissy since before this SH thing hit the media. And the interviews with InStyle and Peope are straight up PR/image building. Neither mag is a serious publication and, as has been pointed out, there’s a reason People is aka “Knee Pads”. If a wedding comes of this, we’ll know he sold his soul to Weinstein for something, even if there’s no nomination.

      • Cate says:

        I don’t know, I just think they’re not going to do this red carpet thing together. I think he/she/they are going to play hide and seek ’till Otter Fatigue has caused every card carrying member of the Royal Otter Appreciation Society to turn in said cards. *shifty eyes* Just out of spite I’m going to hold on to that card, I like my Otters to play hard to get anyway.

    • Lucifer says:

      I am also on board with the december wedding. But where will he get time to plan it? but again the menu will contain calamari so m good not thinking about it

  13. Lilacflowers says:

    Going to the movies Saturday to see The Theory of Everything starring Harry Lloyd and some guy named Eddie Redmayne.

    • Grace says:

      No pressure. Just some random guy who loves Pizza Express and taking baths.

    • **sighs** says:

      Harry Lloyd is in it? Now I’m definitely going to see it.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        When I saw the trailer, the first thing I noticed was HARRY LLOYD! And, oh, there’s David Thewlis too, another reason to see this.

    • AG-UK says:

      My friend saw it last week said it was amazing he cried a lot (: not on these shores yet hopefully they won’t make us wait until New Year

    • 'P'enny says:

      apparently it made Stephen Hawking cry. I cant imagine what that would be like, sitting in a cinema unable to move and silent tears running down your cheeks as you watch your life acted out in front of you. Almost cruel, rather than a cathartic exercise. However, I should add he found the film really good.

    • jammypants says:

      I did not know Lloyd is in it. Well finally some eye candy in this sore fest.

      • icerose says:

        Poor Harry hasa tough time in films,First they lilled him off in Game of Thrones and then in the Fear he had to endure sexual abuse. Strangely that was when I really began to admire him as an actor

      • **sighs** says:

        He did get to run off with his lady love in Robin Hood. It hasn’t all been doom and gloom. Though that GoT things was unfortunate.

      • moodgirl says:

        @icerose – Freaky.

    • Lindy79 says:

      I saw Harry Lloyd and immediately my mind went
      http://media.giphy.com/media/oLjq2NL0YmJoI/giphy.gif

    • icerose says:

      Harry Lloyd resides in my boot as is my young man of the moment when Stephen Rea needs his rest.
      The BBC film critics were not that impressed with TIG but did say he was okay with what he had to work with. They were however waxing very nicely about Tom Hardy and how much he has developed as an actor.
      in addition TIG is Trailing behind four other films in terms of nominations /There was also a discussion programme about Turing and his potential recognition and it seems not everyone is bowing to the Cumberhypobole. One of those involved in the discussion brought up the issue around pardons for the other 70,000 who were also prosecuted and the lib Den leader looked uncomfortable and said well it was not really a pardon -more of an apology. So basically they are afraid to pardon or apologise to the other men who were persecuted because they just might have to play out compensation.
      So yes I think in the UK we have Cumberpeak.

      • aly says:

        in addition TIG is Trailing behind four other films in terms of nominations

        I don’t think TIG is a frontrunner in anyone’s mind except, perhaps, Weinstein. That’s why he’s pushing both Ben and Keira so damn much. As for UK reviews, the ones I’ve read are like, “the film is okay, nothing groundbreaking, Cumberbatch is magnificent”
        Anyway, Argo won best picture, it was an okay movie, but its win was surprising, I think. (I’m not saying TIG will win, I think Boyhood will).
        As for Cumberpeak, I honestly think the fans on internet have a somewhat skewed perspective; on the outside he’s getting some coverage, but believe it or not, it’s not a deluge. Of course things will change for the next month (until noms are announced)…but so far, we are in an overload, but I don’t think it reflects what’s happening in the “real world.”

      • icerose says:

        aly I have seen the advert for the film everyday this week.There has been two interviews I stumbled across although they were pre recorded. Another article in the Telegraph and he is on the cover of the TV times who are selling it across the internet. And that is just UK this week. That spells film over kill to me.

      • aly says:

        Which is the expected coverage for a movie that is going for Oscar nods, I think.

      • icerose says:

        @ Ally not compared to Interstellar and Eddie Redmayne’s film or any other film that comes along. Even Marvel films do not get that amount of PR .Today their have been numerous links to his impressions video not only from fans but film and theatre pages and they are not even that good and everyone of them brings up Tom’s name in the caption just for extra click bait,

      • Catherine says:

        Icerose, I’m guessing that’s the sites you’re visiting. The coverage for TIG that I’ve seen in the UK is pretty standard for a film on its week of release, Interstellar has had much more coverage.

  14. disher says:

    I’m waiting for Mr. Turner myself, but I will see The Theory of Everything. I’d planned to see The Imitation Game, but now they moved it to Thanksgiving weekend, I will just see it when it comes out for download. This is a movie about a gay British mathematician who commits suicide to escape persecution. Who the heck puts that on Thanksgiving weekend? Americans don’t need to be depressed that weekend. We have our families taking care of that, thank you very much.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      Waiting to see Mr. Turner too but not sure when it opens here. We go to the movies on Thanksgiving to avoid obnoxious family members. I would sit through a 4 hour documentary on how to pull teeth if it meant less time listening to my brother.

      • MountainRunner says:

        Lilac, Mr Turner opens Dec 19. I’m soooo looking forward to seeing that. I’m still waiting for ToE to open here, since it’s still in limited release and I no longer live in a big city. I hope you come back with a review since I’m sure you’ll see it first.

      • moodgirl says:

        Thanks for the movie idea. I need somewhere to go to avoid my
        crazy ass sister. She shows up drunk and nasty every year.

    • MountainRunner says:

      Disher, TIG was slated to open a week earlier but I don’t think they wanted it opening the same weekend as Hunger Games – Mockingjay. I think the stampede to see HG will continue for several weeks after however, with Wild, Exodus and Hobbit opening in Dec. TIG won’t be able to compete with them, either.

      • moodgirl says:

        Wild sounds so boring and Reese Witherspoon seems all wrong for the part.

      • MountainRunner says:

        Moodgirl, the book was GREAT and I think Reese could pull it off. But I won’t have an informed opinion for a few more weeks… 🙂

      • icerose says:

        mean while they are bombarding us with TV adverts. Good thing Harvey has big pockets.

    • Sixer says:

      Mr Turner is A1 fandabbydozy superlicious!

      And it’s number two at the box office here, too. I am very happy about this.

      • MountainRunner says:

        Sixer, that is my MOST ANTICIPATED movie release this season. What’s the word on the street regarding his Oscar chances? Seems like all I hear about is Keaton, BC and AR. Seems Spall should be a contender too with all the buzz he’s getting out of the UK.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Fandabbydozy is my word of the day. Just emailed that to opposing counsel.

      • Sixer says:

        Haha @ Lilac!

        @ Mountain – no idea. I rely on this place to keep me up with industry gossip. Otherwise, I take little notice, sorry. If we do get a Brit on the Oscar nominations list this year, I would LOVE it to be Spall. Yes: over Benny the Weinstein and Eddie the Um… NotInterestingEnoughForASixerMonickerYet.

        If you guys remind me tomorrow, I’ll tell you more (no spoilers) about Mr Turner. But I’m beyond excitement over Philae at the moment and this has led me to getting involved in a gigantic argument about blue skies vs applied research on another website and it’s taking up all my forum time today. Benny meltdowns have NOTHING on parsimonious, shortsighted, nincompoops, let me tell you. (I’m being ruder than that elsewhere).

      • aly says:

        @Mountainrunner: the race is too packed at the moment; there are three almost sure locks: Keaton, BC and ER; the other contenders, (Carrell, Cooper, Oyelowo, McConaughy to name a few), have very strong performances, baitier roles, and strong backing from their respective studios; so at this stage it’s still unsure.

      • MountainRunner says:

        @Aly: McConaughy? Seriously? For Interstellar? I’m hearing mixed reviews for that movie. Probably won’t see it until I’ve exhausted my list of must-sees as it didn’t look that terribly interesting to me. Without seeing either movie, I would be disappointed to see McConaughy get a nod over Spall.

        I’m doubtful that both BC and AR would get a nod, but stranger things have happened.

      • aly says:

        @Mountainrunner: re: McCoughney…yeah, I’m wtfying too about it. Mmm, I think both BC and ER will get a nod, (which will make Keaton happy, the brits will split the votes and tadà: here’s our winner!). Up until this week Redmayne had a slight advantage on Ben in the Oscar race, but now that TIG’s press tour has started we’ll see how it goes.
        Yes, I’m following this whole thing, have been since Telluride
        …you should see me with the political elections in my country:)

      • TotallyBiased says:

        @sixer
        PHILAE!!!!!!!!!
        I love you again.
        And yes, I , too have been choosing science over Bendy threads. Even with the promise of Lilacflower’s excellent hospitality and chance of SeanintheBoot/THiddyjackings.

    • icerose says:

      Turner had some of the critics crying in America.

      • joe spider says:

        Went to see Mr Turner today. If there is an Oscar to be won I think it should be for the cinematography (sp?) – so evocative of Turner’s paintings. Not sure about an Oscar for Spall, although I liked him a lot I’m not sure it called for enough of a stretch for him.

        Ducks under the parapet.

      • icerose says:

        @Joe Spider Not having seen it its hard to comment .He did spend two years learning to paint so he could create copies of the paintings himself instead which has never been done before. Probably not a stretch because he always turns in superlative performances. I think one of the difficulties is that he does not have the more pleasing physical appearance of the competition and so harder to get draw into him. Hopefully I can se it this week for myself.
        I doubt Turner will win best picture at BFI either. My guess is that it will be 71 or Pride

    • Dara says:

      Has anyone seen Birdman? I think if I want to see it in a theatre I better hurry before it gets buried in the holiday releases avalanche.

      • moodgirl says:

        Birdman looked so…….odd. Now I will have to go see all of these movies because I’m curious. I have not been to a movie since 2012; it’s not my thing so this will be interesting.

  15. 'P'enny says:

    Can’t we move on? it’s really boring now. Weddings, girlfriends, and reasons why are just an endless boring circle of pulp.

    yet, I cant beat it and ignore so I still join it.

    • Ellen says:

      Damn I was just going to announce my engagement to Fassy. I’ve been his cloak and dagger all this time. *evil laugh

  16. whatsmyname? says:

    I looked at his picture for way too long trying to find anything attractive about him but seriously couldn’t. These threads are hilarious though people are way to invested in this otter.

    • Anne tommy says:

      I used to think Benny was a very decent actor who’ve wasn’t nearly as attractive as tom hiddleston and then I read- or sometimes skimmed over – thousands of Benny posts and now… I think Benny is a very decent actor who isn’t nearly as attractive as tom hiddleston…

  17. Lindy79 says:

    His suit is gorgeous although he looks a bit like when a weather person wears green and then they stand in front of a green screen and have clouds or thunderstorms on their unmentionables
    http://manoushz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/green-screen-150×150.jpg

  18. Cate says:

    I for one steeped my weak Earl Grey tea with a hint of lemon this morning, with loose leaf tea of course, I’m not a savage. And now I’m getting ready for reading some tea-leaves. Silence please, I need to concentrate:

    *swirls floral teacup around*

    *stares at pattern of leaves*

    *scratches head*

    So, erm, I’m seeing a big monster like creature chasing a tiny creature that kind of reminds me of an otter. The trollish creature also has something in it’s hand (very detailed leaves here), it looks a bit like a little statue.

    Wow, hope that makes sense for you guys, I have no idea personally…

    • Renee says:

      Cate, can you send some of that tea my way? I had one cup this morning using a Lipton teabag I found at work because I had no other option. And I’m a lame American.

      I strangely find myself with nothing to say re: a certain otter. I’m officially bored and tired of him. Sad, really.

    • Cate says:

      Sure, done! Hope you don’t mind weak Earl Grey though! And Otter Fatigue is a real thing Renee, drink lots of tea, that might help. 😉

      • Renee says:

        I’ll take lots of tea and maybe some spiced-up eggnog for later while I wait for U2 next week on Fallon. 😄

      • Cate says:

        Excellent Renee, I’ll take mine with a shot of (Irish) whiskey then, it’s already evening here, so let’s do this.

      • Renee says:

        You’re a few hours ahead of me, Cate but I can start now. It would make my afternoon go so much better. Irish whiskey for me too! 😄

      • MountainRunner says:

        Earl Grey, hard liquor and threadjacking the his posts keep me entertained here in Cumberville.

      • Cate says:

        @Renee, oh good, that’s what I like to hear, make that afternoon pass in a slightly Irish whiskey induced haze. It’s quite lovely…

        @Mountainrunner, I know right? Grumpy Otters or not, it’s just too amusing around here!

  19. MissMary says:

    He’s cracked in the head if this is legit and they do a December wedding. Not only because of schedule stuff BUT because there is *no way* people will think it was NOT PR at that point.

    Personally… and again my tin hat opinion… No wedding. Timing is off, whatever they want to say for it, and a split in the spring or summer before Hamlet. Earlier if there’s no nomination.

    And that’d cue the nannies wailing how fan “hate” drove SH away and saddened their ickle BC, and revive his flagging fan support he’s alienating with his interviews of late.

    • MountainRunner says:

      MissMary, my bet is on a December wedding as well. Small & private with just family and close friends and we’ll hear about it the next day.

    • moodgirl says:

      I think he is going to marry her even if it kills him. Just to prove people wrong, especially the cumber#;&*%=÷$. Can you imagine their attitudes if they break up? Besides, he would need another four to five months to find another fiancee. If he proposes to every woman he dates he is desperate.

      • Lucifer says:

        my theory from the beginning. Just to prove US CREAZIES WRONG. he ll stick to it

      • Renee says:

        If he marries her to prove a bunch of fans wrong, he really is a few tacos short of a combo plate.

      • aly says:

        Why would he care about cumbernutjobs? Seriously…if he marries her, hopefully it’ll be for valid reasons, not to spite a bunch of people he doesn’t even know.

      • MissMary says:

        I think, no matter what PR stuff is going on right now, he’d rather break off a relationship that’s not working for him as soon as he’s able rather than stick it to some fans. Esp as he’s so evidently “over” having fans.

      • Aiofe says:

        The speculation in this post is massive. Walking down the aisle just to prove strangers wrong? Don’t think so.

      • Lucifer says:

        as for the living together sh-t i dnt believe. Irony is he is panicked by the internet vitriol but his agents read US and his cmnts come accordingly next day. Too much for his vapid i m above all these attitude

      • gg says:

        My theories. I change my mind every single day regarding which one I believe. Today I am actually leaning toward #1

        1. The relationship is real, BC is nuts and /or SH is pregnant and they marry by the end of the year
        2. The relationship is real, BC is nuts and/or SH is pregnant but calmer heads (BC family/friends) convince him to hold off which means the wedding NEVER happens
        3. The whole thing is for PR and there is no wedding. They breakup after the Oscars

        And by “nuts” I don’t mean literally mentally ill, just way too impulsive

      • Felice says:

        @gg I think it’s a mix of all three except pregnancy. I think it is real, the family and friends really want him to chill, and Weinstein just used it as an opportunity.

      • moodgirl says:

        @aiofe – When I was REALLY young I was going to marry just to piss off my mom and get out of my house. Fortunately I grew up before I made a huge mistake. It happens A LOT.

    • Renee says:

      He’s handled this so weirdly and so poorly that I could care less what he does in his personal life. If he couldn’t handle being gracious after *he* announced this, he should’ve kept it on the DL. My two cents for today. I reserve the right to look like a fool and comment on this tomorrow..;-)

    • moodgirl says:

      @missmary – I think he will marry because the consequences of him not doing so would be too severe. He would look like a fool and appear to have caved to the pressure of his fans. Despite the problems he will encounter marrying someone that, to me he barely knows, he will grin and bear it because he looks stubborn as heck.

      • aly says:

        Severe how? What is it Victorian era? It’s 2014, engagements get broken all the time, even – and especially – in Hollywood.
        I don’t think Ben, should things go south with SH, would bear and grin it and condemn himself either to a life of misery and inevitable cheating or a messy divorce. He’s not living in Parade’s End.
        Honestly, and I think this might be his saving grace, he strikes me as self centered.

        That’s, of course, assuming a break up scenario a not PR relationship or whathaveyou

      • MissMary says:

        What Aly said. Also, his mother left an unhappy marriage to be with his father (though they didn’t marry till she was ready to pop with BC in utero, they were together for a good while before she even got pregnant). I doubt he’d want to repeat his mother’s path just for the sake of proving the fans he already is pushing away wrong. He survived a split with his LTR of over a decade and that, to a lot of folks, is more gasp-worthy than a short engagement and wtf-appearing “dating” situation.

      • moodgirl says:

        I think he is shallow as a plate and will marry just to damn us all.

      • aly says:

        I don’t know, he wouldn’t be the first “star” to break off an engagement, due to whatever reason…I don’t see the big deal. Fans would be defensive of him, media would paint him as some kind of romantic hero, lucky in his career, unlucky in love…

        mood, I don’t think Ben is shallow as a plate, he’s too neurotic and controlling to be, IMO. (wow, and I’m a fan….*facepalms*)

      • MissMary says:

        Broken engagements are nothing these days, at least not in celeb-world. He’d get his Byronic hero vibe back, some soundbites for interviews, and she’d get to keep some secondhand fame.

      • Pinky says:

        @MissMary – absolutely agree.

        Even if HE hasn’t learned form his mums mistakes – which I do think… She still knows. And I am pretty sure that Mama Cumberbatch would sit her boy down if she saw him going down that road (or aisle in that case).
        I do wonder though if maybe she has already said something? Maybe thats adding to his mood at the moment? Mummy and Daddy don’t approve? (Which could turn into a spiral of: “Oh but I was partly doing this because you wanted me to get a bird.. and now you criticise my choice?”)

  20. MountainRunner says:

    Since most of us are suffering from Bendy overload, can we talk about other Brits? If I’m not reading it here, I have no idea. What’s Mac up to? I know what Lord Dragonfly is doing, but not getting much news from the set. Any stories that are coming out from the oceans of internet? I only dip my toes in this pond. Who else should I be paying attention to?

    I’m so hungry for Hiddles & Mac I’ve resorted to borrowing every damn DVD from the library to get me through this news famine…

    • Lilacflowers says:

      Today’s topic is Harry Lloyd.

      • moodgirl says:

        Enlighten me, please.

      • Dara says:

        I really should hit IMDB to figure out who Harry Lloyd is, but too lazy. I keep picturing the silent movie actor that dangled off giant clock faces so that can’t be right. While he was quite a dish in his day, I can’t imagine that Harold Lloyd is anyone’s current object of desire.

      • moodgirl says:

        Enlighten me, please. Where could I see his work.

      • icerose says:

        Harry Lloyd besides being my personal reader and occasional escort is the great-great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens and was nominated for as supporting actor nomination for the TV show The Fear but I think he lost out to Simon Beale.
        He was an Eton boy at the same time as Tom who started acting at 16 in the BBC David Copperfield and he has appeared on the stage five times. He studied at oxford as well. He is probably most famous for Game of Thrones season 1
        Not a bad CV so far.

      • moodgirl says:

        Game of Thrones looks so graphic but I will give it a go.

      • MountainRunner says:

        Lilac, I don’t know if I’ve seen him in anything, but you say he’s in ToE? Just another reason to look forward to that opening up.

        Game of Thrones isn’t my cup o’ tea…

      • joe spider says:

        Yes, if you get chance to see him in The Fear do. First time I noticed him and he was brilliant.

        ps nice to see you on the G website the other day icerose.

      • icerose says:

        and lets not forget Matthew Goode. He has more charm in his little finger than Benny has in his whole body.

      • jammypants says:

        I am partially obsessed with Matthew Goode. He’s especially gorgeous in Brideshead Revisited and Stoker. He’s a bit of understated actor. I’m proper smitten with him.

      • moodgirl says:

        PBS aired “A Murder at Pemberly” last weekend and I believe Matthew Goode portrayed the pain in the butt brother in law. Maybe it was the character but I really disliked him.

      • Ellen says:

        I remember Harry in Robin Hood t.v series! Is he still with that beautiful and talented Guru whatever her name is? The one that was Belle in the film with the same title.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Ellen Gugu Mbatha-Raw? They’re a couple? Didn’t know that. So far, Belle is one of my favorite movies of the year.

      • jammypants says:

        I adore Belle. Ok I looked. They were engaged but ended it in 2013.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @jammypants, this has been such a lousy year for women in film with so few lead roles that I wouldn’t be surprised to see her sneak in with a nomination and I would be thrilled for her. I’m also getting a weird synchronicity thing going between Belle and Mr. Turner. A local art museum has Turner’s Slave Ship, which I love, despite its gruesome subject matter, and which he was inspired to paint by the Zong case in England. The Zong case plays a pivotal role in the story in Belle so the movies are linked in my mind.

      • Ellen says:

        @LilicFlowers it was my favourite film of the year so far as well. I’ve seen Gugu in other things too and she’s such an underrated actress.

        I didn’t know HL was from Posh stock! He certainly doesn’t sound or act like it either.

      • icerose says:

        @JoeSpider So it was you’d am a regular G contributor. It tends to be my paper of choice but I also like to contribute to the Telegraph. You get some interesting discussions in the comments section with a variable opinions and intelligent snark. I do however have a Cumberbatch stalker as well which is kind of funny.

      • icerose says:

        @Lilac flowers Interesting links between TUrner and Belle.Belle has been on my must see films for some time. i must get my fingers out and find out where it is showing. I have a tendency to track theatre and for get about films showings .I think I need to join Love films or Netflix but cannot decide which is best for the UK.

    • **sighs** says:

      I’m currently in the middle of Return to Cranford. Bouncy Tom with curls!

      Harry does seem to be today’s object of affection, though.
      I leave you with this:

      http://resources1.atgtickets.com/static/4476_full.jpg

    • Sheilas says:

      Jude Law is my favorite Brit:)

    • OhHey says:

      I watched Only Lovers Left Alive last week. Now I have a serious crush on Adam too. Odd movie but TH was brilliant in it. If I can’t have BC, and Tom is busy, I’ll have Adam instead…

      • TotallyBiased says:

        He has the BEST dialogue!
        “Just goes to show, we don’t know sh*t about fungi.”

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Feel free to p*** in the garden.

      • MountainRunner says:

        I’ll never look at a red popsicle again without thinking “Blood on a Stick”.

        “I’m gonna get you that present. Give me all your money, baby.”. That’s how we roll in my house. 🙂

  21. moodgirl says:

    What is it about TH that people find attractive? I can’t see it.

    • Dara says:

      Gee, I dunno. I’ll grant that he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you don’t like tall, athletic, graceful, cheekbones that could cut glass, piercing blue/green/grey eyes and a voice like liquid chocolate you may not be that into him. Especially if you’re turned off by intelligence without arrogance, articulate with a wicked sense of humor, and impeccable manners coupled with simple common human decency. Oh, and for me, it’s the bloody Shakespeare. If it weren’t for that last one I would probably be ‘meh’ at all the rest.

      BC and many other actors tick a lot of those boxes too, but there’s just something about TH that makes him go to the top of my list.

      • MountainRunner says:

        Yes to the above. Tom doesn’t give off the attitude that some *other* (ahem) Posh actors do. I think if he nails Hank Williams he’ll be demonstrating a range that exceeds Bendy’s and may be the “Colin Firth” of the new millennium with American mainstream fans young and old. Yanks who wouldn’t bother to see a Marvel movie will go so a Hank biopic.

        His willingness to do about anything to shill for a movie is actually endearing to me, especially in light of sourdour Cumby. I may bitch about Hiddles overexposure next year, but I won’t like him any less as I do.

      • **sighs** says:

        +1

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Tom’s behavior does change to suit the situation. The dancing bear is pretty much for Marvel and Loki. For other, more serious works, he does tone it down. Still enthusiastic, yes, but at appropriate levels. Thor premiers get red carpet dancing while War Horse gets respectful discussions of history. The man clearly knows he has been blessed in this life and he’s grateful and enjoying every second of it.

        And the man knows how to wear a suit.

      • OhHey says:

        What Dara said….elegant, mannered, sweet and a smile that lights up the room. Oh, and hella smart and good at what he does. Haven’t seen all of Coriolanus but what I have seen makes me quiver with desire (that sounds like something he would have said in a poetic mood….), packed with muscle and just oozing sex. Is it hot in here now?

      • MountainRunner says:

        Yeah, Tommy can wear the hell out of a suit. He seems to understand the importance of consistency in how he deals with fans. I’ve yet to hear of a derogatory quote or interaction with his fans. He acts as though he truly appreciates them. I wouldn’t hesitate to speak to him if I saw him. Bendy, I wouldn’t probably risk getting the door slammed in my face.

    • joe spider says:

      That’s okay, more for the rest of us. 😉

      • aly says:

        So is Sherlock 😉

        I like ’em both:)

      • jammypants says:

        It’s the black hair isn’t draping their faces isn’t it?

      • aly says:

        the cheeckbones, the eyes, the voices, the way they move, their talent…

      • MountainRunner says:

        jammypants, those are sweet snaps. My favorite incarnation though is Hillbilly Hiddles, with the plaid shirt of sex and wisps of chest hair sticking out.

        http://hard-on-for-hiddleston.tumblr.com/post/102160764897/x

      • **sighs** says:

        He’s so adorable it’s infectious.

      • OhHey says:

        For you Jammy, I have this on a loop……
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QmGB47fdQc

      • MountainRunner says:

        OhHey, that put a big ol’ smile on my face. I’m gonna have to watch that tonight when the kiddos go to bed. SWINTON and HIDDLES is too much awesome to miss.

      • jammypants says:

        @OhHey, oh my! I always swoon at that dance scene.

        @sighs, when I’m not swooning, I’m squeeing. This man.

        @MountainRunner, that will forever be my favorite scene in the film, next to the chess scene.

      • Grace says:

        I once read a review somewhere saying OLLA was one of those rare films actually promoting positive aspects of being in a relationship as Eve and Adam were completely comfortable around each other, no second guessing, no jealousy or belittling each other: they truly complimented each other. Don’t remember the exact working of the review but it’s something like that. I intend to agree with it. Jim is a master in turning simplicity into art.

        @ jammypants and @ OhHey: that dance scene always brings a smile to my face.

      • MountainRunner says:

        Jammypants, I wasn’t sure what to expect since I didn’t read any reviews ahead of time, but I thought OLLA was a good, slow burn. Tom was broodiful and had great chemistry with Swinton. It was good to see a healthy interactions between a married couple too, as Grace noted above. That dance scene is the best.

    • MissMary says:

      Tom comes off as funny, naughty (*cough* Myspace chat transcripts *cough*), and intelligent, and I think that’s what “gets” a lot of people attracted (at least it worked for me lol). And yeah his “dancing bear” routine can get a bit intense, lol, but the fact he is *aware* that’s his job and it’s not a “Oh, hey, I GUESS I’ll promote the movie since you’re MAKING ME” attitude, and he does seem to genuinely appreciate his fans…

      And I bet he’s a freak in bed *cough*.

      • Josa says:

        “he does seem to genuinely appreciate his fans… ” It seems he genuinely appreciate his fellow co-workers too. He hosted party for the crews after wrapping Avengers. Several occasions in different productions I read that he’s nice and friendly to the extras.

      • OhHey says:

        I like to imagine the same, MissMary, and I do “appreciate” his propensity for going commando, purely to give us all bad dreams.

    • Grace says:

      Okay, this is my third time trying to post this comment: first time it just disappeared; second time, marked as spam, all I said was I went away for a few hours you guys talked about Tom without me *so confused*
      Anyway, I want *in*. Yes, his voice is &^%^*^^%** (insert whatever adjective of your choosing, I don’t have one) he knows when and where to have a laugh; he’s nice to his fans; he’s nice to co-workers; he’s goofy and adorable; and has all that goofy and adorable-ness packed in his (again insert whichever gif and pic to your liking) but you know what I like the most about him? It’s his ability to break things down and make people understand. Don’t get me wrong. Other people like what they like too; other people talk about their passion too. But he’s giddy and sharing: his thoughts, his process, he want you to know why he likes it, etc. etc. *watches Muse of fire one more time*

    • icerose says:

      His acting just works for me. It is never boring or predictable and you never know what will happen next. His three outings as Loki has showcases his ability to bring new facets to the role. His range of roles is diverse and he always surprises you.
      Aside from being stunningly good looking in Coriolanus his performance was powerful, electric and incredibly moving .His physicality ,pacing and timing was impressive and coupled with his physicality it gives him an edge of impulsiveness. His ability to put across Shakespearian text as every day language is exceptional. He does not over enunciate or go in for vocal dramatics as some actors do (coughs).
      The first time I saw him in Hollow Crown I thought who is that guy he is so good and then I thought he is so sexy and when he jumped on the table in the pub I was like he is amazing. How did he do it. And then I watched the emotions shimmering across his face and I just new I wanted to see what else he was in.
      Simple as that

      • MountainRunner says:

        icerose, I’m gearing up to watch HC complete series this weekend. Can’t wait. I wish I could watch Coriolanus, but it doesn’t appear to be available for streaming.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @MountainRunner, enjoy the experience. The four parts are very different in tone, due to the different directors. Ben Whishaw is outstanding in the first part. I did get distracted on first viewing because at times it can come off as a bit of a mash-up of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones & Downton Abbey with all actors crossing over. (Oh look! Mrs. Weasley is running a brothel now where Loki hangs out!) But there are great performances throughout and it is Shakespeare. And as Icerose pointed out, Tom is a very physical actor but his ability to deliver Shakespeare lines as in normal conversation is amazing. As is the table jump Icerose describes and all that comes after it. He did an interview Madrid Times Talk, I think, in which he explains what he did to prepare for that scene. The lines are powerful and he had to react to the other character’s reactions while delivering the lines in a mimicry of another character – and he nails it beautifully. And then, in part 2, there is the, ahem, sauna scene.

      • OhHey says:

        I’m considering doing something NQR and downloading Coriolanus from a torrent site as it doesn’t seem to be available any other way. Must see it. My comments about TH when he first appeared on screen in HC were very unladylike, to say the least, he’s stunning….

      • Dara says:

        @OhHey – if I hadn’t seen Coriolanus twice in the movie theatre, I’d be right there with you – although I’m sure the fates would smite me and any download I found would be riddled with viruses and malware.

        The first time I saw it I did catch myself making involuntary noises during random scenes so best be prepared. That performance (from the entire cast, not just Tom, but mostly Tom) on a large screen in a darkened theatre was…actually, I struggle to find the right word. I can only imagine what seeing it live in such an intimate venue would have been like.

      • icerose says:

        @Dara It was mesmerising .I love the Donmar because the actors are just so close that they have to be in the moment or it shows. I have seen lots of brilliant stuff there but Coriolanus remains my favourite followed by the all women Henry 1V.
        Tom in person on stage is better looking than you see in his picture and far more charismatic. At times he looks much younger than in his photos or film roles. In the homoerotic scene with his nemesis he looks positively innocent.

    • OhHey says:

      There is one video out there of Tom literally being stalked in a parking garage by a crowd, getting loud and pushy and even as you can see he’s alarmed, he calmly tells them he will sign something for everyone but to please just calm down. Amazing respect for him to be so cool headed and then generous to people who were being completely horrible. It’s here, gawd, I heart this boy.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BotnlbhkV38

      • MountainRunner says:

        I remember seeing that a few months ago and being so impressed with Tom’s ability to take control of the situation and still appease the fans. To think that they rushed him in the parking garage AFTER he had done his premier promo duties and he could have said no, says something about him as a person. I hope he doesn’t change as time goes on.

        Back in a day, I think Bendy would have done the same thing, but now he’s gotten too big for his britches, muttering curses under his breath when old ladies simply notice him in a restaurant.

      • OhHey says:

        Oh the ‘florals’, LOL. I made a mental note that if I ever saw him I might look in his direction and wag my head but never approach him, just fuck with his mind, hahah. I would never approach any celeb, I don’t approach any strangers, actually….

      • gg says:

        @OhHey: Have you actually noticed how often SH wears floral prints (FO, the LFF premiere)? Cracks me up every time. I can’t wait to see what she wears in NY, if she does in fact show up.

      • Ellen says:

        Without sounding rude to Hiddles but this was the one and only time we saw him do this and believe me he needs to do this more often in that way to keep some of over invested crowd away otherwise he’ll blow and become like the rude and arrogant BC

    • TotallyBiased says:

      Bless this mini-thread. I feel like I’m on a HiddlesFast, and even the clickbait dribble we got on the People SMA thread has been barely sustaining me.

      • Dara says:

        IKR? Although I am trying to pace myself – 2015 is going to be such a Hiddles-fest, I’m treating the BC engagement news was as a training run for what Tom has in store next year. High Rise, I Saw the Light, and Crimson Peak (with the SDCC appearance that comes with) all release next year. And (fingers crossed) Skull Island and the Night Manager start production…and maybe Richard II if the Shakespeare gods are amenable. Crap, I almost forgot the AoU scenes in May!

      • Grace says:

        @ Dara
        Let’s reserve seats for that fest? What should we do for drinks and snacks?

      • MountainRunner says:

        It’s gonna be a very good year for Dragonflies, y’all.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Dara, Skull Island is scheduled for a late 2016 release so we will have to wait another year for that, which means more of my husband Tom in 2016.

        @Grace, my butler Colin Firth will tend to our beverage and food desires throughout, also sending along whichever male companion you would like, just so long as we don’t become shrill or too hysterical. This past week has been a bit rough on him and my security director Mark Strong.

  22. Lucifer says:

    How awkward it must be for him right now as people must be are surely asking about his enGAGment and then the inevitable “But where is she?” comes in. If she’s preggers, then that’s an easy out. But if not, what does he say? “Oh, um, she doesn’t like parties and celebrities.” Which is basically saying “She doesn’t like any of you people and can’t be bothered to be near you.” Such a sweetheart that one is. Of course, BC is a celebrity, so why does she like him? Oh right. Silly me. The money. She likes his money. What was I thinking? LOL. This little quote of his was also in response to the mention of how supportive his fans have been *barf*. What a lovely way for BC to once again give his fans the finger by saying “That’s nice, but I don’t care. I don’t need them.” Yeah, that’s going to be a rude awaking for you when they aren’t there anymore.

    • MissMary says:

      And it’s pretty unbelievable to claim she’s shy because her “work” is pretty obviously not the “work” of someone who is a retiring shy violet. And you just have to check out the photo montage of her at parties over the years, always knowing exactly where the camera is… and all the other stuff we’ve hashed over here lol. And my inner fan would love for his attitude about fans lately to be a PR gimmick but I don’t think you can fake that level of rude. I’m still a fan of his work but I think he has sold his soul to the figurative devil to get some big time parts promised to him and this attitude is going to linger till at least after his ties to Weinstein are done, or he’s not getting any good fan press.

    • Me says:

      She’s not a zillionaire, but she really doesn’t need the money. Elle est trop formidable pour vous. Ces’t tout!

      • moodgirl says:

        If she admits to accepting money from her parents then she needs money. With few exceptions adults stand on their own two feet.

      • MissMary says:

        She may be known in some theatre circles and come from a moneyed family, but I don’t think she’s ready to set up a Swiss bank account just yet.

      • Lucifer says:

        thank you @missmary @moodgirl for clarifying my point to @Me

      • Me says:

        That’s just it. Her parents have the money. She’s a trustifarian.

      • MissMary says:

        @Lucifer: lol, sorry, I meant for that to be directed @Me’s post re not needing the money. I was agreeing with what you said about her being in it possibly for financial reasons.

      • Me says:

        Mmnnn. Any money would be a bonus for her. I can’t/won’t explain why I know this.

      • moodgirl says:

        @me – Spill it chick.

  23. Me says:

    RE: “Will he go through with it/will he not” question – BC is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.

    I think he will because he’s in love with her. I just wonder – what is it about his sullen demeanor that makes so many certain that he’s just settling or she’s some kind of succubus or something?

    I see a sullen, unhappy man. But I think it’s because he’s bitter and resentful of having to fly all over the world every few days while he’s filming (stupid decision on his part). I think he’s angry about Harvey making him trot this personal part of his life out for PR. I think he’s hating his fans for caring so much about his personal life. I think, after all these years of pining for it, now that he thinks he found “the one,” he’d rather not share it. But he effed himself by banging on about it so much.

    What are you seeing that makes you so certain it’s a problem with the actual relationship itself?

    • aly says:

      All valid arguments, Me…but personally, while I do believe that the relationship is real (but used for PR), I can’t say whether he’s in love or not, because there’s not enough data. And I don’t mean to belittle SH or imply that she’s a gold digger or any of this…it’s just that we have a bunch of pics of them together where they barely interact, there’s little of no warmth in Ben — the same guy who lits up like a Christmas tree while talking about the things he’s passionate about. — when he talks about the woman he proposed to.
      So, from the outside one can have some doubts, I think. I mean, I think we’d be all delighted if we saw Ben genuinely beaming with happiness and pride next to his fiancee…and I hope we will. Until then…speculation in a gossip site is the name of the game;)

      • Me says:

        No. I understand. And if I got to do the choosing, I would’ve chosen someone else for him. But his comments regarding the public fixation on his love life and his grumpy behavior before WILWIPT hit the scene make me feel like his attitude has to do with other than his fiancee.

        All the public coldness seems purposeful on his part. If I was his girl, that paranoia would concern me and hurt my feelings. And I’m not even a big PDA person.

      • aly says:

        It could be. I do think that Ben must feel an incredible pressure right now concerning TIG: it needs not to bomb at the box office, it needs to deliver…and it’s a movie that was borne as an indipendent project, a story he really wanted to tell and it has turned into something else altogether.
        He admitted himself that he’s had meltdowns, panic attacks, bouts of insomnia because of his job, so I believe part of the pod!Ben! we’re seeing is due to that.
        Add to that the fact that he has a gazillon projects so, yes, he has reasons to be stressed.
        What I don’t understand is the way he has handled the relationship with SH publicily…it’s a schizophrenic behavior, IMO.
        There is no doubt in my mind that, whether of his choosing or not, the engagement is a PR thing, perhaps he should have been more gracious about it, but then again, it was his first public interview on the subject, so he’ll probably get more comfortable…

    • MissMary says:

      Well, he’s been sourpuss since *before* the SH situation became the subject of gossip, and before he posted the announcement about their engagement. It was noticed before he was spotted with her, people even remarking around the time of the Polish film festival that he was getting testier and testier in interviews and public persona. It’s only gotten worse since. And a lot of folks have a hard time buying what he’s selling because it’s so opposite of his previous public persona relationships, even the ones he kept very private (Anna James for example). He was never cloak and dagger and would very plainly say “I prefer to keep this private” when asked about dating or his love life. So his actions and public demeanor lead a lot of folks to think he’s anything but a happy man and his responses when asked about his engagement are coming off anything but pleased. It doesn’t take much for anyone, much less an award winning actor, to muster a polite smile, say “Thank you, we’re wanting to keep this private for now but we’ll make sure to give a statement when the time is right”.

    • moodgirl says:

      For me it was their behavior prior to the enGAGment announcement and the fact that they had been dating for no longer than it takes most people to tie their shoes.

      • aly says:

        Well, that can happen. My best friend got together with her s.o. on a wednesday, by the next saturday they were living together. My brother was about to marry his ex girlfriend after two months of dating (thank God he saw the light and didn’t); I think it’s nuts, but it happens.

    • lola says:

      Yes, people in love in the early stages of dating someone (esp. after engagement) look that miserable. No, he actually looks as he’s is in some sort of a physical and emotional agony. And how can you love someone after 5 months (and it is not 5 months)?
      If he is having trouble with promotion, then he is utterly childish. He knew he’d have to do it and he knew he’d have to play HW’s game. And if he thought (considering he’s been seeing her for real) hiding her would actually work, then they shouldn’t be spot anywhere near each other – oh, wait. And the engagement … no comment.

      She didn’t want to walk the red carpet with her previous bf because it was what odious couples do, but polishing your CV and filling it with lies is ok as long you don’t appear together in public. If their dating is real I hope she’s had her rude awakening (I really do not like her). If she doesn’t want to be spot with someone more successful than her she has two options: 1) start working her ass of and build a career&be successful on her own (lol) or 2) do not date people in public eye (which appears she always has).

      • MissMary says:

        @Lola: I do wonder if his “trouble with promotion” stems from his talking about how Weinstein wanted him to do some things but he just didn’t have the time and he didn’t think Weinstein understood. I wonder, and this is *pure* speculation, if Weinstein said “Oh is that a challenge? Here’s what’s going to happen and you will DANCE when I yank the strings, or you never work in this town again.”

      • gracada says:

        THIS!!!!

        *jumps up and down*

        When I read the old interview where she won’t walk the red carpet if her boyfriend is more famous I laughed and thought “You’re with the wrong guy then.”

        I don’t like her. I don’t have to like her because he’s with her. From the first time I saw a pic of her at FO I got a bad vibe.

        The changing of the CV smells bad, the articles putting her with Amal or Princess Diana (!@#$%^&!!!!!) really stinks, the way this been handled reeks, and Benedict opening his mouth is…..if you want to have your private life remain private….don’t comment! The “approval” comment was scripted because no one I know would ever say that and it’s grammatically incorrect (I’m an English teacher).

        But this whole thing has a bad vibe to it and I don’t think it’s going to end well.

      • Renee says:

        @lola @gracada. Yes to everything you said. And that changing of the CV so much so that one of the theaters mentioned had to issue a statement refuting the change in the CV?? Come on…this whole situation has been bizarre from the beginning. Something isn’t right about it.

      • aly says:

        “” I wonder, and this is *pure* speculation, if Weinstein said “Oh is that a challenge? Here’s what’s going to happen and you will DANCE when I yank the strings, or you never work in this town again.”””

        This I have no problem believing. Poor Ben, he’ll have to bend backwards for the next few months…

      • MissMary says:

        Given what some actors have said on record about Weinstein, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised.

      • lola says:

        @gracada

        Dating someone and refusing being seen with in the public is immensely disrespectful imo. I am not saying that it should be an inappropriate display of PDA, but what they have been doing’s been WTF. And if she’s been dating Benedict and not owning the professional side is even worse because he has worked for so long to be in the position he currently is … that is like dismissing/ignoring/deleting that part of his life (and I hope no one again says that she is shy and needs protection bla bla bla)

        The “approval” comment was American PR shit (=damage control), nothing else. I am not from UK (but EU) and I am still quite sure that nobody from this side of the pond would come up with that sort of comment.

        ps Please do not dissect my grammar and spelling – English is not my first language:-)

      • Sandi says:

        After a lot of Dayquil and too much thinking, I’ll go there: He’s been screwed up mentally ever since he filmed this movie. This is the character he ‘couldn’t shake’. It’s just becoming more obvious because stress has been added and is, crappily, the easiest explanation.

        If Weinstein was totally responsible for all aspects of it, the transition to ‘serious’ would have been smoother, less obvious and the fan topics would just have been left off the question list. Weinstein doesn’t normally alienate fanbases, just ignores them, and wants his actors likeable.

        If it were all Benedict, same thing. Doesn’t matter what you think of his personality, he’s very ambitious and wouldn’t willingly harm his career just to irk Weinstein, especially since this movie can’t turn out like TFE financially.

        Then, of course, the dead eyes Stepford Wife thing he’s got going on that isn’t explained by PR ploy or personality. If he’s having issues, his friends and family’s utter silence is also less odd.

        My guess is he thought he was okay to take on what he did but he was wrong and needed to stop entirely for a while, not ramp it up.

        @ gracada: It isn’t going to end well at all.

      • Lucifer says:

        I wonder why BC was never spotted at a jewelry store buying the ring? I feel like people would’ve been all over that. and if kate middleton could be out in public when she got engaged why can’t SH? I really don’t understand the extreme secrecy from people who are actors

      • Me says:

        Haha! Those sound like reasonable options to me, Lola.

        Aly, I have no problem believing that Harvey is all about directing his monkeys when to dance.

      • gracada says:

        @ lola exactly. If I worked hard to get to a certain point and my SO did not want to walk the red carpet…he would be GONE. Because that decision is selfish….stand by your man’s side. He’ll stand by yours. It’s a vain decision on her part to say or do something like it.

        It would be different if they mutually agreed not to, but it’s hard to convince people based on THAT statement.

        Will she be on the red carpet in NYC? I bet, no. It will be Karon.

      • lola says:

        I think he really is in some kind of trouble. Mixture of: relationship that is just wrong (ill fitting and she is not stable enough for him), possible family response to it, filming RIII, anticipation of financial success (hopefully not lack of) of the TIG and HW having a gun to his temple. Because I firmly believe he wouldn’t so drastically sabotage himself. I just hope someone sits him down, calms him and slows him down – but unfortunately it has to be very quickly (and I am sure that it is not going to be precious SH – my bets are his parents). If that doesn’t happen he’s going to commit a career suicide.

        @Lucifer
        The ring thing: he would give her some kind of family heritage (mom’s, grandmom’s ect – not a cheap one of course (she wouldn’t say yes to that. – I really do not like her:-)

        Additionally: has anyone spotted this: SH as Sherlock Holmes and Sophie’s middle name is Irene – a bit spooky, hopefully it would end with her “end” not BC’s.

      • gg says:

        If Sophie is not on the red carpet with him in NY, my eyes are gonna roll so hard they will fall out of my head!

        @lola: I wonder if part of his panic is that part of HW’s strategy has been for him to distance himself from his fanbase in order to appeal to a wider audience, but now it seems that wider fanbase will not turn out for TIG and maybe he won’t even get an Oscar nom. Leaving him TOTALLY screwed.

      • lola says:

        @gracada
        He presence in NY: I don’t know (I am very confused about this whole thing) Two reasons:
        1) BC doesn’t seem to play along whatever is going on
        2) She is not a good actress – no way she could give a believable performance.

        If she does attend and pose with him I’ll dissect their body language (you can not fake that).

      • lola says:

        @gg
        That’s what I have been also thinking. The crazy fans will stay the normal will go (and the crazies are the minority, unfortunately a very loud one).

        I really think BC is in some trouble in a dark corner and he cannot escape. Hope he will be able to heal the wounds.

    • Sooth says:

      How can you think HW has ‘made’ him trot his personal life out? What the hell would HW know unless BC had actually told him. Nobody can make him do anything like that and if he’s miserable because he has to do promo, then that would be just beyond ridiculous.

      • Me says:

        Oh, my bad, sweet little ray of sunshine. You’re the one who knows everything… It’s funny. Some of us are at home with the flu and some of us have actually worked in this industry.

      • Sooth says:

        Pardon? What are you talking about? I’m saying that HW forcing him to tell people about an engagement that he would’ve and no reason to tell HW about in the first place is quite a fair point I think. I don’t care who ‘works in the industry’. It’s common sense.

      • lola says:

        @Sooth
        I hate to be the one to say this, but you really are naive if you believe what you wrote. HW payed lots of money for the movie and he OWNS BC right now. Almost everything Benedict has worked so far and his career future depend on how good he is playing the Oscar game. But so far all seems to be damage control.

      • blended says:

        sooth, you must not know how harvey weinstein works. if he wants you to announce an engagement, you better do it or risk career sabotage.

      • aly says:

        Sooth, but common sense as we mean it is not what HW does…

      • Sooth says:

        Ok, none of you seem to be reading what I’m saying. I know exactly what HW and his rep is but Why would BC be giving HW constant info on his private life. Would he immediately ring him up to say ‘hey I’m engaged!!’ No. Christ, he hasn’t got BC on truth serum or making him fill in a journal of everything he does in a day to see if he can wrangle publicity out of it. Seriously, I think some of you are getting too far into fantasy territory here.

      • Me says:

        Um, you’re pardoned? Why are you assuming your view of “common sense” is how the industry works?

        Don’t bother answering. It was a rhetorical question.

      • aly says:

        Ahem, Sooth, to be blunt when a major player like HW (and he’s not the only one) backs you, he owns you. Image control, PR, everything…especially if you don’t have much clout on your own, like Ben or Jennifer Lawrence 2 years ago.

      • blended says:

        *sigh* ben didn’t call weinstein to tell him anything. it’s weinstein that does the calling and gives the instructions/demands. for all we know harvey could have insisted on it being sophie specifically, now that we know they run in the same circles.

      • Sooth says:

        HW does not have BC bugged. He would only know about the engagement if BC chose to tell him.

      • Me says:

        “Seriously, I think some of you are getting too far into fantasy territory here.” Aaaaannnnnddd – this is where actually having some industry experience separates those who have an idea and those who live in “fantasy territory.”

      • aly says:

        No, Sooth, that’s not how it works.

      • MissMary says:

        @blended: Exactly.

        And HW wouldn’t need BC to “give him” info. Most of what BC is, to the public, is out there to see in old interviews and media. HW just needs to see that image and say “No, we’re changing that. We need THIS image.” From what I’ve read and heard about the man, he gives no f*cks about what his “gold boys/girls” want, need, or actually DO, so long as the image sells and it sells the movie. If he sees one of “his actors” is being portrayed as x and he (or his researchers) feel it’ll harm the brand or needs to be rebranded, then HW makes his demands known and the consequences clear. No, he’s not going to put a horse head in anyone’s bed, but he’s not above lawsuits and damaging reps and casting chances.

      • Sooth says:

        Please explain the alternative to me, then. So if BC didn’t tell him about an engament then ..what? HW made it up himself? What are you saying?

      • lola says:

        @Sooth
        Right now BC does whatever HW tells him to do even that means an engagement ad in a newspaper. He’s told what to say, when to say it, where to appear … everything. BC’s part in this is obliging and doing everything he is told to do – like an extended movie part.

    • blended says:

      well firstly, they have not been together for 5 months. he was seen with another woman on a date in late august. and most tellingly, he has never shown an ounce of chemistry with SH. he always has chemistry with people he is close too, be it lovers, family, friends.

      • MissMary says:

        And wasn’t SH still showing up in pics with her last bf until August as well?

      • Me says:

        I don’t think what we see from the outside makes sense either. But we just don’t know the whole picture. It’s all assumption. It looks like they’ve at least been seeing each other since May. One can date more than one person at the same time. And that 3 named dude on Instagram? Where was it ever confirmed that he was her bf?

        I think the whole thing looks weird too. But weird things happen. A couple of Junes back, I met a couple who planned on getting married in December. They did, two weeks apart. Sometime in the summer, they each reconnected with someone and broke up with each other. December rolled around and they married the other people.

  24. Lucifer says:

    he’s fully cracked. he s doomed now if he goes yay or nay with it either way. Now if she shows up with him it will reek of a BIGGER PR ploy…i bet they will show up and octopussy will do some sh-tty acting on her part. wedding is also on the cards. i dnt even know how to explian and BC does not know how to clean this mess up. as for TIG i hope it does well though I cn see a mediocre audience only

  25. MissMary says:

    I’m not terribly familiar with these Moet BIFA awards… are they a “legit” award situation, like for actual merit, or more of a “whose PR can get in here to fill out paperwork first?” award?

    • Lucifer says:

      That’s USA Today quote about ad and ring. It sounds like he has not bought her a ring yet… At least it seemed like she did not get it along with the proposal. Isn’t it strange?

  26. Patris says:

    Sophie is a best friend Brooke Geahan , who is a girlfriend Edward Chapman, who is the brother of the wife of Harvey . What is this if not a PR. Poor Ben.

    • MissMary says:

      0_0 Really? I admit, I didn’t go that far down the rabbit hole in looking into reasons but that…really lends some credence to some of the theories out there.

    • aly says:

      Wow…that’s interesting…

    • Lucifer says:

      We r not loonies after all!!! not totally 😛

    • 'P'enny says:

      Wow thats some investigative work.

      But, don’t read too much into it, the acting world nepotism is everywhere and Harvey may have set up a ‘get acquainted ‘ date and it went from there. Doesn’t mean it’s a PR set up. Benedict claims Harvey is a friend, so i am sure there was some bonding dinner dates going on.

      And, yes, i am holding on to the romance, 😉 i am trying ‘today’ to give Benedict the benefit of doubt.

      However, if he is stepping as low to be engaging in hollywood-fakery i’d be disappointed because Harvey could have set him up with someone a lot more ‘interesting?’ for want of a better word.

      • Claire says:

        Well consider he was thought to be dating that Balfour lady before her, and she is also connected to Weinstein.

        Keep in mind Ben’s the type that says everyone is his friend even if they’re just work colleagues

      • MissMary says:

        Isn’t Anna Wintour also friends with Weinstein?

      • aly says:

        Yes, Mary…with both Weinstein and his wife.

      • MissMary says:

        Well, that’d explain the odd “dates” with Wintour. 0_o Hanging out with HW’s friends…

      • Me says:

        Dealing with Harvey can be like dealing with the Godfather. Anna can ruin someone but she’s not known for using that power to be a total puppet master. (no pun intended)

        All these people are connected. Some more normal than others. Some less savory than others. To work around it is creepy. But to be at the center of it? I wonder how crazy/scary that feels. I’ve been to “small breakfast meetings” where I needed to dash to the restroom and splash my face with cold water because of who was gathered. And I mean more power struck, than star struck.

    • Cate says:

      Yi-kes. And hmmmm…

    • Me says:

      Possibility. Also just possible that the fame game is terribly incestuous. Super impose that onto the incestuous world of British poshies, mix in a little “hangers on” and there ya go.

      • moodgirl says:

        Are you kidding me? I think she just connected the dots. There are very few coincidences in life. I do think it explains where all the PR for sophie came from. This has ALL the signs of a PR campaign. I knew we weren’t all wrong.

      • Lucifer says:

        What do we say about coincidences?
        The world is never so lazy.

    • Patrick says:

      Poor Ben, now clearly his behavior or sadness on the red carpet and in the interview. Now well understood so strong PR Sophie and Ben just background. When given ad, he was on the set of Richard. Without me I married. He fell heavily, though it is the lesser of the fact that I could get him to do Harvey. Do not be surprised if he would have to marry if he will lose much of the race. I hope all will end after Oscar and Ben will return normal, not a statue from the museum Tussauds with a dead stare.

    • Heheheh says:

      @Patris
      Whoa…..

      Ick ick ick is all I have on that…going on that it is true…

      Yeppers…oh…..

      @Lucifer Whew…wish we were crazy though…sounds like we are not as you say….so so so sad….the Hollywood/Weinsten conspiracy I would love for it to be wrong…

      I know Hollywood has its conspiracies and I only get surface bits here and there….if this is a true one (trying to keep and open mind) well, it just makes them all twats twats twats…

    • lola says:

      o_m_g

    • **sighs** says:

      Wow. That’s just…wow. I think it’s a combo of PR, and it just so happens that Sophie is the “sort” he’s always wanted be associated with, no matter how much he decries the posh label. These things, and he also desperately wants to rid himself of the crazy fans and have the serious acting career that he thinks he deserves.
      Not that he doesn’t deserve it, I’m merely reflecting on the attitude.

      • moodgirl says:

        Could it be that KB was a try out for the PR gf. It may explain why they appeared out of the blue and hung out for a while. Maybe HW got her to do it because BC sure didn’t have the pull to ask a upper class lady to “hang” with him. She may have agreed initially because it would have also helped her pr wise but she didn’t have to, and wouldn’t take the job. If there was a financial incentive involved then she probably didn’t need it. So……

        They had to find someone to make BC look like a straight leading man. Edward Chapman lives in NY and at the time so did SH. Wanna bet they hang in the same circles? When did the SGF rumor come out? SH leaves NY in April after living in that city for a good while. Shortly after she meets BC. I always questioned why Rebecca Eaton announced that BC had a sgf when it was none of her business. It could have been part of the plan to get rid of the screaming meemies.

        SH filled the bill but the fact that they really didn’t mesh would explain why they looked distant, disjointed, mismatched and miserable. Like they really didn’t know each other that well. Because they didn’t. When his stupid shenanigans are added in it could add up to plain old PR. I only question if BC, who appears to fall in love quickly and was looking hard for a partner, forgot the original plan and fell in love.

        This could explain his crappy attitude throughout the summer, he didn’t want to get that involved PR wise as it was too much for him. And why he was dropping hints about being in a relationship back at the TIFF. He knew what they were cooking and he was smug about it. Some well placed sightings in the newspapers to maintain interest really helped. You knew his friends wouldn’t rat about how angry he was about leaks concerning his sgf. All PR. His friends don’t really talk.

        Anyone else what to take a crack at my tin hat theory as miss mary calls it.

      • aly says:

        Makes sense…

      • MissMary says:

        @Moodgirl: Going along those lines I wonder, IF this is PR, he just never expected it to get so out of hand? Maybe he was down with some arm candy and a pretend/real “steady girl” to go to ceremonies and such but then there was a push for “NO you need to be a stable, mature man and show middle America you’re reliable!” and it was out of his hands PR-wise.

        and re the friends’ silence…considering how chatty they usually are about him, even obliquely, the long the silence goes on, the more “suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure you’re happy for him” any congrats will come off now.

      • moodgirl says:

        @missmary – I don’t think he wanted to play ball. He probably never had control once HW appeared on the scene.

        I wrote earlier that I was watching an awards show right after the sgf rumor came out. They announced BC’s name and he was in the arena but they didn’t show him as a nominee. The other nominees were shown but not him. He didn’t want to be bothered. I don’t think HW is BC’s style. But, hand on my tin foil hat, I think that ALL OF IT WAS PR STARTING EARLIER IN THE SUMMER. I think BC is embarrassed because he has more integrity than this.

        My manager always says there are very few coincidences in life and to connect the dots.

      • aly says:

        I think BC is embarrassed because he has more integrity than this.

        THIS. That’s what I’ve been thinking for over a week.

      • Green Eyes says:

        Maybe Harvey was the one who placed the engagement announcement in the Times.

        Conspiracy abounds…

      • MissMary says:

        I think that, if this is PR, no matter who is officially behind it *coughweinsteincough*, BC wasn’t “ready” for that deep of a game like the one that comes with being pushed for an Oscar. Maybe he tried to pussyfoot out of it or be ginger with it early but was told no, you want to play in the big leagues, this is what you’re going to do. I really think that if anyone other than Weinstein and co had purchased TIG, we’d be seeing something entirely different.

      • greyhound says:

        i fully believe harvey put the announcement in the times. they were missing an initial in ben’s name (the ‘c’) so it couldn’t have been his parents or ben himself (i can’t see wanda missing that detail), and the bride’s side seemed surprised by the announcement so it wasn’t them.

    • moodgirl says:

      One question: Who would want HW? Granted he may be very different IRL but if you ever make him angry or divorce him you would toast. He would leave you nothing but your naked behind and two hands to scratch it with. I would be afraid to close my eyes.

  27. ukbound says:

    If Benedict is so tired of his fans and sick of people objectifying him, why does he objectify himself? He is the one who poses like Darcy and tries to look alluring for magazines.

    He also played a game with his underpants and getting undressed for the shower in the ice bucket challenge video. That is titillation at its best. He wanted attention.

    It is like he wants attention when he wants it, to boost his ego, then he wants to turn it off or determine how much he gets. He can only blame himself if he hates his fans. He has fanned the flames. He is responsible for his image.

    • Aiofe says:

      And what makes you think all that wasn’t oscar campaigning as well? He passed on the ibc to Harvey ffs. What people blindly assume is his true intent and not career posturing amazes me

      • ukbound says:

        The point is that if he says he is tired of fans now, he is the one who baited them. I am not on board with a conspiracy theory yet.

      • Aiofe says:

        no, my point is him saying he’s tired of his fans may not be what he really thinks but he’s being told to say for a very specific purpose.

      • Lucifer says:

        this whole 2014 whatever he has done(very little work and more publicity, award shows,QnA t) now m thinking all was laying ground for TIG promo and PR. whatever anybody cn think and compare with king’s speech its nowhere near only BC and KK’s performance is worth looking for according to reviews. so this dipshit is where he i going and he tried hard this whole yr to go thr

    • moodgirl says:

      Harvey Weinstein was one of the three that BC nominated in kind.

    • Cate says:

      Sometimes clichés about actors are somewhat true. They can be neurotic, weird and thirsty for attention all at the same. Then complain about it, but if the attention is taken away everything comes crashing down. Just look at someone like Greta Garbo. That’s right, I’ve just compared BC to a HW legend, you’re welcome Harv. *winks*

  28. Nonnie says:

    Guys, he will be answering questions on TUMBLR this Sunday! [freaking out]

    • Felice says:

      I just saw that. Damage control. I predict canned responses and no personality.

      • **sighs** says:

        +1million

      • moodgirl says:

        If he is an answering questions then that is definitely someone putting their boot up his ass and making him appear to be cooperative with his fans. Whom he hates so much.

      • MissMary says:

        This. It’s pure spin. All the questions will be about his method, his thoughts on Turing (good), a congrats on the engagement, maybe a cheeking penguins one and maybe one about Sherlock’s xmas special, then there’s the q&a all done.

      • Lucifer says:

        like that twitter QnA.*barf*

    • Aiofe says:

      As if on queue after his weird kinda offensive comments about his fans last week

    • lindy79 says:

      It’ll be dull…pre approved questions on the usual topics with answers we’ve already heard.

      • gracada says:

        And pengwing jokes…lots of those

        *eye rolling*

      • Madly says:

        Be prepared for it to address some of the weirdness that we have seen. Talk about pandering. First the slight, then the pander. Anyone else getting whiplash?

      • **sighs** says:

        Nah. I think he’ll act like the slight didnt even happen and go straight to pandering.

    • Cate says:

      *Rolls sleeves up* If he breaks Tumblr with this conspicuously timed Q&A I’m coming after him, I use that site to keep up to date with various other crushes. Some of them even like their fans. I know,…*gasp*…

    • moodgirl says:

      The very people that he obviously despises.

      • aly says:

        Oh, come on…we have years of fan interactions, on his own time, he’s always been gracious and has tried to please his fans, now all of sudden , a couple of quotes and he hates us all and he’s an ass***e? *confused*

    • MissMary says:

      Which tumblr is “hosting”? I can almost guarantee it’ll be *very* carefully vetted questions, maybe some planted, and it’ll be a PR flack answering and not BC himself.

    • Gracada says:

      Here come the pengwing jokes….I bet there will be at least one…

  29. Kazlock 1307 says:

    I’m more confused now than I was a week ago!
    He’s alienating his fans.And generally talking a load of bollox!
    Wtf is going on with him?
    I’m not sure if he’s been influenced by SH or if thus side of him was there all along.
    As for his enGAGment it’s bloody weird.He’s so miserable and erratic since it.
    Hope he takes a breath and thinks things over before he actually marries her.

    • J says:

      Nah it ain’t hunter or some secret side, you can see the goofy sweet him in old stuff before he had real pr.

      Look I find the theories as entertaing as the next person but no way did he work like he did for like 10 yrs to flush it down the chute. He really is losing his mind and were just watchin it happen.

    • Me says:

      I don’t know, Kazlock. But you’re right about one thing. Yes, his behavior is weird. Whether it’s trying to create a new fanbase (at the wrong time), resentment at all of the schilling or something’s off with his relationship. Who knows?. But it is weird. And I hope things stabilize for him soon too.

      • aly says:

        I’m pretty sure, like…I could bet money on it, that he’ll be “forgiven” by most of the fans who have felt slighted within a week. Just a hunch…

      • OhHey says:

        Psssst. They don’t know they’ve been dissed! He’s just ‘tired’……

      • aly says:

        He’ll be adorabe (because he can be), will joke, will be his dork self …
        The thing is, I don’t think he hates his fans, I think he’s had it with dumb questions, by lack of boundaries and nosiness.
        Yes, he signed up for it, but personally…and I’m quite reasonable and patient, I would have cracked sooner.
        That said, he effed up, he’s correcting the mistake…let’s see what happens. Let’s not burn him at the stake yet…;)

      • Me says:

        Right. He appreciates his fans, but it doesn’t look like appreciates the intensity of the projections on him these days.

      • aly says:

        Unfortunately…but I think he’ll get over it.

    • Encumbered says:

      Bottom line: too damn much all at once–and he is only human. The engagement timing is what threw this off in large part. Poor planning based on being in the flush of newly-found love. And PR should have advised him to hold off on the announcement, if he/they indeed involved Karon. He got excited and jumped the gun. Now damage control has to go into full gear.

      • Sooth says:

        That’s giving him very little credit. In fact as I’d go as far to say it’s treating him like he’s an utter fool. Can we please dispose with the precious naive little flower was just so excited to be engaged that he didn’t think about the ramifications of making a public announcement. I’m not saying he had an ulterior motive from doing it, but I don’t know why people are so keen to treat him like a child who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
        Also, the announcement itself is not causing a fuss, it’s everything that surrounds it and has been surrounding it for the last few months.

      • OhHey says:

        “Poor planning based on being in the flush of newly-found love.”

        Um no. Poor timing based on an unplanned pregnancy, I can’t think of any other reason to announce that when he did. He’s never looked worse or more unhappy.

      • MissMary says:

        Poor planning based on not having his shit together and being unprepared for a real Oscars push more like.

      • aly says:

        MissMary: ITA

      • Me says:

        Whatever the reason. Poor planning.

  30. KMS1083 says:

    Wow, with the sophie knowing Harvey and company. The plot thickens…and doesn’t Sophie’s brother work with bifa? I’m going to say that will be her debut as fiancée of benedict.

    • moodgirl says:

      It was mentioned on a thread about LFF.

      • MissMary says:

        As catty and tin hat as I’ve been, is it going too far to wonder if she needed/wanted funding for a project and BC needed an image overhaul (or wanted one/was told to get one) and here we are?

      • **sighs** says:

        Maybe she needed another shipment of octopi?

      • MissMary says:

        Cephalopods don’t come cheap.

      • moodgirl says:

        I agree. But they would receive something such as their own PR job and I see evidence of that. That PR didn’t come cheap and someone had huge connections. It can’t be a coincidence.

        Thank you for catching that mistake though. I need to watch it before I open my front door to HW. LOL. I think.

    • Aiofe says:

      at the end of the day, it’s celebitchy vs. the wienstein juggernaut in unlocking this mystery. onward, girls.

      • MissMary says:

        No matter how this pans out, us dissecting it on here, even if we’re 100% right and have eerily spot on predictions, won’t make the news, lol.

      • Lucifer says:

        everyday we put up a theory here n next day BC clarifies it.
        Why isnt he smiling- next day sourpuss smile
        why not talikg abt the engmnt- next day th WILWIPT
        whats your favourite-i dnt do favs,only one fav in my life

  31. EleanorRigby says:

    While a film doesn’t have to do well at the box office to be an Oscar contender there have been excellent points made that BC needs this film to do reasonably well financially for his future Hollywood casting opportunities. If he doesn’t get a nomination it’ll really be a disaster. He’s certainly not the only male Brit from which to choose in a casting decision.

    He needs some better PR. I think Karon has done fine up until recently but she’s out of her league now. This “engagement” looks ridiculous and he’s acting like a total tool; slamming his fan base (as crazy as some of them are they have money to spend) and seeming resentful of everything including the air he breathes. He wanted this, no one forced him into it. He could have remained a jobbing actor and done just fine. He wants it all and at the age of 38 is learning that doesn’t exist? That’s just pathetic, my 6 year old has a better grasp of this than he does.
    Hiddleston gets a lot of bunk for “playing the game” but he’s the smart one and, ultimately, will fair better professionally and personally.

    The guy is very talented. He’s not the first actor to want to do first-rate work and lead a private life. It can be done but Rule #1 is: “Don’t be a D*ck.”

    • J says:

      Um if he could control it he would. He’s on the verge of a nervous break down. His eyes aint remotely normal

      • Madly says:

        If that is true, the. Getting engaged to anyone while you were mentally unstable is the dumbest thing he could have done.

      • Aiofe says:

        FFS no it’s not dumb. People ddo weird things when unstable. Stop shaming the mentally ill. And no I don’t think he would have proposed if he were stable and yes he did this because he is grasping at some kind of stability. But it’s not dumb. To him it’s logical

      • J says:

        Yeah but madly youre not going to get rational decisions from someone in an irrational state of mind

        obviously just my personal viewpoint but idk how ppl can look at him and think the card deck is stable..there is no life 8n in him, no logic reason for him to toss what hes spent years building out

      • Madly says:

        @aliofe or what ever your name is spelled, as a child of a severely mentally ill parent, I would never make fun of mentally ill people, so calm down and don’t put words in my mouth.

        I was talking about his actions, not making a judgment against the man himself.

      • aly says:

        @Aiofe…if he is…that can’t end well.

      • Aiofe says:

        I never said you were making fun of him, but demonising him. Also, thanks for admitting you can’t read. makes sense.

      • Aiofe says:

        I agree aly. I just hope he calls it off before he really gets himself into a mess

    • moodgirl says:

      x 1 million

    • Lucifer says:

      now m more sure the enGAGement ad was put up by HW

    • aly says:

      @Aiofe: [disclaimer: providing this is just PR and not a combination of Ben being genuinely in love and the relationship being used as a publicity tool]: the best case scenario I can see is SH being with him at some events (not as an appendage but not invisible like she’s been so far), him smiling a little more and then after award season is over, before Hamlet, a PR note about the engagement being called off.
      If the relationship is real, considering how stressed Ben is looking, it could go either way. really. Stronger relationships have failed for less.
      I hope, for Ben’s sake, that SH is really supportive right now and helping him through the madness of this moment.

      • Lucifer says:

        the last line is sarcasm I hope?

      • aly says:

        Part of it yes, but if they’re together and in love, one would hope that she’s supportive.

        eta: I haven’t the first clue any more about the nature of their relationship *throws hands in the air*

  32. OhHey says:

    It’s not going to get any better this weekend, he’s doing a QA on Tumblr and the Cumberwhatevers are all aflutter that the internet will break. How many questions do you think there will be about the enGAGment??? Enough to nauseate him? How many do you think he’ll answer?

  33. Aiofe says:

    Can I get confirmation of a rumor he failed to turn up to HC filming? I am really worried about him

  34. Silly goose says:

    Sophie, come out of hiding! I wanna see your ring (I guess a family heirloom: cheap for BC and looks more ‘classy’ – just like the Times add).
    My theory is that she keeps telling him to grow up, his comments in the one interview about ‘as I get older I’m more aware of who is important’ business don’t sound like him. She is imposing an image on him and he tries to please her (he is a mummy’s boy who craves approval). He is bending backwards for her and that is showing in his ‘happiness ‘. And the engagement is also pushed by Weinstein, who thinks he is God.
    Shall I feel sorry for BC or call him stupid?

  35. tasha_nat says:

    I hereby dedicate Arctic Monkeys’ “Snap Out of It” to you, Bendy. It is now my official song to you.

    http://youtu.be/tlBIK9cTPS4

    LOL at the tumblr Q&A. I hope he gets snarky questions. It would be so entertaining.

  36. may23 says:

    I feel strangely privileged that I don’t get this guy’s massive appeal. I mean I like him though not much more than many other great actors sow seeing how everyone is going completely bonkers over his engagement and feel nothing is… amusing.

    • Intro Outro says:

      I thought as I read it that it surely was another masterpiece “article” by one of those Radio Times/Bustle fangirls aka writers. But it’s Irish Times! o__O

      ” Not that Cumberbatch is impressed by celebrity. Even his own. BBC’s Sherlock has catapulted him to the top of Sexiest Man Alive and Britain’s Greatest Thespian polls. But such things are of little consequence to Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch […] “I like to think that our atoms are made of stardust,” he muses. “I like to think that we’re revolving on this planet and revolving through the galaxy. I love having context that’s so much bigger than I can fathom. It’s fantastic to realise how insignificant you are.” He smiles: “So much more exciting than what somebody is wearing, don’t you think?” ” *facepalming into spiral and elliptical galaxy-filled eternity*

      Also I don’t quite get this: ” Some critics have unfairly criticised The Imitation Game for not foregrounding Turing’s homosexuality. Cumberbatch is quick to defend the project. “I asked people who knew him, if they knew he was gay. Was he camp? They all said no. It never occurred to them. People just didn’t think about those things. And he didn’t parade it. He didn’t want to be found out. His tragedy was that he had to keep it secret.” ”

      None of the critics I read who were not exactly happy with how Turing’s homosexuality was portrayed said anything about his behaviour not being “camp” enough. They would have appreciated if the film concentrated a bit more on how important and in many ways defining Turing’s sexuality was for him. Such a primitive rebuttal on Cumberbatch’s part. I am disappointed =/

      • icerose says:

        so agree with this “None of the critics I read who were not exactly happy with how Turing’s homosexuality was portrayed said anything about his behaviour not being “camp” enough. They would have appreciated if the film concentrated a bit more on how important and in many ways defining Turing’s sexuality was for him. Such a primitive rebuttal on Cumberbatch’s part. I am disappointed =/”

        And he does it again and again in every interview. He diverts the tactual criticism to something which he knows will get a different response light saying it was not appropriate to have explicit sex scenes because of the kids etc .None of the critics even mentioned sex scenes.

      • aly says:

        Some of them did, especially at the beginning (and fans did too)

      • Sandi says:

        Aly is right, some did. And the whole ‘They’re making Alan Turing straight’ bull that came first which almost seems like this response is for.

  37. Gracada says:

    Wow.

    Even this is not the Benedict I find fun. This isn’t fun Benedict. I read it going “What the…”

    http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/benedict-cumberbatch-it-s-fantastic-to-realise-how-insignificant-you-are-1.1999578

    • MissMary says:

      Honestly, it sounds like a rehash of some of the more serious things he’s said before–I didn’t read anything new. BUT… it does seem like a rebranding. Not an iota of his old charm evident. But that’s showbiz. I’m sure someone else is reading that going ‘OH There’s the BC i know and love!”

      • aly says:

        IMO, it’s way better than some of his last interviews *cough*ElleUK*cough*

      • Gracada says:

        Note — Entertainment Weekly and Us Magazine are pushing the MTV Impressions interview he did.

        I liked it, but the spread of it is kind of PR going…”See see he’s still funny and sweet….this is why you love him.”

        That or I am getting REALLY cynical at this point.

      • MissMary says:

        @Gracada: Agreed. Even though the tumblr q&a is on Dreamwork’s official tumblr, I’m side eyeing that now too as a “SEE? He’s doing a cute kids movie and is so charming and funny!” thing. But in all honesty I’m sure this q&a was arranged well in advance of this new spin.

        EW and Us are just below People in terms of “socially acceptable tabloids”–you get less side eye reading them on the bus than you would Weekly World News, but they’re still all PR fluff and tabloid gossip, shilling for high bidders.

      • OhHey says:

        Entertainment journalism is so gagworthy here I can’t even stomach it, if the most important thing that happened all week is that Kim Kartrashian got her butt and her boobs out then I don’t see them getting too deep into the dirt behind what’s going on with Benedict. If they were paying attention they’d probably be making up stories about it by now. His enGAGment didn’t even make their evening broadcasts.

      • MissMary says:

        THat’s why I think we’re about to get more spin–he’ll be fan-friendly again, not so much SH, get the good ol’ fashioned “awww, thinking woman’s crumpet!” vibe going once more.

      • Sandi says:

        I’m sure Weinstein is working on an Oscar image, although it’s unusually sloppy in its execution. That just doesn’t entirely explain why he looks and sounds like a mannequin.

        If he’s this affected by having to be ‘serious actor man who doesn’t care about fans’ when he isn’t that person, something is wrong. Yes, I get he’s not that person, but he’s an actor, why is he struggling to sell it?

      • lola says:

        @Sandi
        Maybe because HW made him do something he wants the most in his life (besides career succes) for publicity and oscar campaign. Maybe he was told he was supposed to “get” a gf and that didn’t work out so HW came up with engagement ad in Times (and shit on BC and his family tradition). Maybe it went a bit to far for BC to handle it.

      • Lucifer says:

        @lola could not agree more

    • blended says:

      i think the article was fine for what it’s purposes are, which is to promote TIG.

    • Me says:

      If they’re trying to get away from his “fangirly” fanbase, now is not a good time imo. December. A few weeks after initial box office numbers, right before Christmas, a few weeks before noms are announced. That would have been a good time for an engagement announcement and distancing from the fangurlz. Guess people wanted a Christmas holiday. We shall see. This year is going to be tough.

      • aly says:

        Yeah, that’s what I don’t get…I don’t work in PR, but from a commercial POV it looks like someone miscalculated big time. An engagement and a couple of digs at fans in themselves are not damaging per se…but when you’re promoting a movie like TIG, I don’t know, wouldn’t it be better to appeal to his core fan base?
        It is to be said, though, that one of the things I’ve read more often in forums, from casual fans and not fans is: “Cumberbatch is okay, a good actor, but my God his fans are nuts” so…idk…

    • Grace says:

      Oh. My. God, the guy has read ‘The Tao of Physics’ and likes to stare at the moon in his spare time. So zen-like. I must be beside myself with adoration. Wait, is it admiration? Never mind.

    • TotallyBiased says:

      I did NOT like that article. For someone who bemoans casual use of the term autistic, he’s pretty free with it himself. An autistic 17 year old is unlikely to be described as “having the mind of an 18 month old”–and certainly shouldn’t be the boy you describe after saying you observed ‘high-functioning’ autistic persons.
      And as for the love-struck reporter–didn’t Hiddles and Cavill both beat out the Otter in the ‘big’ competitions? i.e. Glamour UK? Grant you, last year Empire gave him the nod for sexiest movie star, and the Sun crowned him this year, but I tend to side-eye that as a lead-off fact in anyone’s article (yes, even my beloved Hiddles!)

      • Intro Outro says:

        Star- or rather PR-struck reporters really make me gag and then forcibly roll my eyes back into my head. By hand. Doesn’t matter whose interview I am reading. This Irish Times thingie was ridiculous.

      • Felice says:

        I’ve stood by him when people have called him ableist and I still won’t say he completely is but I will definitely say that he really needs to stop with throwing it around. I think he’s just severely ignorant about it.

      • Sandi says:

        I think he was trying to say there’s varying degrees so when people say every quirky genius-type character is autistic, it’s bad in a stereotype sense. But half of these quotes read a little nonsensical to me in a literal way.

      • aly says:

        Sometimes I wish Ben would take a deep breath before talking. He’s smart, but too impulsive and even things meant not in a malicious way come out twisted. Karon must have headdesked countless times.:)

  38. Aiofe says:

    this is from the EB blog, but it tends to make sense. anyone agree?

    http://eggsbenedish.tumblr.com/post/102568830142/submission

    • MissMary says:

      I legit avoid EB like the plague but… *hangs head in shame* I clicked the link this time.

      And was a bit surprised.

      I think it sounds like someone who has a lot of the same theories we’ve been bandying about here. Are they correct? Who knows. But to those of us in the tin hat society riding the conspiracy train, it makes some sense.

    • Green Eyes says:

      I agree that EB is a whole lotta crazy fangurls, but sometimes there are posts that are interesting and make sense. There’s a post written by “PR Girl” and I think it’s near the top of the site’s first page. It’s long so you can’t miss it. I really liked it and totally agreed with it.

      • j says:

        i thought it was hilarious. benedict cumberbatch the great and powerful lol weinstein’s spending millions but letting a Uk actor’s small pr firm call all the shots. oookay.

        if people were letting me do what i want, i sure as hell wouldnt look so dead inside.

  39. Wait I'm Typing says:

    http://m.celebdirtylaundry.com/2014/benedict-cumberbatch-engaged-proposing-marriage-girlfriend-sophie-hunter/

    The article above is dated October 20, well before the engagement was announced and there’s a nice little bit at the end about whether or not they would be using their engagement for pr. No one thought about it too much then but look where we are now.

    Ps. When I first pressed paste a qoute from Frankenstein came up that I’d copied yesterday (I have a soft spot for the monster). I thought it was funny how it could potentially apply to what we’re discussing.

    “I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”

    • gg says:

      They can’t even get her name right (Sophie Hunter vs. Rachel Hunter), it is obvious they have known each other since at least 2009 (Burlesque Fairytales) and seems unlikely they were serious last year since she was still living in NYC then and he was spending a lot of time with KB. Also by October 20 all the UK tabloids were reporting about the “trip to Edinburgh to ask for Sophie’s hand,” so the only new thing here is the PR angle and that is hardly a stretch. A lot of people expected that Benedict would be showing up with a GF come Oscar season, it”s just the engagement that seems a little…..extreme.

      • aly says:

        I remember, back when the whole thing started that I was one of the few on EB to suggest the PR angle and was shouted down. I didn’t expext the engagement, but I kinda saw the way the whole thing would go down publicily. These things, even engagements before a movie that could be a deal breaker happen and are predictable.
        As for EB it became quite the lair of negativity and gratuitous bashing and I ran the hell away from it. Escapism needs to be fun:)

      • moodgirl says:

        @gg – Now I ask, who on earth would know where they were going unless they put their business out purposely for someone to tell? I can go to the airport and catch a flight and absolutely no one on earth would know.

        There is no other explanation than they or their PR team – or her family – has to be putting out tidbits to benefit their own purposes. They have to be orchestrating this or they could get on the plane and keep their mouths shut. Even if someone knew where they were going they would have no idea why.

      • J says:

        @moodgirl -fans on twitter. he was spotted flying there and then with a woman. people were guessing that same theory on twitter that very day because they knew her mum lived in edinburgh

    • Aiofe says:

      again, to be fair, there is a chance the engagement rumours began because the tabloid reporters were going off of speculation on tumblr blogs and that senyorita crazy person. or, it could be have been a pr plant. no one knows. all I know is one of his friends denounced the DM article, off which the celeb dirty laundry one is based, as being base don tumblr speculation

  40. Aiofe says:

    An eb post from someone at one of the agencies in LA, a non conspiratorial and sobering view. Which makes you ask: is our speculation a form of denial of the obvious…the guy is a major douche?

    http://eggsbenedish.tumblr.com/post/102591483787/pr-here

    • MissLouLou says:

      **warning this is now 3 bottles of wine talking and a litre of ice-cream…

      I’d like to think that BC isn’t a douche. I like to think that he is the lovable Dork!batch that charmed me into falling for him.

      I just don’t know, I wish I did. EB stuff for me is always, always taken with a grain of salt.

      I just wish that I could figure out, if the relationship is real, WHY THE F$&K he announced it days before an American press tour. The timing alone, despite what he says, screams PR push to me.

      For a man who bangs on about private life being private, the announcement was a *very* public thing, no, friends or not.

      Ugh, you know what, I should just go back to drinking and watching Fun!Ben or maybe even Hiddles the Dragonfly King.

    • Sooth says:

      I wouldn’t be so quick to believe that anyone posting on that site is who they say they are. I doubt very much that person works in PR.

      • aly says:

        She works for agencies and doesn’t know how IMDB works? Really?
        Okay then…so much crap in her post…O.o
        So I’m asking to Sandi and Me who seem to have some insight on how these things work, what do you ladies think?

        Also: Carrell? LOL

      • Sandi says:

        *swoops in*

        No. Maybe this person interned once but that’s about it.

        Weinstein doesn’t have great PR in the US? What…? He has a fleet plus he hires more during Oscar season, and that’s with access to Miramax’s people.

        You are who you are told to be during a Harvey campaign. Being yourself is not usually on the table for A-listers let alone for a UK actor without huge traction in the US.

        But there’s no reason to screw the pooch, so to speak, and it doesn’t work anyway. The more ardent fans won’t leave. What I am missing, I have no idea.

      • Aiofe says:

        i think she meant HE doesn’t have a great PR firm in the us

      • aly says:

        Last Oscar campaign I followed, not as closely, was in 2005, but HW pr campaigns are pretty much infamously known …
        Aiofe, but it still doesn’t make sense. First of all…he has an American agent (therefore a manager, a PR person), second of all if he’s campaigning for a movie, the studio will provide PR if he doesn’t have one. In this case, Miramax, I think — and Weinstein. It’s not rocket science…

        Thank you, Sandi…it’s like, leaving aside the bloody engagement for a moment, there are pieces of the puzzle either missing or all screwed up…

      • Sandi says:

        @ Aiofe : no, she means Weinstein. She goes on to talk about A:OC not winning anything as proof of Weinstein’s lack of prowess. In reality, that movie getting major noms to begin with is proof of his reach. Even if she did mean BC’s PR, still makes zero sense because Weinstein’s is going to run it anyway.

        @aly: yes, I know something’s wrong but I have no idea what. That’s why no one conspiracy theory fits.

    • joe spider says:

      @ Aiofe
      a severe attack of verbal diarrhoea or talks a lot and says nothing? I bailed out part way through from boredom.

    • Aiofe says:

      Good call out you guys!

    • **sighs** says:

      I remember an interview with OP where she said that BC was extraordinarily ambitious, or something to that effect. I think were all seeing that now.

      • aly says:

        He’s always been ambitious, that part of him was crystal clear to me. Being ambitious is not a bad thing in itself. I think that what we’re seeing is ambition clashing with dignity and morals, that’s possibly why he looks so grumpy/angry.
        I recalled something else…do you remember the interview for Hollywood Reporter came out? He was grumpy, bitchy — because he was feeling attacked/mislead by the journalist and that thing on DM had just come out. Maybe he’s experiencing something similar?
        Whatever it is, he seriously needs to get over it…

    • MissMary says:

      The thing is…a person “in the industry” gets caught posting on a site like EB? They can get fired so fast, and never work in that industry again. And I don’t mean the PR shills hired to do online clean up on gossip sites. I take anyone claiming to be PR, industry professionals, or somehow connected to BC with a gigantic serving of salt, esp on EB.

      • Aiofe says:

        I don’t think that person claimed to be connected with BC though there have been plenty on EB claiming to have a second/third hand connection to him.i don’t believe any of them.

      • aly says:

        Yeah, plus…the writing style doesn’t read as one of a person who works in talent agencies for a living, IMO.
        Anyway, I dismiss 99% of the stuff that comes from there.

    • Green Eyes says:

      I found the article interesting and it’s how I am feeling about BC right now. AlthoughI don’t need anyone with PR or Agency credentials to tell me what I am seeing (or what we are all seeing, as it appears that many people on here seem to agree) is amiss. I was never a big fan, only liked him as Sherlock. Saw him in a few things that I either did not remember him in (like the program about the Jamaican immigrant in WW2 England) and did not like him in (Parade’s End – couldn’t even finish Episode 1, which is weird because the story is really good). So I guess my stakes in the fandom are relatively small. Like I said, I am a really big fan of his Sherlock and think he’s done a really great job with it and I also think he’s rather hot in it as well (!).

      But even from the beginning I found him both refreshingly honest and funny, as well as immature, self-absorbed and thin-skinned. What’s really interesting about him – especially at this time – is his duplicity. Look at me/don’t look at me!; I love my fans/I deplore my fans; I covet my privacy/Hey! Here’s the woman I proposed to! Over here! – it’s downright jarring.
      Other celebrities don’t seem to have such a wide-margin of duplicity (at least to me): George Clooney is basically WYSIWYG – and that is a direct quote from a studio head whom I once knew and who worked with him closely.

      So, I guess it’s time to step away from the craziness, though I have to say, that like a car accident/train wreck it’s REALLY hard to look away.

    • lu says:

      If you’ve read the post linked, did you pay attention to what she says about herself, right near the top?

      “I’ve said before I don’t work for a PR firm. I work at a top 5 Agency in LA, and I don’t do work out of London or for him. The PR nickname just sort of caught on here”

      She works for a talent agency and is talking about it from the perspective of someone in the business in LA, not someone who specializes in PR herself. That’s all. She could be a secretary or other person involved in the work; just an observer who sees what goes on from close at hand. I don’t think she ever claimed otherwise.

  41. MissLouLou says:

    If BC is trying for a career makeover (less crazies, more respectable), then the fans that *are* sticking with him are the tumblr, twitter fangirls who believe that he is a unicorn prince that farts rainbows. It’s the other fans, the other half or three quarters if his fandom that are taking a step back and going ‘WTF’. They are the fans he cant afford to lose. They are the fans who are (or were) more likely to stick around. The tumblr fangirls/nannies/fannies are the ones he needs to shed. Except its not working like that. It’s the other ones he risks alienating with his shark eyes and lack of emotion and pissy attitude.

    I’m sticking with him, but I’m switching most of my affection to the Dragonfly King for now. Until Benny either lightens up or wises up.

    Eh but wtf do I know.

    **this thought brought to you by 2 bottles of wine due to my boss of 12 years retiring today and me feeling incredibly depressed at losing my confidante at work!

    • **sighs** says:

      Right? In reality it’s actually the more somewhat normal fans he has that he’s pushing away, not the truly crazy ones. It’s people like the ones on this site, who are educated, intelligent women in their own right, who really only follow him in this forum, and quietly support his work in real life. It’s those that are seeing the cracks in the facade. The ones who would actually be interested in a film about Turing.
      I wonder how long it will take him to realize he’s shooting himself in the foot with this? Or how long it will take HW to realize that in general BC’s fans aren’t average tumblr girls who believe everything they read in People magazine and are smart enough to put 2+ 25,364 together?

      • aly says:

        Not long, it’s going to be a few interesting months;) – if he doesn’t crack first.

      • Aiofe says:

        well said, sigh. though if HW is behind the secret girlfriend/fiance thing, i imagine it was planned at the beginning of the year and well thought out. not sure it’s about getting rid of fans but drowning them out with talk of him as a serious actor in a serious relationship

      • MissMary says:

        As some people have pointed out, if we’re going down that road with the conspiracies, there’s some signs the groundwork may have been laid in the early spring, before the official announcement of HW’s purchasing TIG was made. And if BC has been “friending up” people in HW’s circle or vice versa, it’s quite probable he/the people involved in the movie knew the purchase was very likely.

      • aly says:

        I’m hesitant to hop completely on board of the total conspiracy train, but …hypothetically speaking, it might have started at the Oscars last year…
        Let’s remember that Ben last year was in two of the BP nominated movies. Granted, they were small parts…but he was there.
        the SGF thingy is such a transparent thing…

      • Aiofe says:

        here’s what i’m struggling with: has HW’s people been trying to set him up with a fake/semi-real partner this year for the coming Oscar campaign, or has HW been sincerely matching him up with Brits in his circle as a kind of wifey audition? The latter creeps me out.

      • aly says:

        The former, IMO. Pesky things like real feelings can get in the way of $$$$$

      • Aiofe says:

        it seems like a lot of trouble to go to for a semi-real partnership, unless compatibility for the long haul of the campaign was the issue.

      • Sandi says:

        @MissMary: TIG was open auction bidding among many distributors at Berlin. Five were reached out to in January, including Weinstein, by CAA (not usual), but I don’t believe it was a lock before then. The bidding was too fierce, imo.

    • moodgirl says:

      Remember BC going to a major fashion event with Anna Wintour last year? It may have been fashion week. Maybe he was scoping out some of the models for fresh meat and would have the Dragon Queen introduce him if he saw something interesting? Or that was PR as well – hey I’m front and center with Anna W.

      I think he was scoping out for a partner hard just for the pr aspect and because he in no way wanted to appear as a single guy going to the Oscars with his publicist like last year. When she was flashing her boobs and looking like his grandma.

      Tbh I would wonder about him and that is coming from someone who went to the prom only because my friend set me up with her cousin. Going alone would have been pathetic. Showing up with a gf would definitely cool the jets of his screaming fansgirls. It’s a smart plan actually. And he kills two birds with one stone as he presents himself as a mature, serious leading man and kills any ugly rumors starring as a gay character while showing up single.

  42. Lucifer says:

    “Don’t know if anyone caught this either, but his quote on it being for friends before they saw a picture of her with a ring on her finger. Do his fans realize this means the announcement wasn’t for them? “