Benedict Cumberbatch: Sophie Hunter ‘loves me back to the same degree’

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This year, I’m thankful that the world has been fully and utterly ‘Batched and that so many people are now “in” on the Otter King aka Benedict Cumberbatch. I’m also thankful for Cumby’s Oscar campaign, because the past month of gossip would have been pretty dead without it. But I also hope – for his sake and for mine – that Benedict tones it down. Soon. He is this year’s Jennifer Lawrence/Anne Hathaway. He is everywhere. He is oversaturated. Take this Hello Magazine interview – I believe Benedict really spoke to Hello, but I had to check some of these quotes to make sure that they weren’t duplicates from his People Mag interview. There are some similar quotes, for sure, but I think Benedict literally has talking points that he tries to “hit” in all of the magazine interviews. Some highlights:

On his engagement
It’s an amazing thing to find somebody you love. It’s amazing to find somebody you love at all, let alone somebody who loves you back and to the same degree. And if that is amazing, well, considering how busy both Sophie and I are, it’s a minor miracle that we met each other at all in the way we did. To have Sophie in my life is something I am incredibly grateful for and very excited about. It’s a bit of a golden moment for me right now and I am loving it. I think I’ll be having a very private moment.

Does Sophie need to worry about the legendary Cumberbitches?
I wish people wouldn’t call them that. My fans are incredibly smart and expressive people and Cumberbitches was a name that some of them thought to call themselves early and it just caught on. But what they really are is a bunch of self-regulating, intelligent and determined young people – or if they’re not young, they’re young in spirit. And by the way, they come from both sexes, too. I’m sure they’ll get over my being engaged – they’re smart, they’ll get used to the idea.

On his engagement announcement
I would have done that even if I had not been in this strange, heightened position that I am of being a famous actor. It was really an announcement to my friends and family, because, believe me, as many people as I told after the moment, I couldn’t spend all my time on the phone – I had to get back to playing Richard III. So this was, for me, a standard English way of letting people know about the situation and a way of trying to normalise something that is deeply personal to me.

On his busy schedule
It’s been such an embarrassment of riches coming my way that it’s been very, very hard to turn down. Which is quite something for me because I am actually incredibly lazy and I love nothing better than to kick back, see friends and family and just go on a few holidays. But it is a crazy schedule I have sometimes and right now is just the most bizarre it’s ever been. The next couple of weeks are going to be incredibly busy; to tell you the truth I’m terrified about them.

He quit smoking and is chewing gum
I’ve given up smoking. Although I shouldn’t say that, because if I ever have a cigarette again it’ll be all over the place. ‘Oh, he lied.’ But, touch wood, I haven’t smoked for a month now and it’s really helping. I try to eat healthy, I try not to each late at night – although that’s hard right now with the yo-yoing all over the world – and it really helps that I have a lot of great people around me to try to check that I’m doing well.

Is he competing with Eddie Redmayne
It’s not a rivalry, it’s a friendship. I will be the first person on my feet if Eddie wins any of the prizes he will rightfully be nominated for – I will be front and centre, screaming, clapping and delighting in any accolade that is thrown his way. People can try to whip it up between us all they like – Eddie and I will just stand back and laugh at you all.

[From Hello Magazine, print edition, December 1, 2014]

I think Eddie and Bendy used to be quite friendly, with Eddie as something like a little brother. But I think Benedict was and is afraid that Eddie might be running a more effective Oscar campaign.

As for all of the engagement stuff… God, Benedict. Just… STAHP. How many times did he use the word “amazing”? Let’s unpack it – “It’s amazing to find somebody you love at all, let alone somebody who loves you back and to the same degree.” Maybe Sophie is super-private and very self-contained, but I’m not really getting a “demonstrative loved-up” feel from them. Their relationship/engagement really does feel like two cold, posh English people deciding to settle down into a marriage of convenience. But I was complaining about how he was treating Sophie (in the press) as simply an extension of himself, so at least he’s now referring to her as her own person. “And if that is amazing, well, considering how busy both Sophie and I are…” Is she working now? I’m really asking.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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423 Responses to “Benedict Cumberbatch: Sophie Hunter ‘loves me back to the same degree’”

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  1. Claire says:

    First!

    • Rosie says:

      I’m pretty sure this interview was done in LA and is a rehash from the entertainment inquirer, with a few added quotes. Same old. Getting old. Boring!! I wonder if he’ll bring her to the premier of the Hobbit?? If we start speculating now…it’ll prepare his PR of what’s to come and hopefully, hopefully BC will buy her a new dress!! I swear if she wears that floral dress to one more red carpet I’ll be flipping somersaults with laughter.

      • wiffie says:

        OK I know this site loves cumby. Bit I scroll past the same effing article every gd day. Today I opened it only to tell you to please just stop? The articles to read are getting less and less because of the three daily BC posts, that are each based on a single sentence from one interview.

        In starting to feel like it’s a dare? Cruel inside joke? Wtf is going on? I’m over it.

      • NYer says:

        It’s Cumberbitch click bait. Increases page views. Have you seen the number of comments every time something about him is posted?

      • wiffie says:

        @nyer that’s funny, because this is the second post I’ve ever actually clicked on. I scroll past every time. First was curiosity to see what the big deal was. This one just to comment because he gets two articles a day instead of one ever other, and the headlines are reworded versions of the same sentence. I hate that there are two less articles to read and be interested in every day, makes me sad. There are few other gossip does I enjoy reading anymore, and this one has me scrolling more and more.

      • Luciana says:

        I agree with Wiffie. This site used to be fun when it wasn’t Benedet Whatever his last name daily blog.

      • Kara says:

        Another one here who doesn’t get it. I used to scroll past as well, but then I started clicking and reading to comments to see if I could understand what exactly the story/fascination is? But I still don’t get it. Which is actually frustrating me. Oh well. I mean, I read/comment on Kardashian stories, so what do I know? Haha.

    • someonestolemyname says:

      How about an Article on Damian Lewis , The Emmy Award winning British actor from HOMELAND, who got an OBE today, presented by Prince William.

  2. OhHey says:

    Oh, FFS. PLEASE SHUT UP, Benedict. Please. Stop trying to convince everyone that this is a real relationship. I have more chemistry with the people who pick up my garbage in the morning.

    • TheCountess says:

      Or you know, maybe he hasn’t exposed much of his relationship to the public because of the insane people out there who think they “know” him enough to go after/attack/judge anyone he chooses to date?

      • Etheldreda says:

        Nobody’s asking him to ‘expose his relationship’. But if you’re in love with someone, it shows – particularly if you’re newly engaged after a whirlwind-ish romance. Benedict and Sophie have less chemistry togther than Clooney and Stacey. And that’s really setting the bar low.

      • OhHey says:

        What Etheldreda said….

      • TheCountess says:

        “I have more chemistry with the people who pick up my garbage in the morning.”

        I’m sorry, but making these kinds of hyperbolic statements about someone you know only through pictures and gossip items makes the person making the statements sound insane. You don’t know this man personally; please stop fretting over how “real” his relationship is with this woman who is not you. There’s a reason why he likely is keeping his personal relationships low key and it insanity like this as Exhibit A. He doesn’t owe you a convincing performance.

      • moodgirl says:

        He has exposed everything but his privates. Just shut up already.

      • Etheldreda says:

        ”Low key”? You mean like putting an ad in The Times 2 days before the start of a major US promotional tour? Like talking about it in every single interview (and before anyone says ”He gets asked these questions and has to answer”, celebs don’t have to answer anything, and often get to pre-approve questions before an interview starts.)?

      • Soothy says:

        Stop trying to paint people sideeying this as crazy. It’s total bullshit.
        Oh and I nearly lost my spleen laughing at the ‘he wants to keep it private’ thing you said.

        Thanks.

      • OhHey says:

        “There’s a reason why he likely is keeping his personal relationships low key and it insanity like this as Exhibit A”.

        Oh, the irony.

      • someonestolemyname says:

        I don’t know much about him. Why are his fans so upset?
        Did he tell the press for years he would NEVER marry?

        Why are his fans shocked that a young-ish,( not sure how old he is)Popular actor would get married

        His fandom is lost on me, I just don’t get the hype with him, but he must have something though, because his Fans went bezerk when he got engaged. LOL.

      • Onthefly says:

        Whatever The Countess and someonestolemyname said, I second it word for word. These comments are completely irrational.

    • Granger says:

      Yeah. Of course we have no idea what they’re like behind closed doors, but in public, they’re like siblings. And considering how playful he can be — joking with fans while filming Sherlock, photo bombing U2, etc — this “we’re so proper and private” act seems really forced.

  3. blue marie says:

    I feel blah about them, but damn he’s pushing her hard.. or am I the only one that thinks that?

    • Kiddo says:

      blue marie, THEY ARE EQUALS, DAMMIT. And why am I enjoying this, while others, not so much?

      Happy Thanksgiving to you, my dear. We’re having Rollypolly Fishheads.

    • qwerty says:

      I’m sick too and I don’t even ead it, just look over the headlines. I was gonna watch Sherlock but now I’m not sure, don’t like to know too much about an actor if I’m gonna get invested in a show. He needs to stop talking.

  4. GingerCrunch says:

    I say kiss of death for the relationship if he keeps over-analyzing it to anybody in the press who will print it. Uncle!

  5. TheCountess says:

    I said this elsewhere, but I think he’s already dinged himself off the podium for Oscar night. He’ll get nominated, but the film is generally being received as a disappointment – given the expectations – and this media blitz has already turned a lot of people off on him. I thought depending on reviews, Michael Keaton had a very good chance of getting the wave of support for making a big return in an extremely well-reviewed film and spoiling the Oscar party for Bentobox and Redmayne, and now I’m fairly confident of that.

  6. Claire says:

    “Loves me back to the same degree”

    Is it a stretch to say the weird and awkward phrasing he consistently displays when talking about her is a sign of disingenuousness? I dunno I haven’t analysed his speech but it doesn’t sound like him.

    And how is this for deduction, ladies:

    Would her family not have gotten a talking to after they chatted with the press? They may have even given away his game by revealing they’d been together for such a short period. Perhaps that’s why they’re frostier than frosty the snowman. She and her family realised there’s some degree of mechination to what they thought was just romance.

    Just a thought if one assumes everything that’s happened had a real and genuine base here.

    • OhHey says:

      Where’s the freakin’ “romance”? I see nothing. I see him running his mouth trying to convince everyone but it’s completely falling flat, trying too hard, if she was that spectacular he wouldn’t have to keep talking about her as if she was an inanimate object and trying to prove she ‘really really likes me’ [Sally Field..]. If it’s only romance behind closed doors then that’s not ‘romance’, not in my book. I don’t need PDA, I need mutual show of affection and respect. He’s behaving like someone who’s not very convinced about it himself.

      • **sighs** says:

        Well, considering that the degree to which he *appears* to love her is about a 0… You know, I’m feeling generous today because it’s the day before thanksgiving and I have some *amazing* smelling baking in the oven… I’ll even give it a 1 degree.
        He appears to love her to 1 degree. So I’m going to assume she loves him back the same degree. If that’s a heat measurement, I hope they have some parkas.

      • cheryl says:

        Thanks for spelling out how the degree system works.
        This all makes sense now. It’s a 0-1 degree (range) mutual relationship.
        I think the garbage men referenced in an earlier post might top this at a 2.5 degree relationship.

    • Lucifer says:

      can someone explain how can someone measure the degree of love? i m an engineer and my books failed me 😀

      • Lindy79 says:

        I’m pretty sure “Degree of Love” is the name of a Mills and Boone book about a posh yet emotionally stunted professor who falls in love with a plan Jane student, who when she takes off her glasses, is a stunning beauty.

        Fabio was on the cover in a cardigan with tweed elbow patches and he had his wooden pointer out.

      • moodgirl says:

        Sounds like insecurity. I see he’s using her name now.

      • Lucifer says:

        lindy u crack me up.
        @moodgirl we r yet to c vdo proof of it..
        ohsht i said it

      • moodgirl says:

        @Lucifer – Now that I think of it, isn’t this a rehashing of a previous interview and originally he DIDN’T use her name? I guess PR or the writer is putting her name in now. I will try to find it through the millions of lines of crap he has put out.

      • Linz says:

        @Moodgirl.

        He didn’t say/use her name. The Writer added her name.

      • MissMary says:

        @moodgirl: I think my mom still has that book… Fabio is the professor, yes? *snicker*

    • moodgirl says:

      Doesn’t this guy sound like the perfect example of a paranoid, insecure man? Does he ask her “What is your percentage today honey?” What criteria – mathematical or verbal confirmation – is he using and what is he using to measure it, a daily survey? Pure stupid. Shut up.

  7. Etheldreda says:

    She loves me yeah! yeah! yeah!

    • Beth says:

      And with a love like that
      You know you (Cumberbitches) should be glad! 🙂

      • OhHey says:

        Speaking of which, has it been confirmed that he actually stated to a reporter that he “found his cumberbitch” and he’s going to marry her? For someone who supposedly hates that term, would he have actually said that to a reporter or is that some license on the reporter’s part?

      • ellesbelles says:

        @OH

        I believe it was from a post from showbiz411 where the blogger claims that Ben made that as a direct quote to him. I take it with a grain of salt, (no offense to our proprietors) as its something that would definitely get a reaction from his fan base and its relatively difficult to attribute if you dont know the source

      • j says:

        @ellebelles

        yeah that’s a tab gossip blog, guy used to work for fox news lol

  8. Amy Tennant says:

    I can’t stand to read through hundreds and hundreds of comments every time, but I think the way he talks about her is sweet. Especially the one yesterday, “She loves me, and she’s proud of me.” I wish them both many many years of happiness together.

    • moodgirl says:

      10.00 for you. Must be a great part-time job. At least I hope it’s part-time.

      • Estella says:

        Better to be working part-time then full-time crazy on a gossip site.

      • Amy Tennant says:

        ??? Ten points? Job? I’m sorry I don’t understand this comment. Is this a reference to something? Sorry.

      • moodgirl says:

        I work full time. My brain is good at catching BS. Now go back to IMDB. Don’t forget your $10.00 and tell HW your BS isn’t working.

      • Amy Tennant says:

        ??? I still don’t get it. Who’s HW? Why are we talking about part or full time? I work full time as a librarian, but I do enjoy coming to this site and conversing with everyone. I wish I could get paid to surf gossip sites! It sounds wonderful. But I’m just a civilian with my own opinions just like everyone else here. Best wishes to you and have a very happy Thanksgiving (to those of you in the US) and a great weekend to everyone!

    • Soothy says:

      ‘Full time crazy’

      Yeah. Sure.

  9. tasha_nat says:

    “Loves me back to the same degree”

    Which is…er…what..how much..exactly? Jeez, can’t you even say you love her without couching it in some weird babble/word vomit?

  10. ellesbelles says:

    I let out a very unladylike shriek of laughter.

    Its really getting ridiculous Ben. Please stop talking for like 4 months. Just smile and give intelligent interviews that dont involve “Our lady of the eight legged sea creatures who must not be named”. Should we call her Ursula the sea witch?

    Reasons I’m still a cumber-kitten:
    I like your acting
    I like your face
    I like your voice

    Right now you sound like a twat.

    • Claire says:

      I hate those douchey Cumberxxxxxxxx names but Cumberkitten is cute 🙂

      • ellesbelles says:

        I really cant with Cumberbitch. It just rubs me the wrong way. It works for others but I never latched on. Kitten is rather benign, as I have no desire to be a crazy fan wanting to make a suit out of his skin lol

      • gg says:

        I’m OK with straight-up bitch. Ms. Bitch if ya nasty

    • delphi says:

      *standing ovation* Exactly. Good lord, man…for somebody usually so funny/snarky/erudite, you’re coming off like a sappy mess. Like all of your interviews must be read (in my head) in an overly-dramatic, soap actor-esque delivery with swelling strings behind it.

      What’s next? A full Busby Berkley song and dance routine expounding your love, complete with synchronized otters swimming in color-lit pools, squid-shaped fountains, and a bevy of dancers sporting sequined deerstalkers?

      Oh my god. This must happen.

      But in reality…WE GET IT BENNY! Stop flogging it! *facepalm* This is just…a PR nightmare.

      • ellesbelles says:

        complete with synchronized otters swimming in color-lit pools, squid-shaped fountains, and a bevy of dancers sporting sequined deerstalkers?

        DEAD!!!! I’m cracking up

    • OhHey says:

      Look, he was practicing already for his beloved “Show me your tentacles!” ROFL
      http://www.vox.com/2014/11/26/7290373/benedict-cumberbatch-penguins

      • ellesbelles says:

        oh my god, I just snorted loudly!

        And is this really Bens first big budget voice role? He’s certainly not new to doing voice work. Penglings in the south amazon anyone?

        Ludacris butterballs is everything.

  11. koko says:

    Famous actor??? Ego…much.

  12. j.eyre says:

    “Stop being so crass about my fans – they are all lovely and brilliant – clearly, because the adore me. And for heavens sake’s, they aren’t all misguided teenage girls – millions of men revere me as well. But I am simply humbled by how much I mean to the rest of the world. The credit goes to my parents, obviously; they are the ones who did such an amazing job creating me. And credit goes to the amazing person I proposed to; she reveres me in the same way I revere so it’s… amazing. I wish I could publicize my proposal in the newspaper, which is how I always meant to do it, all over again.”

    • Sixer says:

      Yes, but is the SEX any good?

      • j.eyre says:

        A cr@p – that’s the next talking point, isn’t it?

        We’re going to need a bigger bunker…

      • OhHey says:

        To hear him talk about it, he’s fucking magic. (Re ‘what Sherlock, I mean *I* would do in bed). Even Matthew Goode said “he’s an animal lover, emphasis on the “animal”. Must be nice/pathetic when you have to have your friends shill your bedroom skills in the media.

      • Sixer says:

        Oh, Miss Eyre. I’m afraid so. Mountains will tremble.

      • **sighs** says:

        Sixer! No! Please don’t give them the idea we need to hear about their sex life. I’d like to keep my thanksgiving dinner down please.

      • Floribunda says:

        Oh, god no. Can you imagine what a blow-by-blow (excuse terrible pun) account that would end up being? Described at great length, but in purely abstract, nonspecific terms of course. Mind you, the way this is escalating I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he did turn up in next month’s Cosmo with a double-page spread on ‘Sherlock’s Sizzling Sex Tips’.

        I’m officially hibernating.

      • Sixer says:

        It’s was US talking about HIM talking about THEIR sex life, that I was talking about…

        … oh, never mind!

      • moodgirl says:

        @Sixer – Is the sex any good? Doubtful unless he wraps his p-nis in insulated paper.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Sixer, well, if his description of himself as Sherlock is any indication; he does what he wants, has a routine, finishes very quickly, and pays no attention to his partner. I don’t think we need to go into any more detail. In fact, I would be thankful if nobody did. Pilgrims were very anti-sex talk, I believe. Just think of the turkey!

      • Grace says:

        @moodgirl, ouch! I guess he started it.

      • MtnRunner says:

        Thanks to Sixer, we now know what angle Cumby will be taking in promoting his engagement since his PR people are obviously taking cues from the Celebitches.

        *waves to Karon, Emily et al…*

        How long do we give him to start talking about their amazing sex life and how pleased Sophie is with his violin fingers? 3 days? A week?

      • Grace says:

        No. No. No. Can he save the sex talk for some magazine I’d never buy like Glamour or Cosmo? Not that I buy Vogue. No. Just. No. Full stop.

      • Sixer says:

        NO, NO! Guys, you’re missing the point!

        We don’t want him to mention SEX because we don’t want endless discussions about his SEX hereabouts. See?

        Miss Jane! Unlock the bunker!

      • MtnRunner says:

        Grace, doesn’t matter what mag its in… you’ll get the juicy bits right here. Kaiser will see to it.

        *knock, knock, knocking on bunker door*

      • EleanorRigby says:

        I’m willing to bet my house he finishes and then cries.

      • j.eyre says:

        I am going to have to ask for the secret knock, Sixer…

      • Isadora says:

        Of course the sex will be great because.. you know… he watched a lot of pr0n. Which totally makes him an… er… “explosive” lover.

      • moodgirl says:

        @EleanorRigby – “I’m willing to bet my house that he finishes and then cries.” Best of the day.

      • Emily says:

        If he has to make a point to brag about his prowess in the sack…

    • MtnRunner says:

      Sherlock sex reminds me of Flight of the Conchords “Business Time”.

      “Makin’ love for two minutes. When it’s with me, you only need two minutes, because I’m so INTENSE.”

      Please PR people, just don’t go there, we shall be forced to mock him further and I have things I need to get done now that holiday season is upon us…

    • EscapedConvent says:

      @Miss Eyre,

      Bravissima! Cumby should hire you to write his self-promotional speeches—yours is so much better.

  13. lisa2 says:

    I’m not a fan girl.. but looking from the outside I think he is trying to tone down the negative about his relationship. Trying to let his fans know that he is happy and in love with her.

    Maybe someone has told him about what is being said about them

    • OhHey says:

      The negative all comes FROM them. Affection? Zero. Love? Zero? Compatibility? Zero. And yet he’s out there like a carnival barker saying how much he loves her and she loves him back, because he said so, we should believe him. Shut up already. If they’re telling him what’s being said about him, please tell him to shut up about it. Tell him that his bizarre behavior has put me off seeing the movie at all, and I am a fan of his work, but I’m sick to death of his dog and pony show. Yuck. Please be private again.

      • Lucifer says:

        the more quotes he makes the more i become sure of the enSHAMment

      • Emily says:

        I actually think she’s a good fit both looks wise and career. Actors are egotistical by nature. Can you imagine having to be competitive with your spouse over work? If he wants to raise a family, makes sense for someone to be home more often with the children.

        BUT, I don’t buy it for a minute. This situation is so forced and unnatural. Especially since fans have seen how he is when he actually cares for his partner. He’s done a 180 in terms of how he presents himself publicly. If it’s in any way real, I feel sorry for Sophie.

      • Claire says:

        Emily, you know we can spend hours on here dissecting every bit of information, but your simple explanation, with some of the big giveaways like their coldness toward one another and his multiple explanations for why he chose to announce it in the Times, is really all you need to see this for what it is.

        I don’t think we’ve heard from you often: do you think they’ll get married despite the artificialness of it or that they’ll break it off eventually?

      • llc says:

        These comments are so sad. Did you all think he was going to marry you? She’s an attractive and educated woman. They have similar backgrounds and, apparently, know each other well. I guess this is the older lady version of the Belibers.

        P.S. He would never have married any of you.

    • moodgirl says:

      It wouldn’t be an issue if he would just stop talking about. He advertised it in the Times then gets shitty that people ask questions. Just be honest and admit it’s a PR move and be done with it.

    • Soothy says:

      He’s not ‘toning down’ anything. He’s whipping up press and public attention and he knows it.
      And please stop trying to demonise people on here who are quite rightly wtfing their way through all this. He doesnt need to ‘let fans know’ anything. This is just the problem. He needs to STFU.

  14. Falkor says:

    This is my first comment on a Cumberbatch thread, mostly because I don’t know who he is and I don’t particularly care. But I would really appreciate it if he would stop trying to forcefully shove his beautiful fairytale twoo wuv down my throat via daily headlines. Anything you gotta try that damn hard to push is something you’re trying to sell.

  15. Madly says:

    You know what they say, if you have to prove how happy you are, you maybe trying to prove it to yourself.

    Finally glad to hear that others out there are sick of this show and aren’t seeing the grand romance we are being sold.

    Ps, for all those out there who said he couldn’t say her name, voila, a quick call to hello and answered your quibbles. So thoughtful for the PR lacked to think of us.

    • moodgirl says:

      I think her name was put in after the fact because I remember that “lucky to meet due to busy schedules ” and I don’t remember her name being mentioned. And, although he makes the statement, he never states how they met (HW).

  16. Lindsey G says:

    Sounds like an arranged marriage…

  17. Grace says:

    Never have I thought I’d see the day BC giving an interview to Hello regarding his personal life, but here we are. I am just bored. What is the next interview going to be in? Maybe he will say he loves her too. *yawn*

    • moodgirl says:

      @Grace – For someone who claims to be so private and had such a shitty attitude because he didn’t want to talk about it WHY ON EARTH IS HE GIVING INTERVIEWS TO PEOPLE AND HELLO UNLESS HE HAS ULTERIOR MOTIVES. It only adds up to one thing: A PR campaign. Nothing else makes sense. I don’t care if the sex is smokin’. Which is highly doubtful. Really, really doubtful. Really.

      • Cornish Pixie says:

        When people talk about the sex I am reminded of a comedian talking about Charles and Diana years ago. He said they too had no chemistry and that he imagined Charles saying, “I’m arriving. Shall we arrive together?”

    • MtnRunner says:

      The things you do for love… I mean, a statue. If he wasn’t thirsty for Oscar acclaim, he wouldn’t feel the need to “sell” his romance to anyone.

      I’m no Sophie hater; in fact, I thought she sounded good for him. But the strange way that they have conducted themselves since the LFF premier has me wondering how much of this romance is driven by his dream of an Oscar. His impersonal and egocentric statements about Sophie haven’t helped.

      I wonder if Ben could even be objective enough to know how much he truly loves Sophie (or vice versa) with this engagement being so enmeshed with his Oscar Campaign. If it’s the real deal, he shouldn’t be concerned what anyone thinks; but the way he keeps adjusting his PR, it just seems reactionary and therefore forced. It’s quite sad, really.

  18. Nuzzybear says:

    JUMP ON THE COUCH!!!

    • Beth says:

      He will outdo the Cruise by jumping on the couch and popping a bottle of champagne while balancing a glass on his arse a la Kardashian, and selling the exclusive pictures to the Daily Mail. To be followed up with a video of him performing the stunt in different locations around his house – on the roof garden, naked in the shower (with undies exclusive!), on his motorbike…

      You know, just in case we don’t get the message that he really, really, really loves his betrothed calamari.

  19. little whinge says:

    I love how this a-hole thinks he’s a ~*//famous actor\\*~ now. Everyone I know is still trying to figure out how to say his name (a frequent favorite is “Cumperpatch”).

  20. Rosie says:

    Don’t you find it weird, yesterday the interview was about him him him and how Sophie loves him and worships him and now this interview is kind of the opposite and him gushing how lucky he is to have someone to love. As much as people think it’s a clusterf**k, I’m starting to see a pattern here and it’s very well orchestrated designed to keep readers hooked and coming back for more.

    But I still think he loves himself and his work more than anything and anyone else in the world!!

  21. Rachel says:

    I don’t think I can stand seeing another post about this guy.

  22. gracada says:

    And I thought I was going to get through today without an article on his relationship narcissism.

    I was wrong.

    As my dad told me – “The less you say, the less you have to explain.”

    Benedict needs to be given that memo.

  23. silken_floss says:

    !!!OTTER OVERSATURATION LEVELS REACHING CRITICAL MASS!!!

  24. pru says:

    “I will be front and centre, screaming, clapping and delighting in any accolade that is thrown his way. ”

    Sorry, Benny, don’t believe it for a second.
    #Jawseyes

    • tasha_nat says:

      LOL. You know he’s gonna get that beauty queen first runner up smile on his face while secretly dying inside if Redmayne wins.

      • OhHey says:

        Because none of this crap he just whored for will have been worth it.

      • j says:

        it’s more about the nom than the win, historically speaking

        tbh i am striking out on ‘oscar’ movies so far. havent seen tig yet but ttoe was like a bad hallmark movie, and ER was good but was out-shined by felicity jones

      • Beth says:

        LOL! Another gif that’s apropos:

        http://uproxx.com/filmdrunk/2013/02/joaquin-phoenix-strangest-oscars-2013-reaction-shot-full-list-of-winners-nominees/

        Although I do like Joaquin Phoenix and he does seem to have genuine disdain for awards ceremonies, calling it “total, utter bullsh-t”. And when asked if he was going to the Oscars in 2013: “People keep asking me that… I didn’t know I had a choice.” Guess who was distributing his movie that year… the Weinstein Company. 🙂

      • Lindy79 says:

        Oh my god! HAHAHAHA

        Or give us a McQueen
        http://i.imgur.com/8QIck90.gif

      • Isadora says:

        I’m just here to say that I think Joaquin Phoenix looks quite delectable in that Oscar reaction gif. I tend to forget that he is a handsome man when he runs around looking like a homeless person on drugs, but yes. Yum.

      • Josa says:

        lol @ Phoenix’s gif. The guy is a real genius. I didn’t follow Oscar much, didn’t know he was nominated for The Master. That was a Weinstein film? So how much campaign did Phoenix do besides showing up for the award show? If he did all those shenanigans that Benedict is doing now, then I will believe that Weinstein is really a superpower and not doing what he said is career suicide. If he didn’t, then we know Phoenix has a lot of backbone, and can resist the devil and still manage to get great works after. I love HER last year, he was phenomenal in it.

      • Isadora says:

        Phoenix did not campaign for The Master. He said instead that he thinks Oscar campaign season is “utter bullsh*t” and he doesn’t want a part in this. *lol* So no, I don’t think we will ever see campaigning from Phoenix and I was also very surprised by the Dr. Strange rumors some time ago, because I also can’t see him shilling for the Marvel PR machine.

        But to be fair: Phoenix experienced the whole Oscar buzz before with “Walk the Line”, same goes for Michael Fassbender with “Shame”. And both decided afterwards that Oscar buzz is not for them, so no campaigning. Maybe Cumberbatch will also have enough after TIG and will refrain from embarrassing PR antics afterwards. (But thankfully neither Phoenix nor Fassbender were such PR train wrecks during their first Oscar season.)

        The only problem is that imho both Phoenix and Fassbender are tremendous actors, very versatile and and with such an intense screen presence. They don’t “need” an Oscar to get interesting roles and they might get nominated in the future too, even if they are not Oscar PR machines.
        I honestly don’t think Cumberbatch is as good an actor as those two. Maybe he will surprise me in the future if he ever branches out from his damaged upper-class-genius roles, but right now – no, sorry.

      • Beth says:

        Glad to see the Joaquin love here. And I’d agree that Fassbender and Joaquin Phoenix are both better actors than BC. Joaquin was phenomenal in “Her”, my favourite movie of 2013 – I love how he finessed the contrast between being emotionally stunted and luminously vulnerable. And Fassbender gives one of my favourite performances ever in “Shame”. I couldn’t move after watching that film – he was devastating. It was criminal that they didn’t receive Best Actor Oscar noms for these roles. Both are very intense but natural actors.

        Although I’m side-eyeing BC for his recent PR antics I do think he’s a good actor. But he has a tendency to overact, and sometimes veers into very stilted and affected delivery, hammy even. Like his Alan Turing. Most critics lapped it up, but I really didn’t like it. The fact that he was so obviously ACTING short-circuited the empathy I may have otherwise felt for his character.

      • Josa says:

        Thanks Isadora for the info about Phoenix. I understand that if he did some for Walk The Line and didn’t work out for him, he didn’t want to do it anymore. But for those who kept insisting that BC is doing all those campaigning because Weinstein has a gun at his head, because if he doesn’t do it Weinstein will have his career ruined. Well, Phoenix didn’t do much for Weinstein and how much his career is ruined by the devil? Not much that I can see. Phoenix is definitely a lot more accomplished and better actor than BC, he has enough weight in the business to not have to sell his soul to the devil and still getting great roles. In that case, I suppose BC does need Weinstein because he isn’t as great as someone like Phoenix to make it on his own and very much needed to be on the good side of HW. Phoenix doesn’t need any validation from Oscar, he is really great. HER is also the best movie I’ve seen in 2013, and he’s superb in it.

  25. Lindy79 says:

    “I think I’ll be having a very private moment. ” – said to Hello magazine

    http://38.media.tumblr.com/5e9b4145951f7faac4144b263e6cdeef/tumblr_mvvdo6i0lG1sgl0ajo1_500.gif

    Also, she’s not busy. She hasn’t been busy since 2012. Actually, I doubt she’s ever been truly busy looking at her Wikipedia page.
    I wish I could afford to be that “busy”.

    • **sighs** says:

      Maybe she’s busy training the octopi for the wedding ceremony.

      • Green Eyes says:

        Speaking of octopi, where is the link with the Sophster getting down and dirty with the Octopus? When it was first posted on EB, I got really nervous/sick to my stomach so didn’t look. Is it one of her “music” videos? Because now I feel totally inoculated against a bad viewing reaction having been exposed to all her other video treasures.

      • gracada says:

        I love that there is a line in Penguins of Madagascar where he says “Show me your tentacles!”

        I spit up my iced tea.

      • **sighs** says:

        Greeneyes- you absolutely have to watch it. It is a necessity. It will make you alternately laugh out loud and shake your head with your mouth open. It’s the definition of wtf.

    • moodgirl says:

      Maybe this gives a hint as to who polished up her CV. Since Ben seems obsessed with making her appear to be a busy, successful, working woman and we know otherwise, then maybe he is the one who jacked up her document. It is important for her to be perfect because his extreme insecurity makes him see her not as a partner but an appendage. If she isn’t perfect then neither is he. 😢

  26. lower-case deb says:

    “loves me back to the same degree”

    so. on a scale of one to ‘you jump i jump’… how deep is y’all’s love? inquiring minds want to know.

  27. Eleonor says:

    JUST STOP.
    Jeez he is getting worse than George Clooney.

    • OhHey says:

      Here’s the thing with George and Amal, it is clear from every appearance that he adores her and that the feelings are returned. THEY are a couple, a real, honest to goodness in love couple. Comparing that with Gushy Cumby and the Ice Queen is absolutely black/white.

      • misstee says:

        She loves the camera and he loves playing the media then getting offended by them – Gone with the Wind Love they are not…

      • 'P'enny says:

        i see a political and career match with George and Amal – money and politics, not love.

      • Isadora says:

        I have no idea what’s up with George and Amal. But this guy definitely did a very sharp PR turn – from being a relatively private celebrity living in Italy to going full on Kimye level wedding PR stuff…

        The problem with actors and PR relationships is that they ARE actors. So if they are not in love, they believably act like they are in love – at least if they can act their way out of a cardboard box. (And Clooney can do that.)

        But when actors who want to sell a fake relationship to the public act NOT like they are in love, then they are either a) very, very bad actors and shouldn’t ever be allowed in front of a camera again or b) something else is amiss. Because it would be quite senseless to have a PR relationship and don’t play the part of the lovey-dovey couple, wouldn’t it? But on the other hand it’s also quite senseless to emphazise how private you are and talk about your partner in every interview. *lol* I still think Benny is making the worst mistakes ever while trying to juggle a new relationship/engagement and his Oscar campain. He just doesn’t know when to keep his private life private and when to use it to get that shiny gold statuette that he seems to covet SO MUCH. And he takes all the wrong turns unless his PR game is so intricate that I can’t wrap my head around it.

    • Lucifer says:

      dnt demean george n amal. Both r butiful accomplished. Cumby neithr has a career like GC neither octopussy has a face/qualification/accomplishments like amal. Truly speaking if u compare amal and george’s CV she wins by a mile.

  28. MissMary says:

    Yeah I so misread the header as “she loves me back to *some* degree”. That, I’ll believe. Some degree. 0_o

  29. InvaderTak says:

    Turn out the lights, the party’s over…

    Seriously, say goodnight Gracie. Have a nap. Take a breather. This isn’t any fun anymore.

  30. Lindy79 says:

    I honestly wish I’d put “you love me to the same degree” in my wedding vows.
    I went with ..take you to be my partner and friend. I’ll share with you, laugh with you, be proud of you, take care of you and love you..

    Godammit!!!

  31. Peppa says:

    STOP TALKING!!!!!!!!!!! I am not buying what you are selling, dude. She is a person, not a pet, so please just stop. If your career is built on a devoted fanbase of randy women who would turn on you if you got engaged, you are doing it wrong. No one has to approve of your fiancee.

  32. MeloMelo says:

    I thought you guys were joking when you said his PR read this site.

    • Lucifer says:

      now u know too

    • Platospopcorn says:

      RIGHT????? I’ve never seen anything like it.

      • Cee says:

        This is ridiculous.
        Personal message to THW Company: Hello, Harvey&co! Glad to be your focus group 🙂

      • MtnRunner says:

        And they are under orders to “look loved up goddamnit!” when they appear on the red carpet together at the Hobbit Premier.

      • Ingrid says:

        @MtnRunner -Please, not The Hobbit premiere! NO!

        I loved those movies (meaning LotR) and if TWILTWIPT-TWIET shows up, I’m done whit this sh*t.

        It’s a joyous, fun and lighthearted occasion, not one for pained smiles. Harvey! Are you listening? NO!

        (I’m hoping SH will consider it too odious and mainstream to grace us with her presence.)

      • MtnRunner says:

        @ingrid, I hear ya but Ben has been told by Harv that he must sell Sophie “along with” TIG. Hense, why it is a major talking point of his Oscar Campaign.

        With TIG premiers done, he has to try and rectify the image of being stiff and uncomfortable with each other that was projected in NY.

      • Ingrid says:

        @MtnRunner -I know *sigh*. But I would so prefer to live in denial until Dec 1.

    • Emily says:

      What a circus.

      We aren’t even interesting. Just girls gossiping over tea.

  33. Dani says:

    He needs to be put on a time out.

  34. Chihiro says:

    The way he talks about his fans is so strange. It sounds like a kindergarten teacher talking about their students.

    • Isadora says:

      Haha absolutely, they should be renamed into “Cumberpets”. He sounds like “Gooood, doggie, you’ll be nice to the woman I proposed to and then you’ll get a nice biscuit, right? Now sit!”

  35. Marcy says:

    The golden and private moment comment made me laugh THE HELL out loud. I don’t know, the comment about finding someone to love is true–it’s not easy for any of us…I think I’m back to thinking he seems happy, despite some of the recent photos.

    Good on ya Ben, good on ya.

  36. Renee says:

    He’s still trying to sell this, huh? I wish he’d shut up about it but he’s gonna milk this sham, oops, I mean, engagement for all the PR he can . Too bad they looked like creepy mannequins on their one appearance together. But whatever, dude. You keep trying to sell your love. Here’s a tip though: people who actually are in love don’t feel the need to sell it to anyone. You can see it when you look at them.

    SH is busy?? Really? Tell me, does she have an actual job?

    • Lucifer says:

      sorting out his chambray shirts and polishing his single pair of boots 😛
      i v y mean pants on today. PMS 😛

    • lola says:

      Yes, she is bartending in their/her living room to support herself between acting jobs.:-)

  37. Miss M says:

    He sounds like Stacey Keibler-Pobre… Everything is amazing guys! Lol

    • Marcy says:

      LOL, that made me laugh to tho…

      Yeah, stop talking a bit. Have some turkey…oh wait–you don’t take it do you?

      I’m hungry…

  38. **sighs** says:

    “A new fiancée”?

    Like she’s a dog.
    Or an interchangeable body part.

    My husband would be getting death stares if he talked about me like that.

  39. Ingrid says:

    “I’m sure they’ll get over my being engaged – they’re smart, they’ll get used to the idea.”

    ^^^ This quote. I might be splitting hairs here, but it still bothers me.

    The “smart” thing jumped out immediately when I first read it a few days ago. It’s a very odd word to use in this context. What smart has to do with anything? Many of us were wondering about that a few threads back and this idea stuck in my head, so I had to write it down.

    Maybe “smart” was a Freudian slip? PR told him some of his fans were questioning things and outsmarting their brilliant PR plan.

    Or maybe I’m just overanalyzing..

    • tsmiv says:

      @Ingrid
      “Maybe “smart” was a Freudian slip? PR told him some of his fans were questioning things and outsmarting their brilliant PR plan.

      Or maybe I’m just overanalyzing..”

      I’ve been thinking the same thing. And he’s said that “fans are smart” thing at least 2 different times. He also said something like “They’ll figure it out”

    • Claire says:

      Well it’s better than the alternative interpretation, which is what I believe he meant: that anyone that doesn’t buy the week old fish he’s selling is dumb.

    • OhHey says:

      That was blatant ass kissing, to counter the snotty “I”m engaged and too bad if you don’t like it, the one that matters is TWILWIPT”. Fans were leaving because they felt disrespected, so now he has to placate. He should really shut it now.

  40. JaneS says:

    Lol, he’s smooth. My fans are super smart. I love my fiancee. Blah blah balh. Bread and circus for his fans. Oversaturated bullflop for the rest of us.

    Is it too much to hope that we could have a day free of this prancing goose? I like him but – f*ck – two articles a day of him is blurgh.

    Anne Hathaway called and wants her thirsty back.

    • Alexis says:

      Prancing goose! Lol. I would just add “thirsty” and then it would be perfect.

      Totally disinterested observer here(I’ve only seen him in Star Trek and Sherlock(dislike the latter but not because of him)) but it’s clear he’s doing the absolute most.

  41. Lucifer says:

    is it me or his eyebrows look bleached in the new twitter fan pic.

    • Ingrid says:

      I think is just the lighting and the fact that he uses makeup during press…

      Also, I cannot keep up with this “homebody”. He was in London, Winchester, Sherlock read through and Isle of Wight at the same time?

      • Lucifer says:

        really. such a homebody. WORLD IS HIS HOME ingrid. this is a spiritual private man we’re talking about.
        The ferry guy seemed to be full of sht to me. winchester seemed legit. now ppl are trying to force sophie thr too 😀

      • Ingrid says:

        Our Otter Homebody really has been lying his a$$ off lately.This is again a proof of Harvey’s scripting skills: “log fire and books” sound better than “store openings and a$$kissing.”

        And Sophie is at the same time everywhere and nowhere…

      • Lucifer says:

        according to SOGo they seemd cuddly. LOL

      • Lucifer says:

        she owns an invisibility cloak. dnt u forget

      • Claire says:

        You’re bsing right? I don’t know what to believe anymore. With the exception of the fake wight sighting posted by senyorita’s new twitter account I don’t know why anyone would suddenly start faking sightings of him.

      • Linz says:

        “Well, if she wasn’t his fiancé, the amount of affection between the two of them would be wildly inappropriate. I am certain it was her.” (SoGo Anon)

        I call BS!

        @Claire.
        People have done it before.

        Some examples:
        When he was at SDCC. There were “sightings” of him in London, Greece, New York and France.

        The day he was seen at the Botanical Gardens (Edinburgh). A young girl Tweeted that her Uncle saw him in London. There were other “sightings” of him in London and at LAX, on the same day.

      • blended says:

        there’s gonna be a lot more fake sightings owing to the fact that some of the crazier fans are becoming defiant and desperate to prove that this is true love. so i would take everything with a grain of salt.

      • Claire says:

        Thanks for pointing that out Linz 🙂 wow you have a memory!

        So no credible sightings of him and SH since the great chill in ny, ladies?

      • Linz says:

        @Claire.
        Welcome! 🙂

        https://twitter.com/HorseAndGroom_/status/537606635360104448

        Fans grilled them for info.
        “A couple of nights ago, the couple wanted to see the pub which sits on the foundations of the first Shakespeare theatre.”

      • Claire says:

        Sorry Linz do you not consider that a credible sighting? (or is that one of the senyorita affiliated posts)

    • Felice says:

      @Lucifer (wrong place) pics or didn’t happen

      • Rosie says:

        you forgot to add recent sighting with twitter pic of him and a fan at the horse&groom pub in shoreditch!! Supposedly with SH!! Seriously how many wax figures did they make of him?!?!

      • Felice says:

        yeah they’re saying they were cuddly there but where is she? Everyone’s a pap, B, well no one cares enough to actually show proof.

      • MissMary says:

        Apparently the twitter saying Lynsey Turner “couldn’t have been there” and it must’ve been Sh is connected to Senyorita, I read on a different site…

  42. Kate says:

    The faster he starts filming the Sherlock Christmas Special and series 4 (which hopefully will have better writing and much more of a thing called PLOTTING), the faster I can forget about this awful media blitz.

  43. khaveman says:

    This all feels so rushed and played up to the press. Hmmm.

  44. Ellen says:

    If Benny does manage to get Hostage Sophie down the isle I still don’t think she’d change her surname as she seems quite independent. Their kids will probably be double barrelled surnames as well.

    • moodgirl says:

      Independent? Really?

      • Lucifer says:

        just as an octopus.
        again what century u’re living in? chnging name is no big deal now a days. those who want they do others dnt.
        go pick ur 10$ and eat a hot meal with it.

      • Ingrid says:

        Independent as in supporting herself by always working hard and… umm… no, that wasn’t it… Never mind.

  45. Laetitia says:

    Here I was hoping comments wouldn’t surpass 100.

  46. Dr.Funkenstein says:

    LOL. The more celebrities talk about love, the less seriously I take their relationships.

    • Grace says:

      Wise words. At this point I am not even sure he understands romantic love.

      • OhHey says:

        Ditto, seems a bit more like horny teenager these days than someone in a romantic relationship….he certainly doesn’t have the ethics of “we speak” down at all.

      • moodgirl says:

        I agree. Self love maybe. I bet he knows how to whack it.

  47. Hexenstanz says:

    If this PR dance is really orchestrated by HW and his PR people I am very, very disappointed. You want your golden boy to be known in the US? You have to pair him with someone they actually know.
    Let’s say BC gets spotted at lunch with someone newly divorced, like Gwyneth. The US media would have a field day. They would not have to do anything, but eat, chat and maybe have a laugh. Then, do NOT comment on it. Just let it run it’s course. If it dies down, sent them out to have dinner. Again, no PDA, nothing..let people guess. That is what they like. Gossip.
    The show they put on right now is ridiculous. Maybe BC is trying to tell people he does not like her and she doesn’t like him either. Hence..to the same degree

    • moodgirl says:

      Remember his lunch with Dakota Johnson? That caused a stir. Maybe they couldn’t find anyone to take him on or he insisted in finding his own snotty upper class crap. Someone just like him.

      • MissMary says:

        “If I have to do this, it’s going to be with a friend.” I can see that. and OP is happily involved with someone else, as is Lara Pulver and Loo Brealey… And Vicki has a busy academic career and I think KB would blow it big time b/c she’d be too chatty but SH? Ties to HW so she knows the score, she knows BC, they are vaguely in the “same circles”…

      • Emily says:

        The DJ meeting reeked of pr.

      • MissMary says:

        @Emily: Very much so! Right after the Met gala, her friend in tow but conveniently left out of the majority of pap pics… Esp the ones in the restaurant. Sitting near the restaurant window… Nooooo not PR at all. *cough*

  48. Ingrid says:

    Lovely video interview from USA Today:
    http://www.usatoday.com/media/cinematic/video/70114160/benedict-cumberbatch-wants-to-get-drunk-with/

    Although I did laugh at “How do you hang on to your anonymity?”
    (Psst… maybe don’t pimp out your private life…)

    Also, you “really, really, really” have had a good time with this award seasons? Really?

    “really, really, really” = Benedict’s tell.

    • Lucifer says:

      too posh accent for me. i dnt even understand what he’s saying

    • MissMary says:

      it makes me think of when someone hates a present you’ve given them or dinner is awful or they had a terrible first date with someone you set them up with, and they say “Oh, not, it was really great! Really, really great…”

  49. Pumpkin Pie says:

    Why is he talking so much about their relationship?

    • MissMary says:

      Methinks he doth protest too much.

    • moodgirl says:

      I think it’s PR. He has a movie out and he is looking for Oscars BUT he doesn’t talk about his work and concentrates on his personal life. It’s shocking to me. I can’t figure out his strategy unless he is really, really, really trying to piss off HW.

      In the end it will negatively impact the movie and he may a hard time trying to make another movie in Hollywood. UNLESS, that was the point after all. Sabotage his Hollyweird career because of his dealings with HW. It’s not for him.

    • Ingrid says:

      The PICTURE! ROFLMAO. Even he’s saying to himself “Enough with this sh*t”

      This is the official Shut The F*ck Up, Benedict! photo.

      • j says:

        i thought the same, ingrid

        to be fair he does say he primarily doesn’t have the time/focus for it, and as much as you all will freak about it, i do know waaay more about celebs who tweet a lot than those who dont, even with a lot of press coverage, its a whole other animal. imo, what he wants to keep private, he actually does

        ppl should take note he doesn’t have a twitter because i wonder how many creepers on are there trying to talk to young girls 🙁 that freaks me out a bit

    • lindy79 says:

      “I want to keep a diary so my grandkids can read it”

      Well whats stopping you? Surely your first probable oscar nomination is a good place to start?
      I feel hes just all talk at the moment.

      Fair enough on the snapping him when hes not looking and I’d imagine it is funny when they forget to turn the flash off. Before he always said just ask him but given that lately there’s more stories of people he says no to, and the whole Flaunt “oh here we go again..florals over there” story he’ll probably get more and more of the stealthy pics.

      • moodgirl says:

        The grandkids remark is pure baiting. It’s so beneath him.

      • Claire says:

        Hasn’t he always talked about grandkids though? I remember he talked about it in the scandal in belgravia commentary. Wouldn’t he have been single around that time? If so interesting he talks about it the way he did back then.

        Knowing what we know he’s really like I can’t wrap my head around how he can view this woman as mother material. The mind boggles.

      • MissMary says:

        @Claire He’s talked about it but he’s also, within the past 18 months, also said he wants to hold off having kids till his career slows down and it’s not such a major focus, so take that with a grain of salt, too.

      • Lindy79 says:

        I was more just commenting on the “I want to…” aspect. It’s like me saying “I want to jog every day”, saying it doesn’t make it happen, you just do it. It’s the kind of thing you say to impress someone or make an impression to someone but you never do. Just engaged, career high, perfect time to start it especially if she’s going to be the grandmother.

        In the aspect of grandkids it sounds like a lot of stuff he says relating to kids/marriage/family. An idealised notion of what it will be like.

      • Claire says:

        Missmary I’d like to think he was sincere back then and isn’t now 🙂

    • Lucifer says:

      Yes!keep talking. Its all previously rehashed lines anyway. And he pointed out that he was with someone else *wink*
      What ll happen when you ll give up riding???benny boo .
      I even know his bike’s number *facepalm*

      • Rosie says:

        I think his rejecting photos with fans is mainly due to Sophie’s request or out of respect for her. (But I doubt its the latter). I reckon that’s what he meant by “she’s so in command of it” (People interview) – “she’s cool with it” in that she doesn’t want to be near them ie. walking away during grocery sighting and snobby to brighton waitress. Or perhaps she doesn’t want him near his fans hence the weekend getaways. I can’t think of any other reason why he seemed angry towards fans in LA interviews and citing her as his main reason for living *cough*cough*
        What ever that was that went down between them prior to his LA promo of TIG, they seemed to have sorted it out and are going about their daily lives privately. Like every other couple we go through hard times that affects the relationship.

      • Cate says:

        @Rosie, if that’s the case, I wish him lots of luck. He’s going to need it. Doesn’t sound like a great relationship to me. Just let him handle his fans like he wants to. But I don’t think he’d be that easily influenced imho.

      • blended says:

        what proof is there that they ‘sorted it out’?
        i suspect part of the reason he is angry with fans is because he knows we aren’t buying it. he knows he will be scrutinized more than ever. any other celeb may be able to get away with it, but not with the fandom he’s got.

      • MissMary says:

        I’m still on the train and think yeah maybe no pics because of SH… but because she’s not with him. He’s solo or with his co-workers or friends.

      • lindy79 says:

        IF (big IF), he’s stopping because she wants him to or he’s doing it to protect her then she really isn’t “cool” with it or “in command of it” at all.
        Its his reality and even if he gets tired of the attention i think the ambition is too strong in this one so despite his statements that he’d like to live by the sea, it ain’t ever going to happen. He’s said he’s lazy and loves being at home when all evidence for last few years shows otherwise. He was technically off the first 6 months of 2014 but spent more time away from home than relaxing/reading/sketching/pondering by the sea.

        He actually sounds like a person who changes to suit the person they’re with. He’s the woman in Eat Pray Love at the moment and its not a good look on him.

      • moodgirl says:

        I don’t think anyone would believe that an entertainer would refuse interaction with his fans because his fiancee ask him not to. It is part of being an actor. Fans move his career ahead, keep his co-workers and managers employed and pay their bills. Without his fans where would Ben be? Nowhere. A nameless, faceless actor trying to get a job.

        IF Sophie is asking Ben not to take selfies with fans he needs to dump her today. She is much too insecure to participate in an adult relationship.

      • Lucifer says:

        ha!! Rosie.. that sounds so ridiculous. Being command of it means fan-hating?
        why are u with an renowned actor thn?
        Oh I forgot, MONEY!!!
        its that simple.
        If she has problem with one of the main elements in his life and even after that she is staying that means she needs the cash ,nothing else. Her avant garde work is not earning her anything.

      • moodgirl says:

        @lindy79 – “He actually sounds like a person who changes to suit the person they’re with. He’s the woman in Eat Pray Love at the moment and its not a good look on him.”

        lindy you have a point. Ben was happy to put his feelings on display with Olivia and Anna because they seemed to be open and relaxed people. Sophie, however, appears to be stand-offish and open to only those that she feels worthy of her.

        So, Ben is relaxed around OP and AJ because he adopted their aura but is shitty, judgemental and ugly around Sophie because he has adjusted his attitude to match what she gives off.

    • Emily says:

      What’s wrong with what he said?

      I respect that he doesn’t go on social media and seems to bunk alone when filming projects. If you heard half the stuff that goes on behind sets, it’s almost self preservation. This way he can concentrate on his work, avoid petty bickering and the dreaded location-ships etc. It’s a clever long term strategy. Pissing off the wrong people can cut a career short. Giving a direct line to interact with his crazed fans is a bad idea too.

      • Soothy says:

        For someone who doesn’t go on social media, he seems to be aware of an awful lot. Just another disingenuous comment as far as I’m concerned. If he wants to stay out of it, then stay out of it. Same with fame. He needs to stop bleating that he hates it when he’s been baiting it and using the press and media to his advantage of late.

  50. Just me says:

    I kept trying to remember what Ben’s stilted comments about love reminded me of. I’ve finally got it. There’s an old sketch from the Cambridge Footlights Revue (part 5 of 5 on YT), starring Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry, found here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjA14Svn5s

    The sketch starts around 2:19. Enjoy!

  51. Cate says:

    From USA Today: “If you’re moving in the city, you can remain invisible. If you’re with someone else, not only are you protective of them, but it slows you down. You become more of a moving target.”

    Ermmmmmm, there are moments when I truly have no idea why he wants to make it in HW. He really hates fame. If he’d do Dr. Strange it’s only going to get worse. I don’t get it. He’s so bothered by all aspects of fame. I’d hate it too, but I’m not the one knocking on HW’s door.

    • moodgirl says:

      If he hates fame what is the explanation for the past two weeks?

    • MissMary says:

      Oddly, he seems paranoid these days. HE “moved in the city” just fine with Anna James, Olivia, and casual dates…

      • moodgirl says:

        @MissMary – Ben is full of sd#! You are correct, BC has been everywhere with everyone and didn’t mind posing for photos while he hugged and kissed whoever he was with at the time. Now he is ducking and dodging like he has a want out on him. Like someone said on another thread he behaves as if no one in the world had ever had a girlfriend before. Just grow up already.

      • Cate says:

        The moving target part def. sound quite paranoid yes, ease up Benedict, you’re not being literally hunted. I mean, how many pap photo’s are out there of his truly private outings. I guess he’s including sneaky pics of ordinary folks. *Shrugs*

      • MissMary says:

        Even then, there’s so few “sneaky pics” of him compared to other “celebs”… Not that it’s cool to take pics of people in their private time esp if they don’t consent, but it sounds like he’s sure they’re going to come leaping out of his shower to snap him taking his morning piss or something.

      • Felice says:

        I think the mail scare got to him.

      • Soothy says:

        What mail scare?

      • Cate says:

        I really missed an excellent opportunity there using the word hunted in my comment before. Of course he’s hunted! She’s the hunter, he’s the prey! Ahem…ewwww.

        @MissMary I agree, it’s not like there are 10 sneaky pics of him online every day. But I guess to him it feels like that, he’s so tense during ‘the most wonderful time’ of his life. Well, at least he looked relaxed in that pub fan pic this week I guess?

    • Ingrid says:

      ITA, Cate. He really needs to rethink Dr. Strange. It’s 7-9 Marvel press tours and even more idiotic interviews and “fan stuff” which seems to be his pet peeve nowadays.

      • Cate says:

        It’d be a disaster, just too much, and he’d have to deal with fan recognition even more. He’d go crazy with the amount of sneaky selfies.

    • **sighs** says:

      I think the perks and the bolstering of his ego are too strong a pull. I think it also gives him that oomph into the upper echelons of society that he feels he never quite fit into completely. The public schoolboy chip on the shoulder. If he’s famous then he can pull the society birds like Sophie (and kinvara and Lydia) that probably wouldn’t have given him the time of day in school.
      He seems very insecure. And at the same time egotistical. He’s in the perfect profession. He just doesn’t want the downsides. Boo hoo. You poor thing.

      • Soothy says:

        If he’s impressed by BS like ‘society’ (and I really don’t think SH is part of that anyway), then he’s an a grade wanker and I’m 100% done with him.

      • Lucifer says:

        society BS!! gawd dnt make me hate him more!! 🙁

    • Soothy says:

      @cate

      Is he referring to SH in that quote, because if he is, after that performance at the LFF, then he needs slapping.

      Secondly, I’m so tired of him claiming to be so shy and anti fame whilst giving this umpteenth interview about his relationship. I did honestly used to think he was lowkey, but he really isn’t. He can bang on all he likes about just being with a book and out in nature, but his actions of late speak otherwise. It’s perfectly possible to be under the radar if you really want to be (mcavoy does it effortlessly).

      • Cate says:

        I don’t know Soothy, maybe, but it’s such a weird quote, if he’s directly referring to SH then it’s even worse. No need to protect anyone Benedict, you’re not Princess Diana levels of fame quite yet. He can go undercover quite well in London I think. And nobody used to know who Sophie was anyway. Let alone the paparazzi.

  52. Ingrid says:

    BC was apparently removed last minute from this week’s People cover (at least the digital edition, the right corner). Thoughts?

    IMO it’s Harvey working his wonders either because 1. it was Bill Cosby cover or 2. ALL of his fans (nannies included) were side eyeing his People interview (Hello Harvey! Monitoring much?).

    • **sighs** says:

      I believe hello Harvey’s minions is more apt.
      *waves*

    • moodgirl says:

      They know that people are sick of him or B Cosby is such a major star that his story knocked BC to the corner. Good. Ben could use a good time out.

      • Ingrid says:

        No, BC’s cover corner photo was replaced with Martina McBride (or someone?). BC isn’t in the cover at all now. The interview is still there apparently.

      • moodgirl says:

        Oh. That isn’t good. Kneepads (thanks MissMary!) was fascinated with him. I wonder what happened? Oh, wait……

      • MissMary says:

        @Moodgirl: Well, with the huge scandal around Cosby, it might be HW didn’t want BC’s face associated with the story in any way.

      • moodgirl says:

        @MissMary – You got it, that makes perfect sense. HW has pull with People so he asked and they did it.

    • gg says:

      just the cover, or the whole interview??

  53. Ingrid says:

    Interesting analysis from Vanity Fair about ISA and TIG / Oscar chances. It’s a good read:
    http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/2014/11/imitation-game-oscar-chances?mbid=social_twitter

    And finally an expert voicing the thing I have been banging on about for weeks. (aka the reason behind the enGAGment)

    “As for Cumberbatch, I have wondered aloud whether Hollywood might revolt against being told by legions of Tweeting Sherlock fans that it’s their obligation to anoint him best actor…”

  54. Silly goose says:

    i think with the upcoming hobbit premiere there will be some ‘cute’ insider reports about BC and SH cuddling and kissing. No need to fake affection then (which doesn’t work) , it fits with their need for ‘privacy ‘ and keeps the narrative going. Not sure if SH will be seen on the red carpet. Or maybe hide shyly I the background?

    • Ingrid says:

      ITA. And I cannot wait to see how Martin will handle the inevitable engagement questions.

      • **sighs** says:

        I imagine with a lot of jokes and nothing that in any way resembles a serious answer.

      • MissMary says:

        He’d be snarky and say “Well, you’d have to ask him, wouldn’t you?” or “Couldn’t happen to a better bloke” Nice non-answers.

      • Ingrid says:

        sighs & MissMary – ITA but I will still enjoy the inevitable awkwardness…It will be so beautiful…

      • MissMary says:

        @Ingrid: My dream response is Martin, totally deadpan, saying “Oh, that? He’s just doing the motion capture.”

  55. Lollipop says:

    Regarding that interview from USA today, Benedict said he doesn’t drink alcohol, unless he simply can’t refuse, eg; if he is offered Bollinger. Ummmm, I must have misread the past few interviews where he orders butt loads of Pisco Sours and the other interview where he is ordering shots for himself, the reporter and Adam Ackland?!
    Does this man know he is a walking contradiction? His credibility is pretty shot from this point. I find myself rolling my eyes the minute he starts to talk, so much so that he has literally talked me out of wanting to see TIG as I simply don’t want to financially support this behaviour. I’m going to wait till it appears on Netflix.

    So, Tom Hiddleston … How you doing?

    • Felice says:

      Yeah if he stopped drinking then I am a springer spaniel.

    • Soothy says:

      OMG did he actually use the words ‘he’s only tempted if he’s offered bollinger’???
      Please say he didn’t.

      • gg says:

        Dom Perignon, it was

      • Soothy says:

        Oh god that’s just as bad. So what was the actual quote? Sorry, but I just can’t read anymore of his interviews first hand.

      • j says:

        @Soothy

        it’s not ‘bad’ at all, he’s actually joking so it’s kind of hard to describe.

        He didn’t said ‘except’ or anything like that but joked about how he sucked at sticking to his rules and did an impression of a waiter offering him different stuff and him giving in, he was ‘spoiled’ lol

        honestly it was fine, no clue how it got mangled here

      • Soothy says:

        @j

        Ok, that’s fine then. But going by the weirdness of all this, nothing is surprising me anymore.

    • Old Enough says:

      I thought he said he tries not to drink on airplanes in order to work against the inevitable jetlag.

      • Soothy says:

        @OE

        I hope so. But mentioning Bollinger still qualifies him for a slap. (It’s like real life ‘ab fab’)

      • Linz says:

        The question was “How do you deal with jet lag?”

        He said he tries not to drink coffee/ alcohol on planes..

    • Milly T says:

      RUN SOPHIE RUN !!!

  56. Lollipop says:

    On another note, did y’all catch Chris Pine singing Frank Sinatra on Ellen? OMG, boy can croon!

  57. ellesbelles says:

    I finally sat down and watched the daily show interview on a proper tv, and THAT is the Benedict I get the squishies for. Intelligent, charming, and clever. None of this drivel to the rags.

    More daily show Benedict please, theres still a chance to salvage the foolery

    • blended says:

      he’s still the same ben on the inside. he’s just not good at this campaigning stuff.

      • ellesbelles says:

        It really is bringing out the ugly and insufferable. I only hope he takes a loooong break after awards season and just stays off the radar with Sherlock and stage work. Chalk this up to a horrible mistake in PR failure

    • MissMary says:

      His Fallon interview was a lot of “Old Ben” also and made me hopeful for the post-Oscar season return…

  58. lola says:

    Rich parents and rich boyfriends – it’s a pattern. That’s why her family was so excited about the enGAGement news – if she actually gets married to BC they wouldn’t have to support her anymore.

  59. tasha_nat says:

    All this press about Benedict and nobody thinks to say that TIG is opening extremely limited release? I thought I was gonna be able to watch it this weekend. Turns out I won’t be able to see it until Christmas…if I’m still interested to watch it by then.

  60. lola says:

    What a shitty thing that every article on BC now includes a picture of Octopu**y. I am fine with skipping the text on her impressive love and of course academic success and all the other work she’s done for her and others in need, but skipping through pictures trying to avoid them in the same frame is just to much. BC has turned himself into complete BS. I am not even interested in Sherlock anymore.

  61. Ally8 says:

    “Their relationship/engagement really does feel like two cold, posh English people deciding to settle down into a marriage of convenience.”

    This. I almost believe it’s one of those, “I’m not all that keen, but if neither of us is married by the time I’m 36, let’s do it.” I think he’s found someone in his social class who understands the biz enough but isn’t successful or striving enough to not act like a traditional wife. Also he figures she’ll raise their kids the way he was raised. My biggest surprise with this is, what are the child support / alimony laws like in the UK? For someone reputed to be quite cheap, I would have thought that would give him the most pause about rushing into marriage.

    “‘And if that is amazing, well, considering how busy both Sophie and I are…’ Is she working now? I’m really asking.”

    He means they were mostly going to different envelope openings around that time.

    • Claire says:

      I still have my fingers crossed this isn’t this creepy, sexless relationship of convenience and that it’s a PR ploy that will be over once awards season is through. It’s an option I’m more comfortable with: business politics instead of settling; agreement to a sham instead of going into his middle ages wondering “Wtf did I get myself into??”

      He knows nothing about her considering how briefly they dated. The sheen of new love fades only after 2-3 years and it’s only after then you can rationally determine whether your relationship is a good one, assuming the feeling was ever there in this case.

    • Grace says:

      You just summed up my thoughts on BC and SH if he does go through with the whole thing after the award season. He’s got his head stuck in the corner right now. Not just with marriage, romance but with life in general. A lot of thing he says make me wanna tell him to take a time-out and lighten up, and we’re only in November.

      It’s his choice who he marries. If he thinks they make a good team, then good luck. He’s not fooling anyone on the level of attraction, or love, despite what he says, but there are people who married for even less and got trapped into keep telling themselves different every day. We all know people like that, the couples always love to remind you they are good and in love, you know why they do it, they know why they do it, everyone keeps smiling until your cheeks hurt.

      I hope he doesn’t end up regretting it. He seems the stubborn type who never admits the error in his judgement even though he fully knows it himself.

    • Toodles45 says:

      i have to say, I do find the outward chemistry to be lacking and I’m not a huge fan of hers, (for someone who studied avant garde for two years at that glorified clown school, her work is quite bland) but I can understand why BC chose her (safe, same social circle, non-threatening). And I think these nauseating articles is press rehashing the same interview, either to milk BC’s status or PR overworking.

      I also noticed that quite a few people here think she doesn’t do much for a living–couldn’t it be that she’s been doing low profile work too? Serious question. I saw on her FB a pic she was tagged in where the poster described her as a sort of artistic consultant at some gallery/center or something. Just because her CV is comparatively weak doesn’t mean she sits around. She could be doing other things that isnt acting related. She did date an artist and is familiar with that circle. Just playing devil’s advocate here.

      • Soothy says:

        But she’s apparently a ‘theatre director’ though? Why list that as your occupation if you don’t seem to do that as your main occupation? And dating an artist doesn’t make her knowledgable about art in any way.

      • MissMary says:

        I don’t know SH or any of her friends at all, but if I’m going to extrapolate based on people “like her” I know in meatspace, people from privileged backgrounds who dabble in theatre and get funding from family well into their 30’s and are part of the “rich kid art set”… “consulting” is code for “sponge off friends/hang out on their sets or with their cast and offer suggestions and don’t get paid for it but pad my CV with it”. Maybe she isn’t like that but who knows. Esp as no one is crediting her as a consultant for anything that I can find legit. If she IS doing legit, hired, paid consulting work, she needs to add that to her *real* (i.e. not whitewashed for PR) CV because that’s looking pretty lean and dusty.

      • Beth says:

        Can we please stop saying that SH doesn’t work? I’m seriously offended on her behalf. She is busy acting in a movie for god’s sake, co-starring Benedict Cumberbatch and distributed by The Weinstein Company. It’s a role that requires round-the-clock commitment and she’s going full method. I predict a Best Actress nomination soon. 🙂

      • j says:

        @missmary

        she doesn’t appear to have a directing CV online, but i was able to find projects she did. she seems to have worked more than ppl think, but with a small beans director, she probably networks to get jobs and doesnt have an agent for directing

      • Soothy says:

        A cv isn’t the only way to find out what someone is doing work wise though. Even small scale theatre would have publicity and be easy to find online.

      • MissMary says:

        @Beth so true, lol.

        And IDK…if HW/BC/whoever felt the need to put the stunning work of fiction they turned her real CV into out there online, makes me wonder how lean we’re really talking in terms of “legit” credits.

      • j says:

        yeah, soothy, i did find stuff? it just wasn’t easy, i hate common names LOL. not sure what or even if people are interested in knowing though

      • Alice says:

        @Beth. I’m not so sure her performance is awards worthy. Her line readings and gestures are rather wooden, IMO. I’d scrap the footage already shot and bring in an A-list actress. The SH clips can be included on the dvd extras.

    • moodgirl says:

      The washing of her CV matches his pleas that she is busy working as a director. If she is really busy he wouldn’t have to continuously harp on it. He wants you to think she is smart and employed and she is neither. He wants her to make HIM look good, this great effort is really his ego talking and has absolutely nothing to do with her. That why I believe the white washing of her CV was his idea; he needed her to be “good enough.”

      • MissMary says:

        Because it looks better for the New BC Brand Serious!Actor if he’s dating a serious!director, or at least a busy!director working on small plays, than someone who has had no meaningful work since 2012 and is all over IG with hipster trustafarians doing nothing but hopping house party to house party and going on continual vacations.

      • Toodles45 says:

        Yeah, you guys brought up some excellent points. She could have artistic inclinations though (given her group of friends and profession) but I agree dating an artist doesn’t make you an expert. I don’t see her as someone whose had to struggle in her career, that’s for sure. BC may be more privledged than most, but his work ethic is of one of someone who has something to prove.

        I know this has been commented on before but I can’t shake the feeling that BC’s harping of how much his fiancé loves him, emphasis on referring to her as someone who loves him and ‘the ONE I proposed to’, the ONE I LOVE almost sounds like he’s spiteful about something but I can’t put my finger on it. He’s seems to be gloating more than declaring his love for SH. I don’t think he’s trying to rub it in his fans face in particular but there’s something else going on…perhaps?

      • moodgirl says:

        @Toodles45 – I think you’re onto something. It does appear that he is trying to rub the whole thing in someone’s nose and he is hyper or angry about something.

      • Lu says:

        @toodles, that is a fascinating mini-observation. I have had a similar feeling, though I thought it was him rubbing the fans’ noses in it. But what if Sophie is the rebound from someone he cared about more, his real SGF from earlier this year, the one Rebecca Eaton sounded like she had in mind when she said he was smitten with someone who had a serious career of her own? It could be that he’s sending a message of, “so there, i don’t need you, i have Sophie now, see? I don’t need anything but the support of TWILTWIPT.” And that’s why he likes to talk so much about how their love is equal in degree and how miraculous it is.

      • Claire says:

        @moodgirl: prime candidates are his ex and possibly even the vague public who he thinks we’re dubious about his ability to settle down that he talks about though unless I’ve gotten his press coverage all wrong I think it’s all in his head

      • Green Eyes says:

        I agree with Toodles, I think that this is might be a rebound relationship because BC appears to have a vendetta against someone and it’s personal (not professional, i.e., against HW). Maybe he’s bringing up he fandom because she (the original SG) didn’t want to be with him because of his crazy fans – or at least that’s what she told him. The fans could be a big problem for someone not used to dating a celebrity.

        So now he’s lashing out against fans, as well as the OSG.

      • moodgirl says:

        How far would he go to get back at an ex? Is he willing to risk his career, money and happiness for a vendetta? For the way he is acting out, maybe?

      • Claire says:

        @moodgirl: that oddly sounds…sadly romantic!

  62. Claire says:

    I’ve been replying but didn’t read the actual write up. Hats off to Kaiser for calling it like it is and asking the tough questions and observing what many are, no matter how it goes against the PR script.

  63. LAK says:

    I was prepared to tell him to stop talking, but what he says about his fiance is so amazing. I’m quite jealous.

  64. tasha_nat says:

    http://m.imgur.com/bmfKMUP

    He needs to stop talking.

  65. Ingrid says:

    It’s official! I’m leaving BC fandom and joining Timothy Carlton Fandom. He seems awesome. (Also, somehow I cannot imagine Sodious find this all that funny. LOL.)

    From Sherlock DVD via Den of Geek:
    “Benedict Cumberbatch’s dad, Timothy Carlton, insisted on wearing the garish red bow tie on the Christmas Day scenes because he says he wears bowties and musical socks at Christmas in real life to embarrass him.”

    http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/sherlock/241667/111-things-you-might-not-know-about-sherlock-season-3

  66. Just me says:

    From http://empresscumberbatch.tumblr.com/post/103674139934/i-have-no-idea-what-changed-from-nov-5-to-now-but

    “I have no idea what changed from Nov. 5 to now but now I’m so pissed I squealed like a baby pig. Now I’m going through a love/hate thing regarding him. One more interview talking about his engagement will be the death of me. One more squeak about Cumberbabies will send me into a stupor for years. One more wishy washy flippy floppy sentence regarding the fans will cause me to age prematurely.”

    “So, in essence I don’t give a damn about his engagement anymore. Just talk about the film you’re promoting, Ben. Also, stop talking about us fans like we’re all heartbroken. We. Aren’t. Try a new tactic.”

    See PR people. We’re not the only ones who are sick of this crap. You notice every little comment and change your clients narrative to match. How about listening to the biggest complaints? Tell your client that if he still wants a career after all this he should STFU.

  67. Kazlock 1307 says:

    Happy Thanksgiving my lovelies!!!xxx

    Have we any more twittering (?) about BC?Or the most incredible woman in the world,Snootyknickers for short?

  68. VanillaIce says:

    Has Sue Vertue unveiled Sophie’s character in ‘Sherlock’ yet? Since the show runs on nepotism at least that would make SH “busy” I suppose.

  69. Milly T says:

    Something that came to mind, do you think Sophie will be doing any directing with the production company that he has, and will this lead to problems between him and Adam ? It seems that she has done work more for the theater as far as directing but that could change. There are many couples in the entertainment business that work together. Will Ben and Sophie ?

  70. Nonnie says:

    When I read ‘she loves me to the same degree’, I automatically thought, wait, so it’s a love to a certain degree, but definitely not more than that… Sad actually.

  71. Soothy says:

    Did TIME magazine truly say this? :0

    “There was a great wail on Twitter Wednesday morning, and it wasn’t about the midterm elections. It was because Benedict Cumberbatch, the hunky British star of Sherlock, gotengaged to director and actress Sophie Hunter instead of you.
    The same thing happened when George Clooney popped the question to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin (although the shock was amplified due to element of surprise because the divorced bachelor had said he wouldn’t marry again). In both cases, there was a immediate gasp —and Twitter despair — followed by fawning over each woman’s considerable accomplishments.”

  72. I Choose Me says:

    All I gotta say is these Bendy threads are entertaining as hell. All the analyses and conspiracy theories and good ol fashion snark.

    @lindy. Thanks for my first laugh out loud moment of the day.

    • Just me says:

      I love me some snark and Ben makes it so easy. He should just wear a sign on his back saying Douche-Canoe, Please kick.

      • moodgirl says:

        My laugh for the day.

      • moodgirl says:

        I saw this quote on SoGo. I hope no one minds the copy:

        “People mag covers dating, marraige, babies, divorce, personal tragedy, and scandals. Prior to the engagement announcement, Benedict had none of that type of stuff to discuss. There might have been a little blurb about TIG and a couple quotes about the movie, but that’s it. There would have been no pic on the cover or no full article. That ought to be enough for everybody to figure out what’s going on here.”

  73. Just me says:

    Benedict is featured on the front and interviewed in Square Mile magazine for the Evening Standard. Here is an excerpt from the interview below:

    When asked what he does in his private time, he replied: “None of your business. And I certainly don’t talk about it to journalists. Sorry I didn’t mean that as aggressively as it came out. That was supposed to be a joke! But yeah, it’s private – and I enjoy that, you know.”

    Sure…. He doesn’t talk to journalist at all. He just whores his engagement out to any tabloid that will listen. He’ll do anything to get his face in the papers.

    I really have no idea why I used to like this man.

    • Soothy says:

      Are you sure that’s a new interview? I remember reading him saying that elsewhere.

      But yeah, the ‘I’m private’ doesn’t wash anymore.

    • blended says:

      this was from an interview at TIFF. it was talked about on these boards.

  74. Lucifer says:

    in the honour of th 22nd day of the enGAGement can i get a hello/hi from the passangers..
    Just a headcount 😉

  75. ellesbelles says:

    Happy Thanksgiving lovelies!

    I’m off in a bit to take my mom to see Pengwings of Madagascar.

    I’ve been watching A scandal in Belgravia this morning as I cleaned out the closest, and he really is a good actor. Underneath this foolery, he’s a really good good actor.

    This pr campaign driven by TWC is disasterous. It has succeeded only in annoying fans. The engagement announcement was grossly ill timed. Had they given her a slow drip of exposure; a photo op here, a sound bite there, a red carpet, and then an announcement, it would be a clean believable transition. At least more believable than this otter and octopus jubilee mess that is on a slow collision course with a brick wall

    • Ingrid says:

      But the point wasn’t that it should be believable, the point was to make a big hoopla. And boy did they succeed.

      And the regular audience member won’t question anything. It’s just us. Even the nannies are on board 150%.

      And Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans!
      (I feel like I’m having a monologue here. Why the entire world can’t operate on a same schedule?)

    • gg says:

      “otter and octopus jubilee mess” sounds like something they would serve at Harrow
      Happy Thanksgiving, all!

    • blended says:

      right now now it doesn’t matter that some fans don’t believe it. the point was to make the People magazine readers, and their ilk, believe it, and the academy believe ben’s new image. if it works and he gets an oscar nomination, HW will chalk it up as a win, and he will discard ben when he has no use for him anymore. the problem is how will ben proceed after oscar night? he’s gonna need to win back the fans who are turned off right now, because unfortunately for him, he’s not the type of actor who will have mass appeal.

  76. spiders123 says:

    Honestly, I liked this dude untill I read all of your recent Posts on him. Well done CB you have turned me from a lover to a hater. Please refrain from doing this to my Hiddles, Thank you.

  77. Anony says:

    “loves me back to the same degree”

    This reminds me of that time my sister asked me what I got for her for Christmas. I told her I got her exactly what she asked me for, i.e. she hadn’t asked me for anything 😛

    • lindy79 says:

      Even without the comparison, its a hilarious photo.

    • Cate says:

      Some great comments on that post. Others aren’t seeing the love either, does that mean I can take off my straitjacket yet?

    • Renee says:

      Taking a break from turkey and football–that photo–BC and SH, they are just a creepy couple. Not seeing the love. Sorry, they look like two people who lost that lovin’ feeling.

      Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who’s celebrating!

  78. Wait I'm Typing says:

    Please tell me you gals have seen the newer photo of the ever-so-happy engaged couple on SOGO!
    It’s hilarious! It’s right beside a photo of Martin and Amanda and damn, if Sophie’s nose were any higher her neck would snap. Wow. Woooow!

    • Claire says:

      I can’t witht tumblr anymore. When and where was it taken?

    • Lucifer says:

      yeah i fear she would need a orthopedic very soon

    • Nonnie says:

      Yes, I’ve just seen it (below), and still laughing! Poor Ben…

    • Ingrid says:

      And there goes our shy, delicate flower. Don’t scare her, people!

      *still not looking at each other*

      • Claire says:

        When/where was it taken? Was it a “fan” on the street taking the pic or a (setup) paparazzi photo?

      • Ingrid says:

        Claire, the link is above by encumbered. The red carpet premiere photo. 🙂

      • Claire says:

        Ah thanks Ingrid, I thought this was a new photo of them holding hands. I just don’t go onto tumblr anymore, sorry!

    • lola says:

      I literally made me sick in my stomach. Wow, just wow. What on earth could she be so proud of? Future alimony? (if it is for real and BC goes through with it – he is by far the blindest and most naive person I have ever seen).

      • Wait I'm Typing says:

        Haha! Future Alimony!

        I did a little looking around because someone mentioned the way they held their hands was off.
        Here’s what I found, for what it’s worth, I don’t take this as gospel but it’s interesting.

        1. Down-facing palm: Whoevers palm is facing down and has their wrist crossing in front, typically takes a dominant role in the relationship. This is also a protective stance or move. Typically, most men do this…This was observed on a busy street at Yonge and Dundas, and most men may have been protective as they walked their partners down the road through busy intersections.

        2. Interlocked fingers: When couples interlock their fingers, it shows a deeper connection, and that the person is more vulnerable and emotionally and physically connected at that moment. Non-interlocked fingers suggest a more casual relationship.

      • moodgirl says:

        They are also out of step. Many times when couples are close their walk together, on the same foot.

  79. Lucifer says:

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/11/26/benedict-cumberbatch-imitation-game-interview/70122622/

    He also doesn’t understand the obsession with selfies. “What a tragic waste of engagement,” he says.
    😉 waste of engagement. i know its on a context.still he could have used synonyms.maybe a hint? 😉

    • Claire says:

      If the interview took place in the past couple weeks that IS a Freudian slip…

      • gg says:

        He talked about Sophie elsewhere in the interview, so yeah: “I wanted her to enjoy it. It was sort of a test run or something of that ilk. We’re going to be doing this for our whole lives, so this is what it’s going to be like. She was very cool with it and loved it,” says Cumberbatch, who broke his engagement news in a newspaper placement.”

        Sort of a test run or something of that ilk??????
        **scratches head**

    • Cate says:

      I’ve said this before, but he really should’ve been born in another age. That and he should try to play a bit nice in the here and now. A waste of engagement is putting things a bit strong I think. It’s not that serious Benedict, but it might indeed have been a Freudian grumpy otter slip…

    • tsmiv says:

      I noticed him using the word “engage” a bunch of times before there was any newspaper announcement, especially during all of those LFF interviews. It struck me as odd at the time, and even more so after the announcement.

  80. Nonnie says:

    Guys, on SoGo there is a new (?) pic of them holding hands. I nearly fell off my chair laughing: a toddler dragged back to the nursery by a b…tchy nanny!

    • Cate says:

      Wow, she looks very haughty in that one. Erm, at least she’s got good posture? I do feel the love again looking at it, well…sort of…not really…

      • Soothy says:

        That’s not a shy woman who’s nervous of the cameras. That’s a woman desperate for the cameras to get a good side shot, hence the stretched neck.

      • Cate says:

        Yep! And what a stretch it is! 😉

      • Soothy says:

        Indeed.
        Either that she’s in the middle of an epic hair toss or a storming Kenneth Williams impression. But whichever.. not shy.

    • tsmiv says:

      The hand holding picture is just strange. He looks miserable and like he’s being dragged to do something. She looks very controlling, and his behaivor has definitely changed in the last few months. Maybe she has him bamboozled or something. It gets weirder all the time.

      • MissMary says:

        they seem to hold pics at the NYC prem for the cameras. Look at the vid of them coming out of the hotel w/KK… they hold hands till the photog snaps stop, then they drop ’em. But either they didn’t know they were being filmed or didn’t care.

      • Kazlock 1307 says:

        Hi MissMary
        Hope you had a good Thanksgiving x

        So they held hands for the camera’s, but not when they thought they weren’t being pictured??

        They really need to get better at this PR gig!

      • MissMary says:

        LOL I’m fighting a food coma even as I type! And that’s how it seemed. I mean, for all I know, they’re holding hands and skipping through bluebells right at this very moment, but the vid and pics from NYC looked very “forced prom photo hand holding”.

      • Alice says:

        I’d love to know how she could bamboozle him. For someone who loves the acting profession so much, surely he recognizes that she’s an untalented diletante, doesn’t he? Has she memorized the Kama Sutra? What is it?

      • lola says:

        Has anyone figured out what the thing with the NY musician of hers was? Did she dump him and started chasing BC who just happens to have better financial future? The picture above is so sickening. She looks like she is proudly taking her prize home and BC looks defeated. If he got tricked into sth, his recent comments actually make a little more sense.

    • Lucifer says:

      regarding the Ny prem VDO of them coming out of the hotel u can pause the vdo and c that they are nt actually holding hands. Her dress gets stuck in something on the floor and the gentleman BC is he helps her out and in a clumsy move holds her hand for 2 secs. the paps were clicking so we get a lot of pics of that moment. Thn she strides into the front seat of the suv.
      these new pics look like after the Red carpet photos.and they’re striding inside the hotel. Maybe octopussy spotted GAMBLES in the crowd and trying not to look at the general mass 😀

      • moodgirl says:

        Will you post a link? I have yet to see the video.

      • Angie says:

        they were holding hands before exiting…
        http://sue-78.tumblr.com/post/102939893437/benedict-cumberbatch-keira-knightley-movie

        And it just looks very strange as why holding and dropping hands around the time they exited. The whole gesture and their figures seem quite stiff to me, looks like they posed for pap or something, but dropped too fast.

        I actually went so far to consider they just really don’t want to show the PDA, but of course it’s bs, because after the announcement and the red carpet debut there’s no way “I care about the privacy so much let’s don’t show any PDA just act like stranger in public”, and I won’t believe for one second that anyone would treat the love of life like B did in that footage.

        It’s just so weird.

      • Lucifer says:

        do post ur opinion moodgirl

      • Lucifer says:

        ohh my bad. they’re holding hands from inside maybe thats the time the new picture got clicked!!

      • Soothy says:

        They clearly weren’t avoiding holding hands in public as that picture quite obviously is the red carpet in front of all the photographers.

      • Claire says:

        ^Lucifer can you explain your last comment? I’m not sure what you meant.

      • gg says:

        He doesn’t help her into the car and they aren’t even sitting together!! benedict is sitting to Karon

      • MissMary says:

        given that even in “sneaky” pics they’re not holding hands, any hand holding they did on the NYC carpet looked very not-them. Maybe they are linking pinkies and skipping down the high road with Disney squirrels serenading them even as I type, but the awkward hand-dropping before the SUV, the SUV thing itself, and the body language of the red carpet hand holding makes me make a weird “do you smell something?” face.

      • **sighs** says:

        To me it looks like they’re awkwardly holding hands, (anticipating paps) her dress gets stuck so he switches hands, such that he is still holding hands with her (doesn’t want pic without hand-holding), awkwardly switches back very quickly, then drops It like a dead weight when they head to the car.

      • moodgirl says:

        @Lucifer – Thank you for posting the video. Well, their facial expressions reflect that of someone walking to the electric chair but as far as her walking to the other side of the SUV – didn’t a security person guide her to that side? And did he guide her to that side for a reason, perhaps because Karon was already in the back seat? SH’s crappy attitude really, really shows on her face.

        In any event I just don’t get the warm and fuzzy feeling from them at all. There is a lack of connection and warmth that is so obvious and he appears to have a personality change – really uncomfortable – just by being in her presence. It’s like they are all business.

  81. Soothy says:

    I saw a gif of him telling a Sean Connery joke on tumblr and now I can’t find it. Can someone link it here, cos it’s the cutest thing ever?
    A glowing remainder of the gloriously adorable dumpling he has the potential to be.

  82. solanaceae (Nighty) says:

    Ok, here it goes…This story of loves me, adores me,respects me blablabla… is such a good night reading, my eyelids begin to feel heavy, heavy, amazingly heavy (have to use lots of adverbs and repeat adjectives to sound smart and not sleepy) … Thank you Benny, I choose you as my favourite sleeping pill… 🙂

    Sleep well everybody…

  83. ellesbelles says:

    Alright, ive just got back from the cinema. Pengwings of Madagascar was silly and funny and adorable. And Benedict still can’t say penguins. I giggled every time. This is the Benedict I miss and the version I hope returns and quick

  84. Ingrid says:

    BC will be presenting at Evening Standard Awards Sunday (Hiddles is nominated)

    I predict (if Sodious will grace us with her presence), the photos will go something like this:

    http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131114034239/brittany-s-pierce/images/2/2d/Smile-sheldon-6a9d8708-original.gif

    http://img.pandawhale.com/post-42915-spiderman-kiss-scene-emma-ston-0cVP.gif

    Hello, Harvey! *waves*
    Let it go, please. Just stop this. Thank You.

  85. peach says:

    And she loves baby carrots too.