Benedict Cumberbatch: Pulling ‘The Interview’ from theaters is ‘tragic’

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We didn’t have a Benedict Cumberbatch post yesterday. That was like the first time we’ve had NO CUMBY for a whole day since… I don’t know, October? So, is it weird that I actually missed writing about him? I totally did. So, I have some assorted Bendy stories for your weekend Batching. Enjoy! First off, Bendy apparently told someone about his Christmas plans? Here’s Bendy on what the holiday means to him:

“It means I stop working. And I am with my fiancée (Sophie Hunter) and family in one place. I can’t wait. I am very much looking forward to it. It’s all about family and presents. The rest is just the icing on the cake. The real treat is being present with my family.”

[Via The Inquirer]

So, Sophie is going to Chateau Cumberbatch for the holidays? Or is he spending the holiday with her family? Or will everyone be together on Christmas day because that’s when Bendy and Sophie are getting married?

Meanwhile, Cumber also has a new interview in which he speaks about the Sony Hack and Sony’s decision to pull The Interview from theaters:

“I haven’t seen the film [The Interview] so I can’t comment on the specifics of it, but it is worrying, of course it is worrying. We revel in our democracy, we revel in our civil right and freedom of speech and freedom of expression in this culture and in America as well. And to see it attacked from the outside and see people inhibited by fear and terror as a means of silencing voices even if they are of dissent or satire, it’s tragic.”

[From The Independent]

Eh. It’s a decent statement. Not too blame-y, but concerned. Bendy actually did it better (and more concise) than George Clooney.

And finally, here are two articles that are just about The Imitation Game, both of which I found very interesting even though there wasn’t much Bendy to be found. Go here to read a great NYT article about how the TIG costume designer put together the “look” of TIG’s costumes and how people really dressed during WWII. Go here to read an essay with TIG’s screenwriter about Alan Turing’s suicide and how difficult it was to write that scene (even though it was cut from the film).

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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259 Responses to “Benedict Cumberbatch: Pulling ‘The Interview’ from theaters is ‘tragic’”

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  1. Dani says:

    A garbage bag would have looked better than that pleather dress. Ugh.

    • Anony says:

      hahaha I never noticed but you are so right. The design is cute if it was a blue patterned cotton dress (although it would look way to casual for that event).

      Having that design in pleather/leather is just…..really weird. And it must be so heavy and uncomfortable!

  2. Tuberu says:

    “That was like the first time we’ve had NO CUMBY for a whole day”
    So THAT’S why the dogs next door kept howling and my potato pancakes wouldn’t hold together in the frying pan!!!

  3. AG-UK says:

    I guess she will be referred to as my fiancée until they marry then it’s my wife. NO names needed I guess.

  4. gg says:

    So Benedict went to see Amanda Abbington’s play last night with Andrew Scott – no Sophie. What a joke these two are…..

  5. Vampi says:

    I’ll tell you what’s “tragic”…
    This whole enGAGement is tragic.
    You ladies made me love Bendy when I didn’t even know who he was. Now that I’m familliar with his work and what he was like pre-GAG , I’m left stunned by this whole mess.
    I blame you Celebitches!
    *sobs*

    • Tuberu says:

      The Cumberbitches and the Celebitches hooked me into their web as well. I went through all the steps. Denial, Anger, Bargaining (The cost of getting out of the Tumblr stock investment was devastating), Depression, Acceptance. Been there. Got the T-shirt.
      Don’t despair Vampi. I came through it and look at me now. I’m completely normal.
      *windchimes*
      *rubsClooneypatriotmedallion*
      *sobs*
      Okay okay. It’s still raw for me.

    • EscapedConvent says:

      Hello Vampi and Tuberu, 😉

      You should have been here two years ago, when the CumberShrine and Altar were being maintained every day and the candles kept lit at all times. When we all legally changed our last names to Cumberbatch. When some of us got shanked/stabbed in vicious battles over him called the CumberGames & didn’t even complain (very much). When the halls of Celebitchy reverberated with the sounds of our wailing over him.

      “Those were the days, my friend
      We thought they’d never end….”

  6. Maggie says:

    I love reading articles about costuming in films. The amount of research and commitment to authenticity as well as aesthetics and artistry is amazing.

    “To deconstruct this complex character through clothing, the costume designer Sammy Sheldon Differ recalled, Mr. Cumberbatch tried on a series of sweaters and suits, then acted out scenes at fittings in search of the right combination of disheveled order.”

    “It was much more about creating a person than fitting him into something predesigned,” she said. “And it’s just so great to have someone act in your fitting; it was like he was my drawing.”

    It is a very interesting article, well worth a read.
    http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/clothes-and-character-benedict-cumberbatch-in-the-imitation-game/?smid=nytimesarts&_r=1

  7. Anon says:

    Just because she wasn’t mentioned by name does not mean she was not there…..

    I think they’ll get married over New Years.

    • Alice says:

      Right! She was hiding in the bathroom, still playing the sgf game.

      • Ingrid says:

        Exactly, Alice. They really don’t want blurry photos of them. Private, remember?

      • scarf girl says:

        It is entertaining isn’t it? He says he announced in the Times because he didn’t want friends finding out via a blurry Instagram picture, and yet not one random sighting. And if TWILTWIPT is so busy, why not mention her projects since someone put forth so much effort to clean up her CV and publicize it? Give her more free publicity?

        Of course, if she had been at the play would she have been noticed? They only seem to acknowledge the presence of the other when there is a camera. If there is a wedding, Karon will have to stand by the officiating minister to direct them to acknowledge each other when they say their vows.

      • gg says:

        Sophie was there, on stage, playing the part of a wooden kitchen chair

      • scarf girl says:

        I just want this whole thing to end. I doubt it ends up at an altar but I really want to read a BC interview where there is no obscure reference to SH as though she is an inanimate object. Yes, I know we have to get through awards season.

        If I am wrong and there is a wedding, dear lord, I hope this Oscar campaign is not a harbinger of a new BC. One can only handle so much melancholy.

      • moodgirl says:

        @gg – My laugh for the day.

    • MissMary says:

      They would have had to file already and tabs would be on that like white on rice. It’s damn near impossible to elope in Europe with most countries having laws about needing to file with civil offices well in advance of any wedding.

    • moodgirl says:

      If she were there you can bet all the stars in the sky that she would have been mentioned by name and someone would have added a photo to boot.

  8. lrm says:

    well, he may have been ‘more concise’ on the issue than Clooney [as per this mention in this article], but to be fair-Clooney has a vested interested in this privacy issue over the years. And his work in Sudan, etc has exposed him to realities that influence his politics. Cumberbatch wasn’t really invested in this topic as a form of activism; he was just answering a comment off the cuff. Clooney released a statement.

    • **sighs** says:

      I really liked what Clooney had to say. I’m sure part of it is him sucking up to Sony, but I can’t help it, I like him. I think he’s a smart guy who seems cognizant of others’ feelings and for the most part tries to be very professional in an extremely Unprofessional business.

      • scarf girl says:

        OT-I can’t imagine how your job blow Sony employee is feeling right now, and how low morale must be. And as much as I like Clooney, I think this whole thing is very telling on the entertainment industry. Someone (Kaiser, another site?) said it best when they said it is an industry all about the ME.

      • Alice says:

        And I love his sense of humor. When his father was running for a local office in his hometown, George volunteered to wash cars for votes for his father. He seems like a good guy.

      • Jayna says:

        I agree. If you ever want to read an amazing in depth interview, Google “George Clooney’s 2000 interview with Playboy” and it will pop up on the internet. It is quite an amazing interview. He talks about the movie industry quite a bit in it. He had made it in movies, but It is just before The Perfect Storm came out and kind of catapulted him. It was back when Mel Gibson was still a huge movie star before his downfall. George was very honest about the business, his limitations, his insecurities, and how you treat people in the business, making it and not believing the hype about yourself, some of the scum in the movie business, taking on David O. Russell (famous now for The Fighter and Silver Playbook Linings, who is horrific on movie sets to people), and many other points.

        He even talked about a jaw-dropping comment by a producer on why he didn’t want an highly respected actress on a movie. And telling all the details on how he came to almost blows with Director David O. Russell because of his treatment of nobodies on set was fascinating when he described his abuse on set to those people. And David is still getting away with it since it came out he was abusive to Amy Adams in his last movie and others.

        The one thing that comes across time and time again is he is a stand-up guy and treats all of those on movie sets with respect, not elitist.

      • Ingrid says:

        I have always liked George as well. His Sony emails were actually quite sweet (I mean compared to the other sh*t). He was sorry he disappointed everyone with MM and it really shows that he is at least somewhat in touch with reality.

        I remember him saying in some interview that he never writes anything sensitive in emails but uses actual letters. Smart man.

  9. silken_floss says:

    My god, she wears THE MOST matronly dresses -__-

  10. Sullivan says:

    Tragic? Tragic?

    • Kiddo says:

      We can buy him a Webster’s for Christmas, Whattaya say we both chip in?

    • Clucky says:

      Yup. Learned that definition in Grade 10 English class. Not applicable here, even as self-important as the entertainment industry likes to think they are.

      • Maggie says:

        Don’t you think he was saying it is “tragic” that civil rights, freedom of speech and of expression is being stifled by the fear of terror. Surely the use of “tragic” in this context is appropriate?
        I don’t think he was just talking about the entertainment industry but was addressing the wider issue and remember this question was asked whilst he was doing press for The Imitation Game so it wasn’t a prepared response.

        What he said was fine and nit-picking over the use of one word seems very petty.

    • blended says:

      suppression of artistic freedom by the threat of terrorism, no matter what the subject matter, is indeed tragic. i whole-heartedly agree with him on that and it is totally applicable here.

  11. Tippy says:

    Mitt Romney is recommending that Sony release The Interview for free online worldwide and viewers would be given the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to fighting the Ebola epidemic.

    This way the movie will not be shelved permanently, Sony can still
    recoup losses through their insurer and money will be raised for a good cause.

    It will also show the world that while the terrorists may have won the battle the war is far from over.

    • moodgirl says:

      Online won’t do, put it back in the movie theaters and tell the NKs to go screw themselves – even though I don’t believe they acted alone.

  12. **sighs** says:

    Can we please get some maybe classic bendy photos? Maybe old school stuff? Anything but his #jawseyes and her #tragicflorals.

    • Ingrid says:

      YES, please!

      I love the nannies’ most recent take on #jawseyes. Apparently “he’s into more serious pictures now”.

      Oh, the denial! It’s so beautiful.

      • Alice says:

        You beat me to it. I was going to mention that. Of course, they call them “serious”, rather than sad or unhappy. But, at least, they don’t like them.

    • Soothy says:

      THIS, Sighs.

  13. ukbound says:

    Just a thought. How would you feel if a studio made a movie on how to kill the president? How about how to kill the British Prime minister? I think you would not like it.

    To mock a leader and make a movie about how funny it could be to try to kill him is at least very poor judgement.

    I do not feel sorry for Sony. Just because we live in a free country does not give license to do stupid things.

    No one in Hollywood could say anything other than how awful, freedom of speech, etc. They cannot bite the hand that feeds them. The fact is, it was a stupid move to make that movie and it probably would have bombed anyway.

    Why waste your freedom of speech threatening a foreign leader in such a way? There were a lot better moves they could have made.

    • j says:

      look, IA the movie is crap, but there’s a lot of movies i don’t think need to be made but we live in a country where someone is able to make them without fearing for their life. free speech is just that.

      its not about the movie honestly, it’s about the example being set. they’ve already cancelled a serious movie set in NK because of this, and now everyone knows you don’t want a book, movie or article to come out here, no matter what it is, you can make that happen.

    • Maria says:

      You’re absolutely right about the tackiness in this film–the studio could have easily used a fictional character from a fictitious country.

      IF this has been about Obama, aside from hard core right wingers, we would be in an uproar.

      Also, freedom of speech–at least in America–is about OUR right to critique and speak freely about anything from our government to tighty whities getting bundled up in uncomfortable places WITHOUT fear of reprisal from OUR government.

      No one’s speech was infringed upon, Sony was never prohibited from making this film–they CHOSE to pull it due to the threats.

      Yes, terror was the tactic used and it’s unfortunate but tragic?

      Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, the number of starving children in this country, our mistreatment of vets, an adolescent congress unwilling to pass legislation that will further enhance and better the general populace–THOSE are tragedies.

      Hollywood kills me with their self entitled importance.

      Of all the damn things to find offense with in life, THIS is what celebrities are bothered by. Rather than focus on the fact that Jeremy Renner made more than Lawrence for a film he barely played a role in OR the racist ass comments regarding POTUS by two entitled jack asses, Cumby and Clooney want to discuss this.

      Ugh.

      On a side note: I find all the petty remarks about his fiance very telling. It’s not okay to critique a certain actor for their publicity stunts by using family, however, conjecture about the authenticity of his engagement is game?

      Really now 😒

      • j says:

        @Maria–that is being discussed, but we didnt need sony leaks to tell us hollywood is sexist and racist nor will this likely bring about any changes at the studio level, because they’ll just do lip-service but change nada behind the scenes

        what’s new here is the idea that an outside entity can stop something from reaching the public here with rudimentary techniques. this idea isn’t going to stop at a crappy movie, and it is dangerous

      • Soothy says:

        I’m not sure I understand your last comment, Maria. You’re going to need to explain yourself.
        And I’ve not actually seen anything ‘petty’ on here. I think petty is playing a silly and obvious game like the LFF red carpet nonsense. Also, eschewing the spotlight with one hand and courting it with the other. THAT’S petty.

      • Maggie says:

        @Maria
        “Cumby and Clooney want to discuss this.”

        To be fair Benedict was asked the question while he was doing press for TIG so I doubt he actually wanted to talk about it.

        @ Soothy
        Read the entire thread and it is full of “petty’ and worse.

      • ukbound says:

        Yes @Maria. You explained it very well.

        We have freedom of speech, but we need to respect other countries. If someone made a movie about assassinating a leader of one of our allies, there would be an uproar. People think it is OK to hate North Korea. It is an awful regime, but there are many awful regimes. Hollywood needs to be more creative.

    • moodgirl says:

      I agree that the movie was inappropriate in every conceivable way but Sony should put it back in theaters as fast as they can. Not to do so cements the world’s view that we are cowards and can be bullied by an unknown hacker. If we think it’s bad now, it won’t be long before they start erasing our bank information. This is just a test.

    • llc says:

      It’s been done. A lot. This is a comedy. Have you ever watched Stewart, Colbert, SNL, South Park, or anything outside of Nicholas Sparks or the latest Angelina Jolie or Benedict Cumberbatch tripe? There is no excuse for censorship or terrorism. It doesn’t matter if you think Seth Rogen is funny or not.

    • OTHER RENEE says:

      I made this exact same comment to my husband last night.

  14. Lucifer says:

    New pic of huntress is up – hugging a guy.
    SO she can hug and kiss

      • Cee says:

        OMG she is actually called HUNTRESS. I thought that was an Internet JOKE.

        Wow, this relationship* just keeps on giving…

        * Or whatever you might call this.

      • Anon says:

        Not really a new photo. It’s from the same week as the Met Ball also in the same place the after party for the Met Ball was held, The Standard New York.

    • Alice says:

      Where?

    • **sighs** says:

      The Huntress. Yuck. I don’t think I’ve ever called a girl this, but she seems like a douchebag.

      • Cate says:

        *Insert nauseating remark about The Huntress being the hunter and BC her prey*

      • Ingrid says:

        Because of this whole mess, I can’t listen to Pharrel’s Hunter anymore. FU HW! I liked it.

      • Soothy says:

        Her ‘art’ and her interviews dinged my douchebag bell, then her hair tossing even further, then her unpleasant red carpet stomp but what cemented her status as douchebag for me was using Emily as a packhorse and letting her trail behind her carrying her clutch-bag at while she grinned and glided along the hobbit red carpet. Appalling.

      • Cate says:

        Now you mention it, Dido had a song on one of her albums called ‘Hunter’ too, liked that song tbh. Maybe SH has a soundtrack filled with Hunter related songs?

      • moodgirl says:

        @soothy – I will always wonder if BC has ever confronted SH about her rude and petulant behavior not only towards him but Emily and Karon as well. I would say no. It was probably Karon who got up SH’s arse and demanded a better performance on the last red carpet. Up until that point SH thought she was in control.

  15. Ingrid says:

    I doubt this will happen but I was just entertaining a though, like Aristotle once told me to. (“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”) *snort* That escalated quickly… Anyway, my point:

    Maybe the break up/fighting rumors will start already before the Oscars? It would keep BC in the headlines and give him sympathy votes? Tabloids have kept mum about all the embarrassing stuff SH has done. Question is, what they are saving it for?

    Does this have any logic to it whatsoever? #ActuallyAsking

    • MissMary says:

      I’m sure it’ll be several instances of “seen alone at _____” or “with friends at _____” but not like his visit to AA’s play. Something intentionally papped and obvious. And maybe a few shots of SH solo somewhere. Then a tasteful announcement about how work, time apart, whatever, has made them realize they should split (worded well, lol). And then the run of “poor guy” popularity just in time for Hamlet.

    • Lucifer says:

      YES!!
      the hissy fit at ESA was first brick to the brkup monument. It will also help him keep relevant in the press in between red carpet appearances A stop to the wedding planning questions too. BUT none of those ll happen before the oscar voting ENDS..

      • gg says:

        Holding out hope that Uncle Harvey gets her a plum job on Broadway, one that she just can’t refuse

      • MissMary says:

        Horrible thoughts about rumors of his casting couch… *shudder* (No matter who it is, *shudder*).

        I’m sure she’ll be amply (monetarily?) rewarded when this is all done and the “new fanbase” of middle America people mag readers won’t even bat an eye at the break up (because how many of them have had relationships fall apart? We all have, that demo or not) and while some nannies will wail, gnash their teeth, and rend their garments that now they won’t go to the wedding or babysit and their scrapbooks will have to be destroyed (or put online and set to Sarah McLachlan music), it won’t hurt his image beyond a few stick up the butt types. Most of us who see this for what it is will still be fans of his work, even as we roll our eyes at the antics.

      • Lucifer says:

        That would be ANY job at the moment @gg. U know “something is better thn nothing”
        😉

      • moodgirl says:

        I think Uncle Harvey realizes that SH has minimal talent and really shouldn’t be anywhere near Broadway (Enron). My nephew’s elementary school is doing a play based on nursery rhymes and I could recommend her.

    • Cate says:

      @Ingrid From your mouth to the PR gods’ ear please!!!

  16. Kazlock 1307 says:

    I’d heard about the Christmas wedding rumours. Like MissMary said,pretty sure someone from the Fail or the Mirror would have been all over that.
    He was definatly at AA’s play with AS then?I thought I’d seen it was Simon Pegg.

    • gg says:

      I saw a Tweet mentioning that Benedict and Simon were both there (but didn’t imply together) then later a Tumblr user sherlocksmoustache made a post that made it sound like BC and AS came together to see Amanda.

    • Lucifer says:

      pegg was also thr

    • Linz says:

      @Kazlock

      Yes, he was there with Andrew Scott. Amanda confirmed it on Twitter.

      • Soothy says:

        Why Amanda interacts with all these strange fan questions, I don’t know, but her comment didn’t confirm BC was *with* AS.

  17. ukbound says:

    Every time you want to know when he will be married, just think of him giving half his money to his wife. The one he will not look at. Do you seriously think he would do that? I feel sorry for him at this point. It seems he is forced to do this crap and isn’t comfortable being a liar. He is living a lie. Perhaps that is why he is so miserable.

  18. Ingrid says:

    Oh, IMDB is beautiful this time of the year…

    Now they’re saying BC isn’t really campaigning and has strong integrity hence he will say no to Harvey and to things he doesn’t want to do. And Harvey isn’t really that aggressive. Some beautiful sh*t right there…

    He just wanted to fly to LA for 10 h. #notcampaigning #HarveyTheSweetheart #nologic

    • Soothy says:

      Bless them.

    • Maggie says:

      @ Ingrid
      Did you actually read the thread at IMDB because your interpretation is very far from the truth?

      No-one said BC wasn’t campaigning, the word “integrity” was not mentioned, nothing about saying no to Harvey and nowhere did anyone say Harvey wasn’t aggressive.

      The flight to LA was for a SAG screening and the Q & A was for the LGBT members of SAG and Benedict made it clear they were important to him and to the memory and legacy of Turing.

      I started that thread and I was posing a series of questions to learn more about the type of campaigning that Harvey Weinstein does. It was intended to start a discussion and as there are some very clued up posters on IMDB, I was hoping for their thoughts on the matter.

      • Soothy says:

        Jesus…

        A flight to LA for ten hours is insane. End of.
        And if this is all so important to BC, this legacy and story etc…why is he doing everything to drown it out with this insufferable woman?

        And no, there aren’t any ‘very clued up people’ on imdb. There are very messed up people on imdb.

      • Ingrid says:

        @Maggie -I’m sorry if I offended you. The original post is very good and I find the topic of Harvey’s tactics interesting.

        That is why I was so confused by the replies which were (at the time) exactly what I wrote above. The word integrity was used, now that post has been edited. Rightfully so.

        Hope that you can have a fruitful and realistic conversation about the campaign tactics over at imdb. When I looked at it (not the OP, but the replies) it was far from it. But it’s a damn good topic.

        You (meaning imdb) may also come into a realization that BC is campaign very, very hard. Because that is the truth. No one flies for 22 h just to do a Q&A (LGBT or not). No one gets engaged two days before a major press tour. He’s campaigning and these are a few of Harvey’s tactics.

    • Alice says:

      And so far not a single peep about BC’s night out at the theatre with AS and without SH, the theatre maven.

  19. Lucifer says:

    Weekend off from bendy threads .. bruahuahua

  20. Ingrid says:

    Cute and funny story from The Sydney Morning Herald:

    “It’s the end of a long day of interviews for Benedict Cumberbatch and he seems almost giddy as he gazes wishfully out of a hotel-room window in Toronto. Suddenly, he says excitedly: “I was in the elevator with Bill Murray yesterday. It was f—ing fantastic! I stepped into the elevator in a bathrobe and he went, ‘oh this guy is up for the same underwear ad that I am.’ And then he stepped over to me and whispered, ‘You won’t get it, I’ve already got it.”
    “He was so funny, I was completely starstruck.”

    I don’t know who I’m more jealous of: Benedict meeting Bill Murray or Bill Murray sharing an elevator with Benedict dressed in a bathrobe.

  21. Ingrid says:

    JR just tweeted: “Have run away with a few pals to Somerset. Too much beautiful. Lots of space. Fresh air. Helps everything :)”

    I so hope one of the pals is Benedict (sans Sodious). And I hope it “helps everything”. The man needs a break.

    • anon says:

      Uh-Oh….isn’t Sommerset where Redmayne had his wedding??
      I hope BC doesn’t use this opportunity to you know…copycat his eddie’s oscar campaign…again!!
      I really hope he is relaxing and that his friends are talking some sense into him. Only five days til Xmas!!
      Also, does anyone know what went down with Adam and James yesterday?? That was an odd tweet! Or did it have something to do with Letter Live? I don-t remember Adam being at letters live this year…was he??

      • Ingrid says:

        The tweet would not end with “helps everything” if it was a wedding, stag night or some joyous event. It seems more like a support trip.

        And BC might not even be there.

      • Felice says:

        “Watch this space” is a common expression but Canongate is just a baity publishing company in general.

      • moodgirl says:

        I think you are reading too much into it. I wonder why JR tweets so much, really, I find him annoying. Keep your, and everyone else’s business, to yourself. Who cares.

      • gg says:

        I think Adam replied “hope you weren’t referring to me” because James had used the word “creepy”

      • MissMary says:

        It’s been posted all over the place but it’s damn near impossible to have a “quickie wedding” in the UK due to the laws requiring registration with the local civil office well in advance. I can guarantee that, if BC had registered (and it has to be in your own name, your agent can’t do it for you) an impending wedding anywhere in the UK, Italy, Greece, France… We’d know by now because the tabs are checking that shit out daily.

      • Felice says:

        Also France has that residency rule which was why Kimye were staying there for a month so if they were in France on the DL that would also be up.

    • Soothy says:

      What is the compulsion to keep strangers informed where you are and what you’re doing? I’ll never understand Twitter.

    • moodgirl says:

      Wrong place.

    • Lucifer says:

      thts reading too much in between lines.. JR is alwys tweeting meaningless stuff. and whats with british men and their “pals” i v read it elsewhere in several lifestyle mags, why not wife? why pal all the time? why he does not tweet about a nice dinner/longdrive with wife. m searching for answers.

      • Soothy says:

        British men are the only ones who spend time with pals? First I’ve heard of it.

      • MissMary says:

        I think American guys use “buddies” more than “pals” in the vernacular. But it’s just mindnumbing how the nannies jump on “OMG STAG PARTY!” or “OMG SECRET WEDDING” *eye roll* JR is allowed to have friends other than BC.

        (Besides, my snark says that if it was BC he was hanging with, he’d be dropping a lot more hints and names).

      • moodgirl says:

        J.R. loves to name drop BC.

      • MissMary says:

        JR’s had some shitty legal stuff going on this year so my money would be on this being a getaway for HIM before BC (esp given the lack of name dropping).

      • Lucifer says:

        @missmary @moodgirl m sure, he alwys namedrops BC.. He is a mild rated FW.
        The point I was making that I read in multiple places that British guys can’t give up on thr bachelorhood hangouts even after getting married and having family. To them family responsibilities or getawys come aftr pals. Madonna accused the same of her x-husband and any more celebrities.

      • moodgirl says:

        British men seem a little immature compared to Americans?

  22. Felice says:

    Oh God Mark Gatiss hinted that the Holmes sibling is a sister. No no nannies, if you want an actress who can act who looks like Ben, you go for Lily Rabe.

  23. tasha_nat says:

    My, my. If we are to believe the Sunday Express, Benny may be moving in into a mansion in LA “early in the New Year”.

    (With Sherlock shooting ongoing? And Hamlet coming up soon? And moving to LA, really? Thirsty thirsty thirsty. Parched. Dehydrated. Don’t end up a desiccated shell of a man, love.)

    • Ingrid says:

      It’s Harvey’s minions trying to make him look like one of them(=academy voters)

      A. His net worth is around £3m. B. He is fully booked in London for the next 2 years. C. An US agent calls UK tabloid? C’mon!

      But at least i’m laughing 😀 He is doing promo, shooting 7 things, wedding planning and now househunting. *facepalm*

      • j says:

        um bottom-feeding uk tabloids arent going to reach mostly-us based oscar voters, this needed to go to a US tab

        bet you this house has been on the market for more than 3 months with little interest

      • MissMary says:

        they woudn’t typically reach that demo, no, but given how this is now spreading online, you can bet it’ll be picked up by some US tabs by Monday and buzzing in the right ears by Christmas. Just in time for the big push a awards season starting the 29th and for him to look like a team player who wants to move to H’wood full time.

      • Soothy says:

        @j

        He has PR people in this country too. Just keeping his name in the papers seems important but making him appear like a pretentious douche who’d move to LA in a tacky celebrity palace, isn’t likely doing his image many favours.
        And why do the press keep talking about his Oscar? Bit premature.

        Also, if the agent wanted publicity for the house, I think they’d choose a more high profile name than his to attach to it.

      • J says:

        i get that, MissMary, but this placement seems odd for pr imo. like they could have dropped this to star in the US or the fail easily, instead of relying on the bouncing ball that isn’t really happening as of now

        also, most of the article reads like a listing for the house

        @soothy: they may have already for the us? like this is an old trick. when youre talking this type of property, you advertise globally, so in the UK BC is a pretty good name to pick

    • MissMary says:

      gotta say, I do appreciate this PR spin more than the enGAGment. This is at least quasibelievable (Not really but moreso than the enGAGment).

      I bet he and the house have great chemistry.

      • Ingrid says:

        *snort* now I’m picturing a photoshoot with the house and BC Jawseyes with his other foot on neighbor’s side.

      • gg says:

        He’s having a *very private* housewarming party

      • MissMary says:

        LOL! He’ll stand down by the post box, one hand on it, feet in the street, looking constipated… “He loves he house. Really!” And post his address and gate code online but “THIS IS PRIVATE!”

      • tasha_nat says:

        I kind of want to see it. He’s a big fish in a small pond in terms of British actors trying to crack Hollywood, let’s see how he stacks up with the more social media and paparazzi savvy celebs in LA.

      • Lucifer says:

        I was hoping for him to move for such a long time. Finally 😛 ohh m happy if its tru. he loves the LA sunshine.

    • moodgirl says:

      “Thirsty thirsty thirsty. Parched. Dehydrated.” LOL!!!

    • blended says:

      he ain’t leaving london. he’s not that thirsty.

      • gg says:

        He may get laughed out of London by the time this is all over

      • blended says:

        nope. he’ll be fine. he’s still very respected in the london arts community. plus he’ll keep a much lower profile after the oscars, and he’ll resume his ‘normal’ life.

    • Soothy says:

      It’s almost certainly crap, but if he moved to frightful LA celebrity land, like other fame hungry desperadoes, particularly to an overpriced, atrociously tacky nightmare house like that, I’d say give him an Oscar for the performance of the last 6 years as a down to earth, non douche; as what an act that has been if this turns out to be true.

    • Soothy says:

      …and I’ve only just noticed the ‘celebrity couple’ description. LOL

      Also, why is describing her as an ‘opera director’ now the thing to do? Opera director?? Since when??!! This crap needs to end, because I’m having a really hard time retaining admiration for him as this goes on, but I foresee it’s going to her heavily worse after Xmas, this campaign will undoubtedly step up a gear and if my affection for Cumbers emerges intact, I’ll be quite frankly flabbergasted.

      • Alice says:

        Check out the house thread on imdb. Lengthy discussion and frequent mentions of “Well, Sophie works in London and NYC, so NY would make more sense….” In what alternate universe does she “work” anywhere? One poster did have the snark to say “Sophie works?”, but then one of her fangirls leapt to her defense with a two paragraph screed on her busyness. Funny.

      • Soothy says:

        Sorry, Alice, but you lost me at ‘check out the thread on imdb’..
        That place is just horrifying. I can’t ever go there again.

        But the example did make me lol. What a bunch of clueless nutters.

      • Felice says:

        “Just admit it! You hate Sophie! Who is Christopher Walken?”

      • Ingrid says:

        I do understand that people believe the enGAGment sh*t but that a few of them are actually buying this. I don’t even…

        My final proof that some people really do believe everything they are told. They need to take Media Literacy 101 ASAP.

        But credit when credit is due, the comment of the day comes from (surprise, surprise) imdb.”Maybe it’s Harvey’s Mind Palace” *snort*

  24. lola says:

    Well … I read (on Wikianonbcsh) that BC and Lupita were dating at one point. Does any of you ladies (most of you have been following him much, much longer than I) have any info or opinion on this?

    • Soothy says:

      Please don’t believe what you read on there. The person that runs wikianon seems disturbed to say the least and they’ve quite obviously made up this PRpal account. Obviously nobody works in PR, they’re just multiple identities of the same weird fan. It’s creepy.
      Have you read all the ‘anon sources’ she’s claiming to have who apparently are close to his family and conveniently confirming all her theories and reassuring that her ‘dorky batch’ (yes, they said that) is still around. I can’t believe anyone would believe it.
      And this fabricated ‘PR pal’ says he had a fling with lupita and now people are even considering that as true?
      Although, even more disturbing than that is the nutters who are claiming that people denying this person’s crap, are racists. Yep.
      Christ alive, there’s insanity online…

      • gg says:

        she scares me

      • Soothy says:

        All of those blogs are pretty weird. The SOGO one seems to be a reincarnation of EB. Strange thing to do.

      • Toodles45 says:

        @soothy, thank u! I’ve long suspected that this wikianon character and prpal are the same person. I second that she seems to be very disturbed, and can get pretty aggressive too when people question her.

    • Lucifer says:

      I totally doubt it. Lupita and fassbender were legit dating during and aftr filming , nothing serious, reports are michael was serious lupita was not, For her fassy dumped that italian/spanish model during oscars and brought his mother. I seriously have trouble picturing BC with Lupita.
      Wikianon is legit crack IMHO

    • Lucifer says:

      “The real estate thing is obviously a plant. Just like the “watch this space” thing in September was a plant. Everyone thought it was made up bullshit and it was, but not the way we thought. We thought the tabloid made it up, but PR actually made it up. They made the LA mansion thing up too so I bet there is some “truthery” to it. ”
      This scared me

    • lola says:

      Thanks for replies.:-)

      The mansion is just “uglyer than ugly”, but maybe it’s the cabin by the sea for the coolest woman on the planet. But who knows anything in this absurdity.

  25. Lucifer says:

    is not is net worth 4million? How is he going to buy an 11m mansion?

    • Lucrezia says:

      Well, I think both the house story and any guess about his net worth are BS, but the obvious answer would be: get a mortgage. The bank was willing to lend me about 7 times my net worth to buy a house.

    • Felice says:

      Honestly I figured he would eventually buy property in LA but I saw him as more of buying a really luxurious townhouse or bungalow.

      • Soothy says:

        Why would it be worth his while buying in LA, though? He’s not really even there that often and he’s always seemed to be against the LA lifestyle.
        Recently he gave an interview on how he wanted to emulate james McAvoy, who had no inclination to live in Hollywood and wait by the pool for scripts.
        Seems bizarre, considering, his actions of late, seeing as he couldn’t be more different to McAvoy if he tried. There’s a reason James successfully stays out of the media and spotlight, that’s because he chooses to avoid it. It’s not rocket science.

      • Lucifer says:

        he’ll def buy something thr eventually, aftr strange IMO . real estate is a god investment fr anybody with money and reality check

      • Alice says:

        I could see him getting something modest and architecturally significant rather than a mansion monstrosity. Any time spent in LA would be limited, just a visit, not actually living there.

  26. Ally8 says:

    What’s with that persistent “being present with my family” line? Does he text during family meals or something? Has he been subject to an intervention or seen a shrink about it, where this vocabulary was inculcated?

    Just a very psychobabbly turn of phrase when “spend time with my family” works just as well.

    • Lucrezia says:

      Hmm, it sounds more like actorbabble than psychobabble to me. I can’t think of a specfic example, but I’m sure I’ve heard him use “actory” phrases in slightly odd contexts before.

      Or perhaps he once had a sardonic primary school teacher who insisted everyone say “present” instead of “here” at roll call and has subsequently developed a mild phobia about saying “here”? (Nah, that’s probably just me.)

      • Soothy says:

        More like cumberbabble. He’s been at it non stop for the last two months.

      • Felice says:

        He’s a walking thesaurus. Sometimes that can translate him to saying that his family members are “humid, pre-possessing homosapiens with full-sized aortic pumps”

  27. Anon says:

    I’m not a fan of her look but Jeez Louise, the amount of shade that gets thrown at her from some girls is astonishing. We know nothing about her at all.

    What will you all do when he marries her? He will marry her, he’s went too far with this and likely won’t want another failed relationship for the Daily Mail to have a field day with.

    I can’t believe some people call themselves ‘fans’ yet accuse him of staging an engagement to gather PR. Do you really, in your heart of all hearts, knowing what you know about him as a true fan, believe he would do that?

    • moodgirl says:

      Unfortunately we are all judged by our behavior so I’m surprised her shade isn’t coming from a Redwood tree. Also, being a fan doesn’t make one blind or stupid. It’s obvious things are amiss.

    • Felice says:

      Word.

    • gg says:

      And you actually think he’ll get married because things have “gone too far” and he doesn’t want to look stupid in front of the Daily Mail? Please…..

      • moodgirl says:

        By admitting that “he’s gone too far” aren’t you conceding to the fact that it’s not a normal courtship? TBH, I must admit that I am teetering on the “gone too far” fence myself.

      • MissMary says:

        If anything, a broken engagement will build his rep. Esp if it’s due to “work” or “too much time apart.” Hollywood will LOVE than an actor is willing to throw his romantic life under the bus to bust his ass for the studios, fans will woobify him and come out in droves, giving him huge box office numbers and a refreshed media presence, and even those of us who are skeptical will be smothered under the tidal wave of “OH MY GOD NO” from nannies, fans, and heart-eyed People/inStyle demo members who think all Brits are royals and live at Downton Abbey, likening the split to Chuck and Di (someone bet me People won’t use the analogy of their split when this goes to Hell!).

    • Soothy says:

      Um, yeah we do know some things about her actually:
      Her work, her comments in interviews, her attitude and public behaviour..
      And what’s with the ‘another failed relationship’? He’s had two. One long term. That’s pretty good going for someone near 40. And I don’t know where to start with the daily mail reference..

      And as for the ‘true fans’ wouldn’t question him..sorry but that just gives me the creeps.

      • MissMary says:

        Slavish devotion to a public persona is creepy. The whole cult of personality/scrap booking/delivering a basket to his PR thing… that’s beyond weird.

  28. Anon says:

    ‘Pleeeeease….’

    No, I’m suggesting they’ll get married as I don’t believe it’s a PR stunt and ‘it’s gone too far’ as in he’s announced his engagement and has discussed ‘wedding planning’ for it to be a PR stunt.

    I don’t particularly like them as a couple but I actually can’t wait for them to get married, it’s going to be so good. Still, you guys will still say the marriage is a PR stunt and then if any child comes along, the child is a PR stunt lol.

    • Felice says:

      It’s been a month and a half…..

      I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt but it’s shady as hell

      • Claire says:

        Not sure why there’s a sudden “it’s been a month and a half”…we’re we expecting a 3 wek engagement? I thought the entire theory is this was going to continue until after award season if our theory this is PR stunt is correct.

      • Felice says:

        I mean that they said his engagement has gone on too long to back out. I would say, if there were too late a time to back out (I personally think it doesn’t matter if an engagement is broken off or postponed. If it feels wrong it feels wrong), I would say that a month and a half is not that long of an engagement. I would feel differently if they had been engaged for 2 years.

    • Soothy says:

      Why ‘can’t you wait for them to get married’? What do you think will be so good for you about it? Seems odd.
      I won’t be losing any sleep either way, but if he marries her, i feel sorry for him. He looks like hell right now. People in love don’t look like that. Fact.

      And if you’re convinced by him crowbarring in ‘Wedding planning’ incongruously to interviews, then..well…good for you.

      • scarf girl says:

        ^ yep.

      • MissMary says:

        Thirded. Too much is wtf about this–his words and actions don’t match, he’s become offputting (not because he’s engaged–if he was engaged *and* walking his talk i.e. privacy, being in love, I don’t tink any of us would be side eyeing this). If they marry, the eye rolling will be epic, we’ll still see his movies, but I hope he’s happy with his People mag fanbase and the epic nannying coming his way.

    • MissMary says:

      Let’s see, how long have Jennifer Anniston and Juston Theroux been engaged? And Julia Roberts, how long was she with Benjamin Bratt? It doesn’t mean jack and there’s no Victorian stigma to a broken engagement. Even if they married and had a littler of octo-otters, I’m still side eyeing this as PR and shady. And won’t be a jot surprised when we get a memoir in 30 years that mentions how horrible things were.

      • scarf girl says:

        I don’t think we will ever really know. But the whole thing is just disappointing behavior from someone who appeared to want to stay normal and focus on the work, not the prestige and celebrity.

      • MissMary says:

        THIS. I think that’s a big part of why I, and others, are going “ugh, done” with his public persona and I know part of the reason I’m not so hot on spending ticket money on his films at the moment. I have a bad taste over his sudden, open famewhoring. I know all actors do it and that’s whatever, but the shift in him is just…offputting.

      • moodgirl says:

        I do not for one second believe that Justin will marry Jennifer Anniston; he gives her so many strange looks it is unreal.

      • MissMary says:

        Oh I doubt Jennifer and Justin will ever marry, too. I think it’s not quite a showmance but they both like one another well enough and knew it’d be good PR to be engaged (esp as she’s constantly painted as poor. pining, Jen).

      • j says:

        im not that bothered by it tbh *ducks to avoid incoming tomatoes*

        if i were his age, id be doing what i had to so i didnt end up in commercials/bbc specials for the rest of my life. he does seem unusually anxious/stressed out or somethin though, and i think he got a little stuck in turing (bad thing for an actor), so thats not good

    • moodgirl says:

      Nothing going on over at IMDB? You won’t gain traction over here.

      • Ant says:

        I’ve a question for you: are you legitimately paranoid that you’re getting infiltrated by an opposing faction, or do you just enjoy making people shut up?

      • moodgirl says:

        Nope, but posters on this site actually think for ourselves rather than follow a script that has been thrown at us. The shut up is on you.

      • Ant says:

        Good, if you think for yourself, why so flippant? You are to be judged on your behaviour. You’re a harassing troll.

      • moodgirl says:

        I not new to this site and I’m not the arguing with everyone over the subject so, who is the troll?

    • lola says:

      Whatever it is, it is going to end in a PR break up or PR divorce.

      Hopefully no child will be born into this mess.

    • scarf girl says:

      Every time my mind slips and thinks, what if this is real, these questions pop into my head:
      1) what man would release a polished and in some instances falsified CV to major magazine (e.g., Time) of a woman he loved and wanted to marry and protect by keeping the relationship private? What would be the purpose? An unaltered CV, maybe, but a CV as heavily altered as Sophie’s has been? Nope. That was pure PR.
      2) what woman arrives at events separately from a man she later agrees to marry and doesn’t stay for the after parties, where cameras are banned and she can socialize and just be a supportive girlfriend (LFF, Hobbit after party)?
      3) who in their right mind, claiming they want a private life and relationship private, publishes an engagement announcement in the Times prior to beginning an Oscar campaign and prior to an ungodly hectic work schedule making planning a wedding a living breathing nightmare and also making it more challenging to keep a private life private? Unless someone is pregnant or dying, that is a dumb move just increasing the stress in your life sevenfold.
      4) how in the name of God do two people who are supposedly in a serious, commitment for life relationship manage to not be seen together unless there are cameras around when one member of the couple has a crazy fan base that tweets every time he blows his nose (an exaggeration but not far off)?
      5) what newly engaged couple has this little chemistry??? For reals. They are like two wax statues.
      6) what man do you know goes around referring to the most important woman in his life not by her name, but by long phrases that sound like they are plucked from a bad Harelquin romance novel written in the 1950’s?

      If this is a “real” relationship and they marry, it says a lot about how little they prioritize the concept of love and partnership. Because nothing about this screams love. Except for the nanny tumbles. I won’t break down if there is a marriage, but I would lose a lot of respect for him. Mostly all respect for him, outside of his talent,

      • MissMary says:

        I think you’ve summed up everything I’m thinking, too, far more succinctly than I could manage.

      • scarf girl says:

        Sorry all for verbose post and probably mean, mean judgements on two people I don’t know. Just weary of being told I will have meltdown if there is a marriage, or this is the love of the century. What is that line from Robert Frost – we dance around the ring and suppose but the secret sits in the middle and knows.

      • moodgirl says:

        The big one: Why would a person, who claims to want privacy and had fiercely protected his privacy up to that point, put his engagement in a newspaper read world over, two days before leaving on a tour to promote a movie? Then exhibit an unbelievable amount of anger and hostility about said engagement and incredible psycho level animosity towards even the mere mention of his intended?

        Yet, all he had to do to avoid the entire boondoggle was keep his trap shut about the engagement and wait until a later date to announce it, since obviously there was no rush to announce the event because they have yet to marry. It makes no sense using any kind of logic. Unless it was designed for PR. That really is the only explanation. If anyone disagrees I am open to suggestions. Really, what else could it be?

      • moodgirl says:

        They put themselves out there for judgement.

      • moodgirl says:

        @scarf girl – Can any one explain WHY her CV was bigged up at all? What did her credentials have to do with the engagement?

      • scarf girl says:

        Miss Mary: you are very kind for calling that post succinct.

        Mood Girl: I don’t look at places nannies frequent, but I have not seen anyone on the nanny or pro real relationship acknowledging the inconsistencies or falsifications of CV, other than saying everyone does it. Also, I do not understand timing of announcement. BC’s explanations do not make sense to me now. An engagement after so short of a “courtship” would indicate two kids crazy in love a la Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden. These kids are not crazy in love. What situation needs normalizing? Who needs to know prior to a blurry Instagram snap? Since the announcement there have been no spottings or pics unless on red carpet. It would have made more sense (if real) to get quietly engaged (if you are that wacky about each other) and keep silent until after campaign or before Oscars. If the goal was to normalize. Engagement rings do not have to be worn 24/7 or even acknowledged when photographed in public.

        To me, only rationale explanation of announcement was to build momentum for campaign. Even if “real” relationship (and I don’t buy it) that timing had nothing to do with the heat of young love but everything to do with the love of a little gold man named Oscar.

      • scarf girl says:

        Mood Girlyes to all of the above. I had written something similar which did not make it through the comment review or is stuck somewhere. I hope it stays stuck because it is repetitive.

        Miss Mary-it would have been another verbose post. You were very kind to say the other was succinct

      • gg says:

        I think that Sophie’s “payment” out of all this will be a higher professional profile and hopefully (for her) more directing gigs. She’s already been to the Evening Standard Awards, sat next to Tom Stoppard. But her CV has to look like she deserves the work….so somebody’s been spit-shining the hell out of it.

      • moodgirl says:

        @scarf girl – Your post made it but I think I may have been thinking/typing at the same time. Sorry.

      • tsmiv says:

        I wanted to add a number 7 to your list scarfgirl: What man gives an interview to Elle 9 (?) weeks before engagement announcement to discuss “enjoying your currency” ,”trysts”, and Sherlock in the bedroom? He sounded so footloose and fancy free in that interview! It just does not compute. And if the writer wasn’t tipped off, where did that one little line come from? Or if it was some whirlwind romance, how would the writer know ahead of time? What if the Nov 5th announcement was to counter all the sex talk to Elle? The interview was released on Halloween and 5 days later, bombshell! Everybody went nuts over Sherlock sex and then everybody shut up about it after Nov 5.

      • Claire says:

        Wow great post scarfgirl.

        Tsmiv your post, after I read the aniston one, got me thinking something that may explain the weird turnaround from elle/casually dating to Nov 5: maybe he hired a strategist and the person said “here’s your image problem and here’s how you fix it”. And voila.

      • Ingrid says:

        @scarf girl: Magnificent post. I agree with everything.

        @Claire -ITA. Something changed dramatically after TIFF /LFF. It is truly shocking how is public persona has changed post-engagement and that was the reason behind all of this, IMO. Maybe it’s just a new approach or a strategist came into a picture. The latter is very likely as TIFF marked the point when BC became a serious Oscar contender.

        I think after Elle, TIFF craziness, penwings etc. someone put stop to it. “No more viral idiocy!” His fandom and his image was truly getting out of hand. There wasn’t a day something he did or said didn’t go viral. The only way to calm the fandom down and to make him seem more serious was to announce an engagement. There really isn’t anything else that would have worked. The enGAGment was best bad idea.

        Some time ago I went through The Hollywood Reporter’s BC headlines. Pre-gagment BC and post-gagment BC are literally two different human beings.

      • **sighs** says:

        Clair and Ingrid– I wonder if maybe Ben and his PR team originally overestimated his rabid fandom. Maybe they thought they could do it themselves with the cloak and dagger approach, thinking his nuts fans would be instagramming and twittering their every move. Planned things with the LFF and the botanical gardens and theater goings with other friends. Maybe he thought he could still do a “private” *relationship* ( still fake, tho) but nobody bothered to get in a tizzy about it or even bothered to report on it because they obviously didn’t even like each other.

        Then HW team says, hey, it’s getting way too close to campaigning time and your crazy fans are getting the job done. They didn’t want the crazy fanbase anyway so they said this is what’s going to happen. Plan B. Engagement/serious actor plan.

      • Claire says:

        The first bit of what you said is what I thought many months ago: all the dodgy press since, like the wintour interview, points to a confirmation of that theory, that they were expecting more of a rabid response. I also long thought senyorita was a hired shill as a late attempt to whip up a frenzy that wasn’t there. I wonder if he was disappointed or relieved not nearly as many in real life as he thinks care enough to snap photos lulz!

      • Felice says:

        @sighs – There was talk. But BNFs and nanny blogs shut down anyone who tried to ask about it. Also I’m pretty sure that Scotland #cumberwatch was PR because they were meant to be seen. Buuuuuuuuut, they were jumped on again.

  29. scarf girl says:

    I solemnly swear this is my last verbose post of evening.
    GG: I understand where you are coming from; I have a question I want to throw out. How do you think co-workers and theatre people feel about the enhancements to SH’s CV? Do you think they blow it off? Or will this lead to witchiness and resentment? Is she liked and respected with theatre people so little things like Time stating she was a Samuel Beckett Award recipient, when she is not, will not come back to bite? I know my questions are leading and I apologize. But you get the drift.

    Mood Girl: no worries and I don’t think it was your typing. I blame it on servers and my wordiness.

    • moodgirl says:

      @gg – “…so somebody’s been spit-shining the hell out of it.” My laugh for the week!

      @scarf girl – With SH’s demeanor I would bet more than a few dollars that she is not popular amongst her co – workers, with or without a shIned up CV. She has no shame in her game and will do anything to get ahead.

    • Lucifer says:

      Why are we suddenly talking about a wedding? Are we dreading a Christmas wedding?? I thought that was an inside joke for US. 😀
      Is hr not currently in LA?

      • Claire says:

        I think we’re just talking in hypothetical as always, nothing based on anything firm.

        Having said that is California one of those places you can get married on the sly? Hope not but maybe if there’s some domicile law he’s moving there to do it discreetly there. Just wondering.

        I really hope he drops her like the dead weight she is though.

      • Ingrid says:

        Where the “he is in LA” rumors came from? IIRC, the last confirmed sighting of him was in London at AA’s play and maybe at some shop the next day (Friday? Saturday?) Or have I missed something?

        I don’t think there’s much networking to do until New Years. Everyone in HW is busy with the holidays.

        I have a suspicion BC might be at Capri Film Festival for TIG premiere on 27th. Some stars do show up at Capri FF, some don’t. It’s 50/50. And I would be surprised if he is not at Palm Springs on 3rd of Jan for the ensemble award.

      • MissMary says:

        Starting the 29th is voting for the Academy, I believe, so he’s likely going to be in LA, gladhanding and playing HW’s trained monkey (oops, Sorry, BC…) until votes are in and noms are announced.

      • Lucifer says:

        yeah just to go to academy parties and screenings and stuff. pending time with family was just another soundbite now m sure.

  30. Florence says:

    She poses in that particular way because it photographs well for the looks features that she has. I’m sure we all have a “best pose”. She has pretty skin, a good figure and is tall, but they look eerily similar to me.

    I’m not a BC fan, only liked him in Sherlock, and I lost interest in the 3rd series, all the nepotism and fan pandering got in the way of good writing. I think BC has limited range (my opinion I hasten to add, no one else needs to agree with me!) I think he is over rated, having said all that I do think the engagement is real and they will get married. All of you seeing these “changes” in him, some of his past behaviour has provided an inkling of this side of his character
    In my view.

    I don’t know anything about her apart from what I have seen on this site including photographs and I do think that it is odd that they never look at each other in photo’s. I just think BC is busy and stressed and he doesn’t deal well with it being slightly neurotic and sensitive about things. I also think he feels it, getting closer to 40 and this was a bit of a panic move.

    Also, how does everyone know she is a Trustafarian? No snark, genuinely asking. Also, I keep hearing she has 4 siblings, who are they and what do they do? If may provide a bit of a clue as to her character

    • Soothy says:

      Well, I live in modest area of london, have a good job and I’m educated and some months I struggle topping up the Oyster card.
      There’s no way she is funding her own existence from the work she does. It just wouldn’t happen. She’s obviously got a huge cushion of family money in her bank account. The octupus video, the fake tummy roll around, the ludicrous mime art, it’s all pretentious work of someone who doesn’t need to do it to earn a living. And why jump around to all these different professions anyway? She tries to sing, act, direct and apparently sees herself as a performance artist too? If you’re successful in one profession, you stick to it. The acting hasn’t been successful and I would’ve thought a good director would recognise their own weaknesses.

      I also recall an interview with her a few years ago where she admitted to having financial support from her parents, too.

      • Felice says:

        Oyster cards can be the devil sometimes. One time I had to use the weekly bus pass because money was tight. But at least I could use my phone lol.

    • **sighs** says:

      Based on her CV, there is no way she is supporting herself without some financial help from somewhere else. A piece of avant garde theatre and an episode of a random bbc show every 2 years does not pay for a flat in London.

      • Lucifer says:

        Nor in NYC

      • Claire says:

        They want me to believe a cheapskate like him wants to give half his income to this talentless snob, and 11m to an LA mansion he wouldn’t be able to live in for 2 years? If in the off chance it’s true I’ve lost all interest in the man’s work. Could care less if he’s the next Ollivier.

    • gg says:

      Going by her brother Patrick’s FB page (he’s the one who was in Hello with mummy), I think he may be an ambulance driver or medic. If so, good on him!

  31. Florence says:

    Thanks for the response Soothy.

    I haven’t seen any of her work and have no interest in seeing it really, just seen her photos here. It’s all a so weird that I’m just curious as to how it will pan out now, I guess the proof will be in the pudding

  32. Ingrid says:

    The Daily Fail picked up the mansion story. And it will be everywhere in 1… 2… 3…

    Congratulations Harvey & Co! You managed to keep BC current even during the holidays!

    • MissMary says:

      It’s been a slow news week, the big awards push doesn’t start till the 29th, so they gotta keep his name out there somehow (and the enGAGment was getting too much side eye, I’m sure).

      • Lucifer says:

        such bad publicity for hm. The house is hideous IMHO, GAG getting side eyed. Ppl not familiar to GAG ll not know that blunder happened. I dn’t c ONE good thing about this oscar campaign. NONE

    • Soothy says:

      Dear me. That’s bad publicity though. Makes him look like a wasteful and pretentious, tacky douche. They really don’t get what people like him about him do they? People liked his warmth and down to earth attitude. I was certainly impressed by the fact he eschewed fame and the nonsense that goes with it and lived for his work.

      • Ingrid says:

        It’s truly sad that they are trying to make him the standard Hollywood leading man. Sexy and boring. They should have trusted his own personality more. That’s why he was so loved. Because he was different.

      • gg says:

        I’m telling you, he really will be laughed out of London at this rate.

  33. Lucifer says:

    The comments in the DM article are pure JOY 😀