These photos from the Toronto Film Festival premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy are several days old. I was going to write about them before, but I got busy and I kind of thought that no one would really care. Instead of leading with Colin Firth, who I love, let’s talk about my boy Benedict Cumberbatch, who is 35 years old and terribly English (“terribly” used in the British sense, meaning “very”). In the past, when I’ve included photos of Benedict in other posts, the Cumberbitches have come out to lust over their man. So here’s a post full of Cumber-goodness. To me… well, I like him a great deal, I think he’s a hell of an actor, but I don’t get all hot for him like he’s a Fassbender. I just enjoy The Cumberbatch. He’s silly and funny and rather cool.

Did you know that Benedict is heterosexual too? That really surprised me! I thought for sure he was gay, but according to reports, Benedict just recently split from his girlfriend of 10 years, Olivia Poulet. He’s already moved on too, with a girl named Anna Jones. A source says, “It’s a very new relationship but it seems to be serious. Anna really enjoys Benedict’s company and they had a lovely time in Venice. Benedict has invited her to the London premiere of his new film. While he’s quite private about his relationships, he is very happy with Anna. They are looking forward to spending more time together.” Benedict also confirmed the split in a Guardian interview, when he acknowledged that he hadn’t been single since he was at university: “When I was last single I wasn’t the same person, I was desperately backwards in coming forwards. But now I quite enjoy it. Naturally, I miss the proximity of a partnership with someone I know and love – and I still love Olivia to bits – but being single’s fun.”

Oh, he also wants kids! He tells The Guardian that he’s been broody “for ever” and that he wants kids soon: “Yeah, I’m a bit behind on that. Maybe it’s because I was an only child, but I’ve always wanted kids. I’ve realised now that the reality of children is you have to be in the right place with the right person.” Here are some more highlights and quotes from various interviews:

Benedict on punching Tom Hardy in ‘Tinker’: “It was very enjoyable. He wanted me to hit him harder and I had to point out that I needed my hands for the rest of the day. Because he can take a bit of punishing Tom. And it’s probably, let’s face it, the only time I’m going to get to really have a proper pop at him, in his current form. So it was good fun.”

On the 1970s costumes for ‘Tinker’: Cumberbatch is buttoned into sharp three-pieces. “Tom [Hardy] did Starsky and Hutch via The Sweeney and I got the suits,” he grins. “F–k me, those suits…” If there’s plenty of competition for the best acting performance in Tinker, Tailor, Cumberbatch wins most-dapper-dressed with ease: one dark grey number with powder-blue tie and matching kerchief practically demands its own agent. “I’m hoping maybe the film’s going to bring that kind of 70s suit back, you know?” he says, putting on an exaggeratedly hopeful face. “Like Keira was supposed to do for one-piece swimwear in Atonement…”

Benedict on the London riots: Sherlock was shooting night scenes in north London during the August riots. Fortunately for Cumberbatch, his scenes had already wrapped, but Mark Gatiss and Martin Freeman were among those evacuated from the location shoot when gangs bore down on the set, stealing scaffold poles and smashing trucks. Cumberbatch admits, with humour and considerable passion, that the riots were a nasty challenge to his natural liberal principles. “I’m a Prince of Wales Trust ambassador, so I’m all about giving youth an education, a voice and a chance to not take the wrong road,” he says. “But those eejits saying they’re doing it for socio-political reasons? F–k off, no you’re not, you’re on a jolly and you’re getting away with it. It makes me want to belt them, make them lame for a bit so they’re dependent on other people’s mercy… It’s very hard for me to talk about it,” he continues, “because I came from an incredibly privileged bubble so the minute I open my mouth I can sense the comeback of, ‘What the f–k do you know?’ And that’s fair. But my sympathy is with the people who do know what they’re talking about, who have been brought up on estates and live morally decent, contributing lives and who have seen opportunists destroying all their work.”

[From HuffPo and The Guardian]

He’s a Prince of Wales Trust ambassador! His last relationship lasted ten years! He’s a dandy! He’s posh! Okay, now I’m a little bit Cumber-loonie. LOVE HIM. Love all gingers, especially when they’re posh.

Photos courtesy of WENN.