Is Benedict Cumberbatch going to attempt a ‘stache for Doctor Strange?

This tweet ^^ is from director Scott Derrickson, who will be directing Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. Derrickson notes in a subsequent tweet that he did not create this weird Cumberimage, that it is “online fan art, not official. I have no idea who made it.” Perhaps we should just take this for what it is: a creepy, surreal, fan-created image of what Benedict Cumberbatch might look like as Doctor Strange. What if this is Derrickson’s image of Strange though? My takeaway: there’s a very good possibility that Bendy is going to have facial hair for this role. Perhaps a goatee/beard, perhaps just a ‘stache. How does that make you feel? I’m worried. I’m worried that Bendy can’t grow a full beard.

I actually didn’t realize before today that Derrickson is attached to direct, and that he has a resume full of horror films. He directed Sinister, Deliver Us From Evil and The Exorcism of Emily Rose (which is actually a pretty underrated horror film, and I’m saying that as someone who is not a fan of the horror genre). With that kind of CV, I kind of think Bendy’s Doctor Strange is going to be very… dark. Very creepy. Perhaps he’ll have fun with that. We’ll have to wait until November 4, 2016 to find out.

In other Bendy news, the Human Rights Campaign is going to honor him and the whole team behind The Imitation Game in January. Alan Turing is something of a gay icon and it’s a no-brainer for the HRC to honor the film and the filmmakers. I hope Bendy gives a speech about kissing boys at his posh school again.

Here are some of Bendy’s previous attempts at facial hair. It never really works out… but hey, at least his beard/stache comes in ginger.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, Twitter.

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836 Responses to “Is Benedict Cumberbatch going to attempt a ‘stache for Doctor Strange?”

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  1. Kiddo says:

    Let me get the tape set-up, and the CSI squad will investigate the stache situation. Where is lieutenant mimif? She’s always late to these crime scenes, dammit.

  2. Beth says:

    He looked good with facial hair as van Gogh in that TV movie some years back.

    He and Michael Fassbender both have eyebrows and facial hair that are of a significantly different colour (ginger) than their hair (brunette). It is very distracting.

    Not feeling the Dr Strange fanart poster tbh. He reminds me of our gardener.

  3. scarf girl says:

    Thank you for the pictures Kaiser. It was a kind thing to do.

  4. Alice says:

    Thank god for the new(old)pictures. More of the same, please.

  5. kim says:

    Can’t they just give it to benicio del toro? I love cumberbatch but a stache? Dreadful.

  6. PunkyMomma says:

    Otter whiskers! No!

  7. InvaderTak says:

    So the war horse one was fake then?

    • scarf girl says:

      Good question

    • Beth says:

      He looked unctuous and rape-y in War Horse. Think it’s cos he reminded me of that dreadful paedophile character in Atonement.

      • Lucifer says:

        yeah.. eww

      • scarf girl says:

        I always block out the fact he is in Atonement. He really did creepy guy very well. But eww.

      • scarf girl says:

        Simpler times Lucifer.

        This was misplaced. I meant it as a response above. (Sigh). I should sleep but can’t. Blast the holiday hostess who gave her guests this stomach bug!

      • Lucifer says:

        yeah good ol days
        @scarf girl

      • InvaderTak says:

        Well THAT escalated quickly…

      • scarf girl says:

        InvaderTak to your original question: has anyone ever determined if War Horse facial hair fake?

        Sorry for any question hijacking on my part.

      • InvaderTak says:

        It’s ok I’m laughing like a nutcase! but i’m like, I asked a simple question and now we’re talking about pedos??? huh? LOL

        And I searched (yeah bored. Holiday shopping done and don’t want to wrap yet) and didn’t find an answer. Ingrid posted a pic below and I’d say it was fake though. He’s a bit sparse.

  8. Jenny says:

    Those two pictures at the bottom honestly made me gag. I could feel the bile rising….

  9. Ingrid says:

    I generally loathe his attempts at growing a beard but I must say he looked delicious at The Guest screening with Dan Stevens back in September (it was the last outing of HappyBatch).

    He also looks magnificent here. In a sort of old man way.
    http://41.media.tumblr.com/5ff210e1ae66d6373ee2896471c6053e/tumblr_ng4d26Nu9N1rnwoh4o2_1280.jpg

  10. ellesbelles says:

    I liked his ginger scruff in wreckers. That’s all I have

    • MtnRunner says:

      I liked that too Elles. Otherwise, I prefer him without facial hair.

    • Anne tommy says:

      In your brief break from hiddlelove elles – right there with you on that but I Don’t share the bendy love – bendy was in Part one of the last Ever series of The bbc radio 4 comedy Cabin pressure tonight, daft but charming stuff, he plays martin the pilot, last ever tomorrow I Believe, after 6 or 7 years, worth catching on the miracle Of the Interweb. Random caps syndrome strikes Again, Apologies.

  11. Janet says:

    I like the second pic but I think more for his eyes than the ‘stache.

  12. tasha_nat says:

    Not a fan of the mustache on our otter, it’s too sparse. I sort of like the beard, it defines yet hides his manifold, multilayered chins.

  13. MissMary says:

    They’ll probably do Stick On Hair since his natural thatch is kind of sparse…

  14. may23 says:

    Not feeling it but mustache can create a pretty nice sensation… Sophie would be pleased 😉

  15. Claire says:

    On the fence on the legitimacy of this relationship but meaning to say that you should google: waiting for toothy celebrities fake-date explanations from publicist

  16. Ash says:

    I tend to believe Edin twitt.. The girl who posted it is definitely no fan of BC ( looked through her previous tweets) so not many reasons for her to lie I guess…You know what is alarming? He visited his parents before Christmas in Oxford, no sighting of our delicate shy flower (probably she was to shy to meet Wanda, no idea). Now he flies to Edin. Again no mention of her, probably she is already there. Now question: does it mean that SH did not visit his parents in Oxford with him? Hmmm… Seems like SH and Wanda are not fans of each other!

    • gg says:

      Of course they aren’t fans of each other! And if he *is* going up there, it’s either to keep up appearances with her family and/or for a pap opportunity. Basically he’s working over Christmas. Do you think Wanda and Timothy are happy about that?

      • moodgirl says:

        Maybe we should start looking at this another way instead of making excuses? What I do find odd is that they are not together but possibly they planned things this way – he visits his family while she visits hers, then he flies up. Maybe it is what it is.

      • Alice says:

        @moodgirl. I’m sure that’s the relationship he’s always dreamed of – his parents and wife can’t stand each other and must be kept apart.

      • moodgirl says:

        @Alice – It happens. My mother could set fire to my sister-in-law, I could then spread her ashes over the local sewage processing plant. But my brother selected her so what could we do? AND my brother was my mother’s favorite (he passed away) and she would admit it.

      • Alice says:

        But he doesn’t seem to have selected her, unless he enjoys being miserable and gloomy. Maybe he feels guilty over his good fortune and she is his hairshirt.

      • scarf girl says:

        MoodGirl-let us see where it goes over holidays and Oscar season. I think it would be easier to embrace if he looked happy and if they had any kind of discernible chemistry. He does not act like a man who has found his forever home. Real or PR, I find it in my Scrooge heart to pity them both. Not a relationship I ever want to emulate.

        Alice-like the hair shirt theory.

      • moodgirl says:

        What’s a hair shirt? Hint please.

        Edit – Never mind, I googled it.

    • Linz says:

      @Ash.

      Maybe Mom’s friend is/was lying/joking around/mistaken?

      It’s happened before.

      Benedict at The Botanical Gardens (Edinburgh):
      A young girl Tweeted that her Father saw Benedict in London (on the same day) She stood by her Father.
      Benedict at SDCC:
      One person Tweeted that they saw him in Greece. Another person (a young girl) Tweeted that her Sister’s friend, saw him in London. Said Sister’s friend would have no reason to make it up.

      • moodgirl says:

        I don’t have access to Twitter so I couldn’t open the link but I did see the tweet on SoGo and the person wrote “R U sad” at the end of the post, like she’s taunting. Who knows?

      • scarf girl says:

        Fascinating facts about that Twitter sighting: girl was contacted by two accounts who seem to have been keen on contacting other BC sightings in past and always throwing in “must be connected with SH” in their tweets. Doesn’t make girls tweet untrue, but these accounts also use the BC hashtag so it will pop up in a Twitter search. That is IMHO. Other Twitter users feel free to verify my facts.

      • gg says:

        @scarf girl: Yes, you are correct. And the person upthread is also correct in saying how odd that the news would travel from plane to Twitter so quickly (passenger > Mum > Tweeter) if this supposedly happened today.

      • Linz says:

        “I think so yep” lol Grain of salt! 😉

        BirdLola has been grilling people since the secret girlfriend rumors began.

        “@ZoeOFlaherty @miller__99 was this today??”

        “@BirdLola888 @miller__99 I think so yep! And did I spell his last name wrong”

        “@Whototrainyourd it was today (22nd) and he was on a flight to edinburgh”

        @ZoeOFlaherty Well, today (Tuesday) was the 23rd Thank you x

        @Whototrainyourd I am so sorry typing error and v sleepy

        @ZoeOFlaherty @miller__99 you spelt it right! I used the wrong hash tag! He must be off to visit his fiancé’s family (pure speculation)

        @ZoeOFlaherty @miller__99 did she say anything more about him?

      • Ingrid says:

        So we have one third-hand account (who cannot even keep the story straight.) He MUST be in Edinburgh. (heavy sarcasm)

        BTW, I’m furious if he actually is there and with Missy. Because BC hasn’t had a chance to spend time with his family in months, surely he would be entitled to spend his Christmas with them. This is regardless whether this is real, fake or real-fake. Actually, it’s worse if this mess is real.

        Of course he could be in Scotland with his family sans Missy. It’s a possibility. But I still think he’s not there.

      • Soothy says:

        Why are people assuming he has family in Scotland? He’s never said that.

      • Dionis says:

        I met Benedict Cumberbatch at work today. He was absolutely lovely and charming. He’s up here to spend Christmas with Sophie and her family.
        http://azogdefiles.tumblr.com/post/106050617786/i-met-benedict-cumberbatch-at-work-today-he-was

      • Soothy says:

        Lucky him.

      • Linz says:

        @Dionis.

        No pics? He randomly told you he is there to spend Christmas with Sophie and her family?

      • Questionable says:

        So instead of spending time with his parents, he’s with Sophie?

        Hmm

        edited: Linz, yes, odd thing to say to a random stranger, that he was there for christmas. Hmm again

      • Felice says:

        Of course she doesn’t comment back when we ask her questions. Don’t believe everything you read.

      • Linz says:

        She responded on Tumblr.

        Someone asked her “How do you know he’s up there for Sophie and her family? Was she there with him?”

        Her response: “He mentioned it? Her family live here and nope she wasn’t”

        So he “mentioned” it to a total stranger? Hmmm?

      • **sighs** says:

        I can actually see him doing this.

        “Hello complete stranger. I’m here to spend Christmas with the woman I proposed to’s family. Please mention this on twitter or Instagram. Have to keep my fans up to date.”

        Is Sophie with you?

        “Don’t bother me. I’m a very private person.”

  17. Lucifer says:

    It is what it is.. They’re getting married this weekend. Cumberbabies squeeeeeee

    • moodgirl says:

      Lifted this from SoGo; hope they don’t mind because they copy from us as well:

      “nannies nannies nannies, unless BC and SH are going REALLY far for their secret wedding, its not happening. you have to PUBLICLY REGISTER YOUR WEDDING AT LEAST 2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE in the UK. if they have a wedding, its just a party and its NOT A LEGALLY BINDING MARRIAGE UNLESS IT HAD BEEN PUB REGISTERED WEEKS BEFORE! im at work, can someone do a quick google search of the PUBLIC REGISTERS? you can, neither of their names are on it (last i saw it was checked) someone do it again.”

      So, here we go again. I think MissMary stated this a few threads back, if they were getting married in the UK people would know prior to the event because they would have to register and you know someone would see it and squeal. Even George and Amal had to register.

      • 'P'enny says:

        Register 28 days in advance – it is displayed publicaly not on internet for 15 days before wedding where I live in England. Don’t know about Scotland they may have different rules.

      • MissMary says:

        P’enny–basically same rules in Scotland. And the info can be accessed by anyone walking into the GRO to see who is registered for an upcoming wedding. You have to set the date and location when you register in Scotland, as well. Someone, somewhere, would spill info like a leaky bucket. the venue workers, someone who is keeping an eye for the tabs etc.

    • Linz says:

      @Lucifer.

      Sarcasm? 🙂

      • moodgirl says:

        I think she’s taking a whack at me; I’m so tired I didn’t even notice.

      • Lucifer says:

        No whack/shade intended. I ‘m as sick as anyone else of these sighting/not sighting/bullshit I mean get married already.Celebrity first marriages dnt last anyway. Get married get a imp life lesson that your ego is not the only thing that matters in the relationship move on. JUst do something. tired of waiting. ARRGHHH.

    • Cate says:

      Whaaaaaaaattttttttttt? I don’t check for a while and all of a sudden there’s a secret wedding in Scotland? Nope. Just nope. It’s just based on a vague sighting right?

      • moodgirl says:

        I completely forgot – what about the boatloads of people who claim they received an invitation to this “secret” wedding? BC said HIS wedding would be private but everyone including Colonel Sanders is supposedly going. And they are all HER friends that are tweeting their good fortune of receiving a coveted invite, none of his friends say a damn thing. Hmmmmm……

      • Claire says:

        Am I missing something? I don’t recall anyone saying they had a wedding invite, only a few people saying they were going to a party. Unless it’s after Xmas don’t know why they’d have one now when everyone’s with families.

      • MissMary says:

        Laws in Scotland are basically the same as in England regarding marriages…virtually impossible for a sneaky one if you’re a heavily papped and ab-stalked celeb. And the wedding b.s. is from a game of telephone and people freaking out b/c it’s a slow news week.

      • moodgirl says:

        That’s a good question; I think someone posted upthread yesterday that a neighbor stated that someone’s gf was a cousin of SH and was going to the wedding. Now that you mention the party…. Hmmmmmm… Sounds shady.

      • gg says:

        After Christmas, Benedict goes back to being Harvey’s performing monkey. Voting for Oscar noms starts next Monday.

      • Ingrid says:

        For heaven’s sake people, they are not getting married. He has said it himself so many times. “Me, myself &I” will marry himself.

        (BTW, PR did correct the TWILTWIPT situation but still no us-we)

      • MissMary says:

        DOn’t you think JR would be dropping hints like mad? THe man, talented and sweet as he is, cannot keep a secret where BC is concerned.

      • moodgirl says:

        Correct. If JR’s lips ain’t flapping then it ain’t happening.

      • Lucifer says:

        dint JR tweet the other day about hangng out @someplace with Pals?? stag night?

      • gg says:

        @Lucifer and then he posted about having met a new friend. So I’m thinking not. Maybe a self-help weekend of some sort…..

  18. Claire says:

    So why did no one tell me FishStick is a nickname for So Odious? Good god that’s funny.

    Here’s my holiday champagne toast to hoping they never marry and he finds that wild love he so dreamt of. Join me, ladies?

  19. wow says:

    Am I the only one who thinks he is gross?

  20. Lucifer says:

    Okay so in cumby’s wiki page personal life details, its mentioned he “dated” OP n AJ. But when its SH’s time its written engagement was announced, not that cumberbatch announced. So u get my passive voice/active voice thing????
    “In 1999, Cumberbatch began dating actress Olivia Poulet, whom he met at university. They amicably broke up after 12 years together.[91] After Poulet, he dated London-based artist Anna James in late 2011 but the couple separated in 2012.[92]

    On 5 November 2014, Cumberbatch’s engagement to theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter was traditionally announced in the “Forthcoming Marriages” section of The Times. They first met on the set of the film Burlesque Fairytales in 2009″

    Did I make my point??

    • Ingrid says:

      Ummm… Wikipedia is written by his fans /random people, not by management/PR/BC.

      Or was your point something else, Lucifer?

    • Lucifer says:

      i was saying even the ardent fandom is skeptic about the engagement hence the passive voice

  21. Ingrid says:

    BTW, those who say the media fuss over BC’s engagement was an “accident” or it was a “coincident” that he announced it two days before press tour, look how Helena Bonham Carter (Karon is her PR) and Tim Burton announced their separation. Two days before Christmas. If you don’t want to make a fuss, announce things either on Friday afternoon or just before/during big holidays. Public Relations 101.

    Karon knows her sh*t. And the enGAGment was timed 100%

  22. Mike says:

    Ben have seen in Edinburgh today, he said that he will be celebrating Christmas with Sophie and her family.

    • Lucifer says:

      wow

    • Soothy says:

      Good to just stay present with HIS family, though. And Mummy has more material for the next HELLO journo’s visit, so everyone’s a winner.
      Maybe Emily can join them and bring her waitressing gear.

      • Ingrid says:

        *snort*

        The poor man ( or his PR elfs) are working through the holidays.

      • Leo says:

        Well, how is this diffrent or worse from spending last Christmas in the US snowboarding with friends or spending Christmas with Sam Mendes and Rebecca Hall? Clearly he and his parents haven’t been joined at the hip over the holidays in the past. And they actually live in London, so who’s to say how much time they spend together. How do two or three days away change anything?

      • Soothy says:

        He never said he spent Christmas with Sam Mendes and Rebecca Hall.
        And do you really think it’s about being ‘joined at the hip’ to his parents? In interviews recently he’s gone on and on about how much he’s looking forward to actually spending Christmas with his family this year. But same as most other things that come out of his mouth of late, it’s BS.
        And Tertius, Rebecca Hall etc aren’t as snotty, insufferable and for six months previous, they aren’t playing the most ridiculous games with the public and media that SH’s been so blatantly part of.

      • Soothy says:

        I can’t see how this particular thing is down to PR, Ingrid. It’s just him being a dick.

      • Mike says:

        “spending Christmas with Sam Mendes and Rebecca Hall?”
        When did it happen?

      • Leo says:

        @ Soothy,

        Actually, he pretty much did say he spent his 2011 Christmas with Hall and Mendes.
        Read this article, this is his direct qoute http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/how-an-iphone-audition-got-benedict-cumberbatch-into-the-star-trek-sequel/?_r=0

        What I wanted to say was that he has a long history of spending holidays away from his mum and dad and that the recent engagement has nothing to do with it. Before there was OP and her brother, skiing in Switzerland etc.

        And, also to be fair, I read only one (one!) single statement where he mentions spending Christmas with his family. How do you know he hasn’t spent the last week with them? That he won’t spend every day after Christmas with them?
        Is this fact really enough to declare him a dick?

        Also, I’m sorry, maybe I’m not a proper fan, but to me Tertius Bune is no different than SH. They are both in the peerage (or at least their families), have quirky/artsy careers and questionable talent.
        I guess the difference is TB is a man, and not engaged to BC. Fake or otherwise.

      • Leo says:

        @ Mike, there is a link in my post. He doesn’t name them, but from the description, it’s pretty clear it’s them. The kid is Mendes’ child from the relationship with Kate Winslet.

      • Mike says:

        “He doesn’t name them, but from the description, it’s pretty clear it’s them. The kid is Mendes’ child from the relationship with Kate Winslet.”
        Thank you, I somehow missed it

      • Soothy says:

        Oh, please. Let’s not play the ‘because she’s a woman’ card.
        Firstly, Tertius is a pretty good photographer. He’s not a clown school grad who rolls around on the floor wearing pregnancy suits and wrestling with sea creatures.

        I’ve heard him talk several times about looking forward to spending XMAS with his family. And yes, considering the ridiculous things he’s been saying of late, he does qualify as a dick.
        Also, who the hell cares about peerage? It’s nothing to do with that.
        She’s rude and demeaning publicly and they’ve been playing ridiculous games with the media ever since she appeared on the scene. It baffles me who people claim to not see it.

        And that interview doesn’t confirm he spent Xmas with the Mendes’.

      • Felice says:

        I’ve tweeted Tertius before and he’s very polite. I’m sure he’s very privileged but unlike someone, he actually talks to us peasants :p

      • J says:

        he’s always been yak-y with strangers tbh but who knows if its true. ppl have been having a bit of fun with his fans lately, i suspect 🙂

        that being said, we dont really know his holiday plans or how his family works xmas, not everyone is the same. i only see mine on x-mas eve, my folks take off xmas day, and i’ve got a good friend who spends it with me because her family does xmas the week before and goes on holiday the week of, so…

    • NotaXmasElf says:

      Hang on, he was ‘spotted’ in a chemist in Edi. No conversation, just an assumption by the tweeter that he was there for christmas. Show me where HE said this and I’ll believe you.

      • Soothy says:

        There’s a Tumblr link further upthread. Some girl met him.

      • Questionable says:

        And he just randomly told her he was there for christmas with Sophie/family. A complete stranger? Hmm

      • Ingrid says:

        ^^ that’s why I said PR.
        The whole story is falling apart and now he’s broadcasting around Edi that he’s there with SH. LOL

        This is far fetched, i know, (then again so is the whole enGAGment) but he could be there just to be seen and is flying back / not actually with SH.

      • Felice says:

        I don’t believe anything when the person doesn’t come back to comment.

      • Soothy says:

        Yeah that’s far fetched, ingrid. Course he’s there because of her.

      • Questionable says:

        There was also a ‘sighting’ at the airport, but the tweet was deleted. Fakerbatch on tumblr posted both the airport and chemist tweets. Why would a supposedly ‘private’ man like Benedict just ‘randomly’ tell a complete stranger he was there with Sophie? Surely thats not something he would offer up under any circumstances – unless there was a reason behind it…

        *cough* Slow news week

      • NotAXmasElf says:

        Why would he offer information like that up to a complete stranger if there wasn’t some kind of ulterior motive behind it?

      • Alice says:

        Let me see if I grasp this – he’s out and about in E, chatting with strangers and there’s no sign of HER?

      • Questionable says:

        As far as I can tell, Alice, possibly not. The chemist sighting was iffy, the OP was asked if SH was with him. She said ‘yeah,this was in edinburgh’, so maybe at the chemist with her? Hard to tell. OP could gave easily been saying yeah to the eyes comment. As I saud, fakerbatch on tumblr has the tweet. Would post a link but would probably get deleted. 😔

      • **sighs** says:

        Funny how he seems to always be out and about in her neck of the woods, but is never actually seen or pictured “with” her.

    • moodgirl says:

      Even I don’t believe Mike and I pretty much believe everything.

  23. Mike says:

    PR or not PR, Ben in the game.

  24. Lucifer says:

    Can I know what just happened. all this info is just baffling. and my car broke just an hour back got home and c this. gosh!!
    what’s the story , guys, help me out.

    • Lucifer says:

      why in medicine shop? buying latex? 😉

      • Felice says:

        or ibuprofen for this headache of a campaign.

      • Lucifer says:

        apparently he is already in airport. another tweet. SoGo just posted it.

      • Questionable says:

        apparently sodious has ‘something wrong with her ears’.

      • Felice says:

        That’s too tmi for him to say to a stranger. I don’t believe that.

      • Lucifer says:

        so the medicine shop girl overheard them buying ear medicines for sophie 😀

      • Linz says:

        (“I met Benedict Cumberbatch at work today. He was absolutely lovely and charming. He’s up here to spend Christmas with Sophie and her family.”

        Someone asked her: “How do you know he’s up there for Sophie and her family? Was she there with him?”

        She responded (Tumblr): “He mentioned it? Her family live here and nope she wasn’t.”)

        So he just “mentioned” it to a total stranger?

      • moodgirl says:

        All of the posters with NEW names and NEW to this site always have pro SH stories or sightings. Very suspicious. I don’t believe a word of it. And y’all know I believe just about anything so this should tell you something. BS, BS, BS.

    • Lucifer says:

      it’s just what a fake tweeter would do, make sure to point out where exactly the sighting was and therefore what it probably means

      • moodgirl says:

        There is always someone around to “overhear” conversations about BC. Does everyone over there always talk loud and tell their personal business in public places?

      • Soothy says:

        These people aren’t fake tweeters. It makes no sense. They are established profiles with pictures and thousands of tweets. How can they be fake?

      • Questionable says:

        @moodgirl, IKR? It just seems so OOC for Ben to be sharing this kind of info. I certainly dont go around telling random retail people who I’m spending xmas with or why I’m in a certain city.

        Complete strangers being told this info seemingly at random just makes this very suspicious. And the fact she’s not spotted with him? Curiouser and curiouser.

      • Lucifer says:

        with a microphone. And she made eye contact with him?? how?? she was tweeting the whole time??one person said sodious was not with him. girl said she was. Why does she mention her hometown to her friend in twitter. does her twitter frnd not know whr she lives. What a massive whack. And he was seen @ airport early morning. So whats up with that/??can anyone i ask for a professional help to put me through this with a scant of logic..

      • Lucifer says:

        this helped many non believers to go to the real camp. happy camping. cumberbabies.. squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

      • testing says:

        testing

      • Linz says:

        @Lucifer.

        “this helped many non believers to go to the real camp.”

        What are you talking about? I am not seeing that at all.

      • Lucifer says:

        yeah i saw some comments upthread. why would someone with authentic account post a fake tweet or something like that.
        that’s why

      • Linz says:

        @Lucifer.

        One comment = many non believers? I forgot people don’t lie on the internet/make up Celebrity Sightings.. 😉

        If the sightings are legit. Then why are they deleting their Tweets? People were not harassing/grilling them.

        The Tweets are contradicting (He was at the Chemists with Sophie. He was at the Airport alone. Tumblr girl said he was alone. She said Benedict “mentioned” to her, that he is there to spend Christmas with Sophie/her family.)

        So he just volunteered that information to a total stranger?

      • Questionable says:

        ^^This, Linz. Random info to a random stranger. Nothing suspicious about that *at all*. 😜

      • gg says:

        Sophie wasn’t with him at the chemist’s because she was waiting back at the manger while Benedict was out trying to track down some frankincense and myrrh….

      • Questionable says:

        @gg OMFG, you made me spit out my coffee. Laughing so hard right now!

      • wahine992 says:

        @gg – LMAO!! That was a good one. *applauds*

    • NotAXmasElf says:

      And now chemist tweeter has deleted the tweet where she speculated that he was in Edi for xmas. WHAT is going on? Why do they delete tweets? She had only received one question, so she wasn’t being over run by nannies…

      • Lucifer says:

        faking, faker fakerson. shake it off As our beloved tay said. 😉

      • moodgirl says:

        “So he just volunteered that information to a total stranger?”

        As rude and sullen BC has been when addressing the enGAGment, even in professional circumstances, I seriously doubt that he would volunteer information to random people on the street.

    • Questionable says:

      Ooh, looks like tumblr girl and twitter chemist girl may be from the same place? tags on tumblr girl mention something about confidentiality, which leads me to believe she works in the chemist. so maybe not 2 separate sightings, just the one in the same place. Could explain how the convo turned to spending xmas with Sophie?

      Sorry but its early am where I am and I cant sleep. So I’m trawling sites in an attempt to make the dawn come faster!

      • Linz says:

        Tumblr girl said he was alone.

        Twitter Chemist girl said Sophie was with him.

      • Questionable says:

        Ah, yes missed that.

        Man…still cant figure out what is going on…but that could be lack of sleep. Or just sheer I-dont-know-wtf-he’s-doing-anymore.

      • Linz says:

        lol

        Tumblr girl: “The amount of nasty, doubting anons I’ve had today.”

        “porygons said: lol jealous probably
        estel-of-the-eyrie said: Ignore them, they’re just attention seeking – jealous is all they are. Ignore then and ENJOY CHRISTMAS”

      • Lucifer says:

        basically same person posting contradictory sightings is it? what aout the airport tweet thn/ why mention the place at all?? would i ever say i m going to xyz airport. I’ll say i’m going to airport. simple. mentioning the place thn deleting the tweet no this is not shady at all.

      • Lucifer says:

        Ok, so a girl’s mum sees BC flying to Edinburgh yesterday and today another guy sees him (presumably) flying back home at dawn. Unless he picked up SH at the airport…but IMO she probably flew in before he did, like she did last time. Then later on his doppleganger is spotted in Edinburgh buying ear drops for his beloved…or was it yesterday…WTF is going on? Maybe he agreed to spend the day before Christmas with Mama Hunter but will be spending Christmas and Boxing Day with his clan. I am doubtful that those teen tweets are legit, I am more inclined to believe an adult at the airport. If he flew back that quickly that wouldn’t speak well of their relationship, he’s treating it like another press conference. PR minions would imply that he’s spending the entirety of the Holidays with SoFail and Co. because she is his center blah, blah. I am not saying he can’t be in Edinburgh still but I smell a plant…and it ain’t mistletoe.

      • Ingrid says:

        Lucifer, I was reading your post and thought “did I write this?” ITA 100% with you.
        WTF*ckery is so strong…

        ” smell a plant…and it ain’t mistletoe.” ROFLMAO

  25. Saks says:

    Sophie an opera director? When did that happened?…..

    • Lucifer says:

      just when I became president of USA

    • Questionable says:

      More CV whitewashing. Apparently she was part if the creative team for Opera For Change. NOT a director, just a team member. She didn’t even tour with them. There’s a link on Sogo, I think, discussing Opera For Change. I’d link it but… *shrugs* deletion!

      • J says:

        tbh probably half of what people were calling whitewashing is just lazy reporting. some outlets even had her name wrong, not something an agency would do

        she doesnt have a pr rep as a director as far as i can tell, so no one tracking her wiki page, and i noticed all this info is coming from there.

        most of the wiki edits came from a nutty fan who has been doing this for a couple of years and screwed around with Poulet’s and James’ pages in the past too.

      • Ingrid says:

        J, she doesn’t have her own PR, but at the moment Harvey’s PR is in charge of her PR. She’s the corner stone of their marketing and Oscar campaigns, she needs to appear accomplished to fit BC’s narrative. Whitewashing is at least partly done by The Harvey Machine.

        Lazy reporting is also to blame, you right about that.But lazy reporters are easily fed by HW.

  26. Koodles says:

    So, the face that sophie made at the bifas in this gif wasn’t a grimace because she didn’t want to be there, it was because she was in pain! That sophie is such a trooper for pushing her pain aside so she support her man. The gif is on sogo’s tumblr blog if ya want to see it.

    In all honesty, I don’t think there was a trip to Edinburgh. Who flies to his fiancee’s family’s place to spend less than 24 hrs there over Christmas time? And to spend precious time that he could be sending with said fiancée at the pharmacy is a bit far fetched. If she is that bad, why couldn’t her mom or brother go and get it before benedict got there? But, that’s just me.

    • Felice says:

      Why would her ears still hurt from a month ago? That tumblr girl isn’t answering asks but just complaining about “nasty anons”

      • Koodles says:

        @felice-I was just being mean about the ears. It seemed like an excuse that some people would give her as to why she didn’t look so thrilled at the bifas.

      • Felice says:

        Ah okay. It’s really hard to figure out when people are joking on here now. Luckily we don’t get the payroll people unless there’s an actual Sophie story :p. Also if he were getting married this weekend, it would’ve been announced by now. Real or not, Weinstein would not pass up on spilling the beans.

      • Questionable says:

        Oh, but Koodles, Sophie was *smiling* in that gif, dontcha know? At least, she was according to a Sophie Hunter appreciation blog. Smiling! Get that? Smiling! And we’re all just bitter and jealous because she’s with him and we’re not.

        *sigh* Sorry, reaaaaaally need to stay away from the nannie blogs in a major way.

      • Lucifer says:

        he is back home fellas..

      • Alice says:

        @Lucifer. Huh!!?? Sighting???

    • Lucifer says:

      WHAT?

      • Koodles says:

        @questionable-oops, you’re right, how can I mistake that clear as day smile for a grimace….I mean, she is the best thing that has happened since sliced bread.

        But seriously, that sophie appreciation blog scares the crap out of me.

    • MissMary says:

      IDK–I thought the face she was making was a smile plus jazz hands… framing the face for the paps (I kid I kid and I think the Edinburgh tweets are hooey. The chemist one has the hallmarks of a fib–way too much info).

    • Claire says:

      So there’s three possibilities here, all these twitters are on the payroll to stir up chat he’s in Edinburgh the way that twitter account did last time he was going up there, they’re on the payroll and he’s not there (not likely), or they’re legit sightings from people.

      Lastly, not to mention the weirdness of him allegedly divulging all this to chemist girl, if he said what he said he lied if he’s already back in london.

      The other question is was he legit there for her family or was he there to make it appear he was?

      Another question: are the tweet times in correct timezone? Like he was really seen at 5am at airport? What time of day was he seen at chemist? Someone upthread made it seem like chemist came after airport departure

      • gg says:

        Twitter shows YOUR time, not the time of the person sending the Tweet so all these Twitter detectives are really spinning their wheels imho

      • Ingrid says:

        I’m so confused but it’s one of those three options, Claire.

        But why in earth we always get *so many detailed* sightings when he’s in Edinburgh? It was the same last time. At least five people. And when he’s anywhere else (Oxford, Paris, Brighton, Greece, Rome, London, anywhere!) it’s max 2 tweets and not much detail.

        So are the people of Edinburgh just “extra special” or (to quote always brilliant Lucifer) do I smell a plant which isn’t a mistletoe?

        Just saying…

      • moodgirl says:

        So many fake sightings in Edinburgh because people anticipate him being there because of her or her mom. So it’s easy to fake people out because his presence there would be normal under normal circumstances.

      • Lucifer says:

        oh ingrid m in tears 😛

    • moodgirl says:

      Too many new posters with iffy information = nannies. I agree, no flight to Edinburgh because the poster sounded too iffy when pushed for information. The rest of the posts placing him there, established accounts or not, are also fake. It’s a slow news week and trollers are taking an opportunity to create havoc on CB because they know the majority of posters here use logic and don’t eat everything thrown at us.

    • moodgirl says:

      I’m with you, I don’t believe he was in Edinburgh at all.

      • MissMary says:

        Word, for the reasons you said in your above post, moodgirl. I mean, maybe I’m wrong and tweeters from E’burg just write sketchy posts but the over-info in the chemist one set off a red flag, and the others… just too iffy. Hell, he’s probably eating cereal on his sofa, watching Elf for the fourth time in a row, oblivious to this.

      • Lucifer says:

        me neither. even if he was it was a fly in fly out condition like last time. less thn 24 hours. he is eating Wanda’s potato wedges @home m pretty sure.

      • Felice says:

        Also how they have to mention in each tweet that it’s in Edinburgh

  27. Lucifer says:

    so benophiedaily IG acnt alrdy has twitter screenshot..

    • gg says:

      It also has screenshots from here of Sixer’s comments the other day re: student from Exeter

    • MissMary says:

      Benophie Daily is Senyorita, or whatever name she’s calling herself this week. I think all she does is scour the internet for any mention of BC then howls at OPs till they say SH was involved, even if the pics or info predate her presence in his narrative.

  28. Lucifer says:

    reading sophie hunter appreciation blog. I really dnt know why do I do thes things to myself. I really dnt.

    • Koodles says:

      @lucifer-I won’t even attempt to read anything from a nanny again after reading someone’s post(she made herself anon) basically calling lupita the name I would never say. I think benedict would be more livid at knowing someone who calls themselves a fan of his could call one of his friends that, then anything we have questioned about his engagement. Rant done.

      • Toodles45 says:

        @koodles, I saw that disgusting post. You think it was actually her? Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these blogs send themselves anons considering how unbalanced some of them seem to be, a.k.a wikianon/prpal.

      • Lucifer says:

        my god!! that creeped the hell out of me. now I understand why they’re so appreciative of sankha and olivia mostly. they’re the epitome of the privileged skin colored population.

      • Felice says:

        Does AJ not exist to them or are they threatened by gfs who are above average beauty?

      • Lucifer says:

        Aj was v butiful was not she? I thought I was the only one. Olivia is cute. while sankha’s face has everything still lacking something. don’t know what. her photos are btr thn videos maybe not betr in real life

      • gg says:

        I thought AJ was absolutely stunning

  29. Koodles says:

    @toodles-ha, our names rhyme. Honestly, I have no clue who wrote that nasty little post. i don’t think it is the person who runs the sophie appreciation blog, just some random nanny. But, I’m just not going to go to a sophie lover place where nannies are that cruel.

    • Toodles45 says:

      Toodles koodles! lol. Oh i see, i thought you meant the blogger sent it herself because, as we already know, wikianon clearly sends herself anons/pretends to be prpal. Some of those blogs are like a rabbit hole of crazy.

  30. Lucifer says:

    ok ! anybody asking how legit accounts can post fake tweets, let me be very clear that i would do that anytime if someone pays me 10bucks. Yeah I m cheap and have low standards. m totes sure that i m not the only one. 😉

    • gg says:

      So apparently the cameras on all the smartphones in Edinburgh are broken but they can tweet like nobody’s business. Check out SoGo

      • Alice says:

        If the past week’s tweets are true, he’s had a hectic Christmas. Driving to Oxford, back to London, flight to E, back to London, flight to E. What was that about being present?

      • Ingrid says:

        Alice, also in Moscow and at church in Newcastle. Well, someone is lying

      • Alice says:

        @Ingrid. How many of those wax figures did they actually make? Maybe a little animatronics(sp?)

      • MissMary says:

        The church tweet now has pics (SoGo) THERE is our loved up pap shot! HW must be so happy!

      • Oh Hey says:

        Hanging on someone’s shoulder is getting loved up? Pretty lame attempt…

  31. Koodles says:

    Hey, just wanting to wish all of you guys a very happy holidays, as I don’t know what everyone celebrates. I had to post pone my christmas with my family due to whatever this plague that is going around my area. I had it last week, now they caught something. I wasn’t around them so don’t know where they went and caught it. 😷

  32. Koodles says:

    All these “sightings” just convince me even more that he is probably in a comfy robe and fuzzy slippers in his parents living room eating banoffee pie.

    • Ingrid says:

      Koodles, that image makes me happy.

    • Alice says:

      From your lips etc.

    • gg says:

      Nope, photos just posted on SoGo of him and SH in church in Eburgh and prepare yourself but I think her dress might look a little….maternity like

      • Ingrid says:

        Ugh…

        The dress has a low waist, so not “maternity like” IMO.

        Maybe Christmas with The Soudiouses is what we need to speed the break up along.

      • MissMary says:

        It’s just another drop waist dress that she seems to favor–and FLORAL to boot. And staged as a mofo.

      • Soothy says:

        is anyone surprised by these photos or are people stupid enough to think that this is a sign this embarrassing farce is anything but staged, then I’m amazed.

      • InvaderTak says:

        There are pro watermarks on those pics. and all the camera phones in Scotland were hit with an EMP. WTF? Seriously, are they even trying anymore? HW gets an epic fail for this whole thing.

        PS: Thanks for being here guys! My family is about as crazy as this is right now!

      • Claire says:

        So is he a Xmas church goer typically or is this just because of her family?

        I’m hoping someone who knows paparazzi stuff can answer: are these shots likely to be where they ask the photographer to snap them or would the paps have been waiting for them at this church?

      • Ingrid says:

        Claire, these pics are def fan photos. They are from Chinese site, not efficient PR tactic. Of course, there might be pap pics coming soon as well.

      • Oh Hey says:

        I said WTF is she wearing? A long sleeve tee under a short sleeve summer dress? Did someone forget to pack winter clothes and had to take them out of the teenage closet?

    • Lucifer says:

      so weekend wedding?

  33. Koodles says:

    Yep, just saw it. I don’t think I’ll ever be a sophie worshiper by any means, but, I am now coming to face that they are a real couple. Hope they both are happy.

    • InvaderTak says:

      If they are real, then they both sold their realtionship out for BC’s career. And not just oh yeah, we gave some of our weddin gpics to a magazine. The only reason we even know about her is for PR. That’s still sad to me.

      Edit in reply to Ingrid: That’s what me and a few others thought when this got weird. That they were real and the PR part was already planned before the break up, and HW won’t let them out. It makes sense to have a plan to introduce a serious realtionship given his fans and the stupid nannies. It explains why she treats him like crap in public and why he acts the way he does. That they’re both hurt and angry over something. That makes more sense than anything to me. 4

      Edit #2: Yes, there has been alcohol this Cmas. SOrry for all the mistakes lol

    • Ingrid says:

      Or maybe they are keeping up appreances?

      I don’t know what to think anymore. All I know BC is making a huge mistake regardless of what this is. Most likely something between real and fake. Xmas photos still don’t explain the weirdness with thsese two.

      Invander, and maybe they already broke up but they can’t tell anyone? Because they always seem so uncomfortable…

      • Lucifer says:

        why is not he embracing her back??? why this cold even in *snort* private?? she is leaning on to read his book it seems. totally unnecessary

    • Soothy says:

      Hang on. Are you saying you’re really having your mind changed by that very convenient photo of her doing that? In the face of six months of alarmingly blatant PR exercises and him looking like he wants to either vomit or cry whenever in her presence?
      You realise that another massive mistake is the fact he’s so useless at playing things convincingly. Instead of saying something believable, he comes out with that actually quite petrifying ‘my centre, my heart, my forevermore, fiancee sophie hunter’?
      And re: the oversized tacky ring.. Instead of just saying ‘I didn’t want a pap photo of it’ he had to go overboard as usual and say ‘I didn’t want an instagram photo of us looking into each other’s eyes lovingly and a grainy ring shot’. Jesus, what an idiot. A photo of you looking at each other at all would be a start.
      And this isn’t taking into account the LFF blatant orchestration or the quite obviously directed add on from journos, the most obvious being from elle.
      Seriously, this one photo in a CATHEDRAL (ie very public) is enough to question everything that’s come before?

      • moodgirl says:

        Not for me. It’s just so……..strange. This whole six months has been…….odd. Hell, he was odd before SH came into the picture, hanging out with KB and when that fell over almost immediately showing up with SH.

    • Lucifer says:

      none of the pics show face though..

    • Mikasa says:

      It’s a Merry Christmas after all…but not for his parents! Also why be affectionate all of a sudden and at church too?! Or maybe her ear needed some comforting?? Lol Poor Sophie, how will she ever direct opera if she can’t hear?? Also BC still looks stiff and serious as hell, playing nice with her fam must be tough! Still sticking to my pregnancy theory…anybody wanna review theirs?

      • Lucifer says:

        why stage photos at a church. In a very cynical way, it makes the photos harder to accuse of being staged. Like a shady politician kissing babies – who would be so hard-hearted to side-eye a baby/church? Except, we’re not side-eye’ing the church, we’re side-eye’ing the PR for using the church as a cover. They really are trying to sell this mess.

      • moodgirl says:

        It looks like she is overdoing it, maybe they knew they were being photographed. They had to know they would be. I can’t shake my funky feeling about them; something doesn’t add up. All the games they played like LFF, the announcement two days before going to LA and his anger and weirdness about it afterwards, her shitty behavior all the time.

        I don’t mean to sound silly but would they go this far for PR? Didn’t it appear a while back, and he spilled it in Vogue, that they attempted to set up a pap shot in Edinburgh but failed? And this is the only shot of them together in months. Odd.

  34. Alice says:

    Romantic that I am I thought he wanted to spend Christmas with his familyandhisfiancee, not his family and his fiancee. She was never spotted with him prior to this pix. Sounds fraught.just checked the quote “to be with my fiancee and family IN ONE PLACE”. So much for that.

    • MissMary says:

      Smells rotten is what it does. Someone pointed out on SoGo that people do PR shots like that often, given the example of politicians kissing babies. No one want to side eye a pic in a church (though seriously? A church? Nice.) and it answers “why aren’t they affectionate/seen together/whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?). We’re about to head into a long run of him working and being seriousactorman pre-noms so they need to look loved up and conservative (Church! Mild affection! Christmas!) so those old white men can vote for the “right” actor, per HW.

      • Lucifer says:

        This might rain on someone’s parade but weren’t people predicting that there would be affectionate candid photos during the holiday lull? Just to keep them & their ‘love story’ relevant. Well, BOOM, the photos are here.

      • moodgirl says:

        Why are all their pap shots taken in Edinborough and nowhere else? Do they not come in contact with each other anywhere else on earth? Do they not live together in London or she at least visits him there? Where are his parents – would both families not be together on a holiday?

      • moodgirl says:

        Aren’t the old white men about to cast their votes?

      • Mikasa says:

        I think he stands out more outside of london…but not in the US. Only time we know about him in the US is thru fan photos where he happily obliges but in the UK nope. He doesn’t seem to like fans taking pics of him in the UK unless its for publicity. People around Hampstead are probably used to seeing him about town and london. So he gets noticed more in places people least expect him to be ie. We were expecting him to be at his parents place which is why most doubted the Edinburgh sighting, until we saw pictures.
        As for them living together, I think they do. At least in the same building or within vicinity of each other. It baffles me tho as to why they still arrive/leave separately to some events!
        @moody i assumed she never got a chance to visit her mother because her time in NY was the ONLY highlight of her directing career. I guessed she was busy learning and touring then and now she’s back and probably want to settle down which is why she left her boyfriends in NY and went for BC.

    • Mikasa says:

      To be fair, I think it’s the first time SH is spending xmas with her fams since moving to NY, so he must’ve have given in… I think we know who’ll be doing most of the giving in, in this relationship, or risk another public tantrum!! I’m just thankful he is getting some rest. Still weird tho that she wasn’t spotted with him yesterday around Edinburgh…lots of sightings yet nada pics except on xmas day…makes you wonder…

    • Ingrid says:

      If this is fake:PR knows the story is falling to pieces and the best way to counteract is to be seen together during Xmas. Also, going to church? When has BC ever done that? Church is also very public #justsaying

    • blended says:

      they knew there was a fan there because he was asked for a photo, and ben declined. they knew they were being watched. the church outing was public enough, yet in a ‘private’ setting. the alarm bells should be going off that his parents aren’t there. wouldn’t this be a perfect time to get both families together? hmm.

      • Lucifer says:

        one photo and ppl start believing everything. PR is a easy job IMO

      • Claire says:

        How do we know he declined and the pics were taken after that?

        It’s weird, he never struck me as the kind to be bowing his head praying on xmas.

      • moodgirl says:

        Unlike the botanical gardens, they knew the church was compact enough that someone would take a photo. And her draping herself over him would create attention so people would know they were there – and take a photo.

        Also, doesn’t her brother/man to SH’s left look odd in one photo, like he is trying to get out of the way of a potential photo? He is standing to the side in what would be the aisle vs. standing directly beside her. To me it sure looks like he is attempting to create room between him and SH perhaps because they knew the photo was being taken from that angle and he didn’t want to block the view.

      • Ingrid says:

        I think it showed good manners that ben declined ( if that happened). They were in church on xmas day. I’m an atheist but even I respect other’s holy places and would not ever take selfies when there.

      • Soothy says:

        He also never struck me as the type of person to sell his soul for an oscar, but there you go….

      • Mikasa says:

        I think he was bowing his head coz he’s reading the program/prayer pamphlet. And sodious leaning to read as well…or maybe she was just sleepy! Oh dear, sleepy at the theatre and sleepy at church, hmm….

      • moodgirl says:

        Maybe he is trying to make up for it here. 😉

      • Oh Hey says:

        If they wanted loved up pics for PR, why did he decline, they could have posed, that would have been “proof” enough.

      • Soothy says:

        The pic request didn’t include her. That really would be utterly ridiculous.

      • Claire says:

        Right. If this were for pr they’d have hired a pap to take a shot of them loved up. If he’s game. This doesn’t reek of pr but wanting to be left alone.

        Having said that looks like the toothy link I posted the other day went up on sogo and had tons of reposts. Wonder if the linkedinhollywood one will go the same way

      • moodgirl says:

        According to the poster who translated, it was SH who refused a pic or conversation with BC, similar to refusing a woman who asked for a photo with BC and the NY TIG. I guess she has the power.

      • Claire says:

        moodgirl, that does point to a real relationship, and sadly a controlling one. the man can decide for himself.

      • Soothy says:

        @moodgirl

        I didn’t read it that way. He said to her ‘do you mind?’ and she said ‘no’, as in, ‘I don’t mind’. But either way, it’s very weird to ask her permission anyway.

      • moodgirl says:

        @Soothy – From SoGo – Translator in the Chinese poster (OP) who tweeted church pics, she posted the following:

        “It does sound like OP approached SH first (yeah, it’s also a bit strange as why not approach B directly, idk, maybe the OP wanted to be polite? ask the lady first? ), and SH turned him down politely, then the OP asked for an autograph and was turned down politely again.”

  35. Lucifer says:

    why stage photos at a church. In a very cynical way, it makes the photos harder to accuse of being staged. Like a shady politician kissing babies – who would be so hard-hearted to side-eye a baby/church? Except, we’re not side-eye’ing the church, we’re side-eye’ing the PR for using the church as a cover. They really are trying to sell this mess.

    • InvaderTak says:

      But failing miserably. They are catering to the online crowd now or this wouldn’t have happened. The People magazine crowd are satisfied with what they’re fed. Did HW’s people think we wouldn’t notice the PROFESSIONAL WATERMARKS on those things? Really? We weren’t going to question the sightings tweets that have no pictures? This is a cluster of the first degree and getting worse; its more subtle now, but still just as bad. I hope other people lose faith in the HW machine and he’s knocked down a bit for this. I know that’s a huge fantasy, but its nice to think about. HW is driving off a good portion of reasonable, steady online fans of BC’s with this and lleft him to the crazies and the bandwagon fans; one set will be almost intolerable, and the others are easily distracted and easily move on. I don’t see how an award that doesn’t guarentee a future career makes it worth that. I really hope I’m wrong.
      End Christmas Rant.

      • Lucifer says:

        You can also see they are sitting almost at the front maybe second row. That’s not the place if u want to avoid ppl/sighting. They were thr to be seen. where is bc’s hand embracing her back??? WEIRD
        loved ur rant btw

      • Claire says:

        Can someone confirm there are professional watermarks on the photos and that these are definitely more than mere fan photos?

      • Ingrid says:

        They are not professional watermarks. The pics are from chinese “twitter” which automatically puts the watermarks on the photos. I think they are 100% fan photos, staged would have been on twitter.

        But that doesn’t mean they weren’t on the front row to be seen.

      • Koodles says:

        @ingrid-oh, I didn’t know that. Hmmm. Well, didn’t know there was a chinese equivalent of Twitter either. Yeah, if benedict and co didn’t want to be seen, they’d have sat in the back. I may have jumped the gun too soon with the it’s so real thing.

      • MissMary says:

        I find it terribly “interesting” that the two “on vacay” pics are from this SM acct (France and here). I absolutely believe this was a “be seen” event, no matter the truthiness of the relationship itself.

      • Ingrid says:

        The front row is interesting. Also, the church is interesting. It would be perfect place to get photographed on xmas if you wanted to proof your bad PR relantionship. Many bored teenagers and you sit still for an hour -> people will look around and spot you.

      • Claire says:

        Wait missmary are you saying the same guy who took the photo in France took the Edinburgh photo?

      • moodgirl says:

        “Yeah, if benedict and co didn’t want to be seen, they’d have sat in the back.”

        Ladies, if Benedict and co didn’t want to be seen they could have sat at the back of the church or THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED AT HOME. I didn’t think about this until I read Koodles post. I do not in my heart of hearts believe that these two did NOT think that they would be recognized and their picture taken while sitting in the front of a church on Christmas. If they are so private, private, private why do this?

        I think BC foretold this when, asked what he would do during the holidays, said he would have time to spend with his family and “his fiancee “, Sophie (like there could be another one so he has to identify her specifically) so, everyone was looking for them. Maybe he was just set up the game of cat and mouse AND, if he was telling random people on the street that he was there visiting Sophie or stepped out everywhere so he would be seen, then he ran the game perfectly – the tweeters weren’t lying after all. His Edinburgh pap game finally came through. How come her family didn’t come to London? They are only seen together in Scotland.

        I don’t know what the heck they are doing; maybe it is/was part real but this is nonsense. I posted several threads back a copy of a post from SoGo about comments that BC made that may have put this into motion so I will try to find it and re – post.

      • moodgirl says:

        Yes MissMary – The person who took the photo of them in France was also Chinese and originally put the picture on Weibo. Interesting. What are the odds?

      • Soothy says:

        @moodgirl

        Weibo is the major chinese social networking site, so I don’t think there’s anything interesting there at all. And that Paris picture was very insignificant.

      • moodgirl says:

        The thing is each photo was taken by a Chinese male using Weibo. That strikes me as odd.

      • Claire says:

        Moodgirl, if these were pap pics I’d agree for sure but this is a fan photo. Almost no one will see this. So I have a hard time believing pr. Hbic your thoughts?

        But moodgirl pls do post the thing you read you think set this in motion. Is it the comment on time with fiancee?

      • Soothy says:

        It’s not about a photo op, as such, it’s just about generally being seen. Photos are incidental, really.

      • moodgirl says:

        I guess it doesn’t matter because a poster on SoGo says, by putting the France and the letter reading photos together, they are not the same woman.

      • tsmiv says:

        @moodgirl I’m with you about the Paris and church pics both being posted by a guy on Chinese twitter. That seems very odd to me.

      • Claire says:

        let’s not overshoot this.. they have a billion fricking people. he’s huge there. i expect some of them to go on vacation and post photos to their social media if they spot him. that it was at a church on christmas, I agree, is weird…they’re not Christian people but maybe he wanted to go to a church for the experience. or maybe he’s from another Asian country with a Christian population.

      • j says:

        um…this is an incredibly inefficient way to spread pr. weibo isnt going to reach oscar voters and this won’t go mainstream since the pics don’t have clear faces

        there is a decent amount of random/sneaky pics of him on weibo going back 2 years or so because he/sherlock are big in Asian countries. lot of airport ones

      • Soothy says:

        Of course it’s not official PR. This specifically isn’t going to reach Oscar voters, of course not. But in terms of just being seen, it’s important.
        He knows how word spreads on social media (“everyone’s a pap”), and he uses it to his advantage.

      • Claire says:

        ^i’d love to buy that. but i don’t. as HBIC said i think his head is firmly up his arse. in his little world he can announce an engagement publicly and insist the world isn’t allowed to intrude, just like he can sit front row in a church and insist the world isn’t allowed to intrude. Sorry, doesn’t work that way, BC.

        I’m guessing this is Ms. “trust me, i’m anti fame and for private relationships” planting this idea into his head he can have his cake and eat it too (maybe it’s that part of her desperately needing to feel French). I say that because he seemed okay with fame in general, minus the crazies, until very recently. The problem is when this little fantasy bubble of insisting his public actions are in fact private bites him in the arse big time…then he’ll see what a bad influence she is and how she’s hurting his ability to cope with the realities of fame.

      • Soothy says:

        @Claire

        No, I don’t think so.

        Before this Summer, he sensibly drew a line at talking about anything relating to his private life, which is what most actually private celebrities do.
        He knew exactly what he was doing by making that announcement when he did and instead of politely refusing to talk about it further, he gives endless hideously weird and awkward, not to mention seemingly scripted, quotes about her.
        That’s not him just being him and thinking he can naively court publicity one minute and then complain about intrusion the next. He knows what he’s doing.

        It’s the contradictions I can’t stand. I just like people to be honest and straightforward. Like the ‘selfies’ comment for example; he encourages it one minute, LFF – ‘I love you all and wish I could take selfies with every one of you’, then the next interview, disparaging people who might ask.
        Either be the guy who doesn’t want to take selfies with fans and encourage the ‘fandom’ side of things, or be the happy ‘i love all my fans!! Listen to some weird sherlock sex fan fiction!!’ guy. You can’t be both.
        Say what you like about Martin Freeman, but I truly admire his honesty and no BS policy. He’s a man who says what he thinks and anyone who doesn’t like it can stick it.

    • moodgirl says:

      And trying HARD.

      • moodgirl says:

        @Claire – I posted a few days ago about an interview BC gave about “experimentation” in school. I don’t believe he was speaking about himself but the media had a field day with it, with article after article stating that BC himself had experimented. Even though we had all witnessed the odd sgf stuff all summer, those headlines may have convinced HW to get BC into making a move to counteract the rumors that were appearing. So, the award season gf turned into the award seasom fiancee. Someone on SoGo wrote the same:

        “Wow that headline about the experimenting is so bad. Yeah I can see why a fiance would’ve been better than a girlfriend.”.>>>> The tabloids twisting his words appeared Oct 15/16 and his unhappy camper face was at the Flaunt party Oct 19. I bet HW went ballistic when he found out about those articles.”

        Reply – “And he just happened to be papped with Sophie – after months of hide and seek, and also looking miserable – on Oct. 18!”

      • Claire says:

        Ah i thought you meant what set in motion this Christmas thing. I don’t know if the timing of the photos was because of the story, but it was definitely a good leadup to the announcement. It made the papers, it received tons of attention, and is about as much proof as we’ll ever get that she was intended to be rolled out for awards season. Whether there’s anything real underneath it is the only question now.

    • Claire says:

      no one stages photos to be uploaded to Weibo.

      front row to be seen? far more plausible.

      • moodgirl says:

        Just like sitting in a front and center box at the French Open and expecting not to be seen? These two have a habit of positioning themselves for the world to see all the while claiming a need for privacy. Maybe the church was the new French Open?

  36. Koodles says:

    Honestly, idk what to believe anymore. Part of me truly wants this to be pr simply because I don’t see sparks like I do with my mom and step-father or my grandparents. I mean, you can just look at them and see the love. But, maybe im trying to put the it is real in my mind so that when/if they do get married I won’t be as shocked as I was with the engagement. Or I got hit with the christmas bug and things will be clearer tomorrow. After all, it is another day.

  37. Lucifer says:

    whatever it is i m still having hard time believing BC bought her those overpriced curtains for dress.

    • HBIC says:

      LMAO! Lucifer, you always have the good jokes.

      And I just want to add… how is it possible that he got engaged to a woman who dresses just as poorly as he does?!? Oh, the humanity!

    • Mikasa says:

      I think they’re going to be the new Tim Burton and Helena B Carter

      • scarf girl says:

        But at least I got Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton. Even the adjoining houses thing seemed normal, for them, to me.

      • Soothy says:

        TB was papped kissing a blond woman last year. Things have obviously been off since at least then.

  38. Koodles says:

    @invadertak- it’s not a real bug, probably wine consumption

  39. Ingrid says:

    Theories, some more plausible than others:

    1. They are real just f*cking weird and pimping out their private life
    2. They are fake but her family doesn’t know (her mum seems a real gossip, I wouldn’t trust her either)
    3. Or her family is game as well.
    4. PR is on crisis management and he is in Edi but just to be seen, not actually spending Xmas with them apart from the church. He hasn’t spent many Christmases with his parents, maybe it isn’t that important for them that he is home?
    5. It was a photo op and there will be pap pics tomorrow.
    6. His family is in Edi as well and spending xmas separately.
    7. They were real and broke up but keeping up appearances. Hence the hatered.

    IDK but I’m 100% sure the enGAGment was timed for PR. An idiot would be able to see through that.

    • Claire says:

      Engagement was definitely PR timed, it’s beyond dispute at this point. The realness and state of the relationship? I don’t know. As pointed out up thread there’s still so much wtf here. I still wonder if some if not most can be explained away by not being comfortable with the sudden attention.

      I’m starting to tell myself I should believe it’s real in case it is so I’m prepared for the disappointment he chose a rude, arrogant snob for a wife.

      Does she call his niece Jeeves?

      • Soothy says:

        I don’t buy for a second that he’s ‘uncomfortable with the attention’. For a start, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be falling over himself to say ridiculous, insincere and embarrassing things about her at every opportunity, he woud’ve instead kept the words to a minimum, confirmed what’s necessary and moved onto the film, which he’s apparently so intent on making the focus and ecshewing ‘hype’.. *eye roll*

        And if he didn’t want attention, he wouldn’t have announced it to the world two days before the biggest press blitz of his career so far.

        I will forever be disgusted at how she treated Emily. Why on EARTH was she carrying her bag? There’s literally no reason for it at all.

      • MissMary says:

        If he/they didn’t want attention, sitting down front in a crowded church on one of the biggest “church days” of the year is NOT the place to be.

      • Claire says:

        Maybe she volunteered to hold it for her for whatever reason? I don’t watch the vids so I don’t know how they interact but that’d be more telling than the bag.

      • Soothy says:

        Why though? She supposedly wasn’t there to be seen – just as his guest. Despite the fact she was showcasing another erdem dress without a coat or jumper in December. The only reason to hold her bag would be if she was busy with something other than putting her hands in her pockets and grinning for cameras.

        And even if Emily did offer, if SH had any respect for her at all, she wouldn’t have allowed her to do it. It’s so subservient.

      • Ingrid says:

        The handbag gate: SH looked like Hilly from The Help in those photos. And that’s horrible, horrible thing. Ugh…

    • Claire says:

      Also in the days after the announcement someone on here who used to work for Hollywood pr was talking about showmance. Who was that? Was that HBIC? Would love to hear from that person and KT. Always appreciate their input

      • HBIC says:

        That was madly, I think, who knew about PR.

        I still think their relationship is/was real, just dysfunctional and he agreed to use it for PR. And then the whole relationship imploded (around Nov 15) and now those two are either stuck together until the end of Oscar season, or he’s trying to work it out and hold on to her for some strange reason. Probably b/c he doesn’t think “the one” is coming. Or something like that.

        I really hope he doesn’t marry her. I just get an awful vibe from her, and I’d bet the farm that if they stayed together, she’d make his life miserable.

      • Claire says:

        Was it madly? Paging madly. Perhaps I confused her with you bc I like your opinion so much!

        I agree with pretty much everything you said btw

      • HBIC says:

        I just aim to look at a situation objectively and call things like I see them. Glad you like my two cents, Claire (hopefully I don’t say something too crazy, lol).

        I’m really hoping he makes a smart decision here. He knows she’s not the one. Not sure why he’s still carrying on with her, though (I think she’s manipulating him, honestly… she’s not a bad person, but I think she has bad intentions).

        Be smart, Ben. You’ll find the right one someday.

      • Ingrid says:

        HBIC, your theory seems the most logical.

        Two things that makes me sad, angry and hope he will walk away: 1. He doesn’t light up around her (never, not even on today’s pics and it’s xmas!) 2. She truly seems a horrible person.

        It’s as simple as that.

      • Soothy says:

        Im intrigued, Ingrid. Until today, you’ve always been on the side of this whole thing being maufactured but now you seem to have changed your opinion.
        Is that due to this church thing? If it is, that REALLY surprises me.

      • Ingrid says:

        Soothy, I have been either on complete PR or PR+somewhat real train. Their behavior together and his hatered towards her made me lean more towards PR. But spending the actual xmas day with her family seems radical if it’s only professional relantionship. There’s no need for that PR wise. Unless this story is actually collapsing and PR is really worried.

        So, I don’t think what to think.

      • Claire says:

        Well let me put it this way, after the strange twists people were making yesterday to argue the twitter sightings were fake, it’s time to reconsider things.

        Yes some parts of this are definitely staged: wintour saying they were papped in E when they weren’t is proof positive of that. But some parts arent.

        @hbic: you never sound crazy. Please post more often? 🙂 and again I agree with all you say though I do think if she has bad intentions it makes her a bad person. Chances are good she only wants him for his money at this point

      • Soothy says:

        I’ve said all along that suggesting tweets are fake when they come from established accounts, is nonsensical. Of course, that’s just totally unfeasible.

        But there’s so much more to it than any of that. People tend to have short memories. They have one awkward photo of physical contact and all of a sudden the mountains of suspiciousness gets forgotten.
        It was the same as the last red carpet where she was quite clearly adopting this maniacal OTT grinning and some people were convinced by that.

        I was suspect at the very, very public French Open appearance. And after the blisteringly obvious orchestrated publicity stunt that was the LFF, I was 100%.
        Then came the engagement annoucement and I was utterly convinced it was all a mess. If it’s real, it’s the weirdest relationship but I can pretty much say for certain, he’s not in love. He looks utterly drained and dead behind the eyes with her. People in love don’t look like that.
        And again, if it is real, he can no longer puport to be private ever again. This publicity seeking charade negates his right to complain about questions on his personal life in the future.

      • HBIC says:

        @Claire
        I really do think that’s shes a gold digger and a famewhore (she has NO JOB, a sketchy family and she’s just AWFUL, period). Not to mention, there are just too many blind items, rumors and bad behaviors on her end for her to be anything else.

        Hopefully he wakes up and realizes this before it’s too late, b/c I’d really hate for him to marry her, only to divorce her later on (b/c that’s a given) and then have to give her a big settlement. I think he’s a good guy and he really has worked so hard for the small fortune that he has. It would be such a shame for him to have to give it away to someone like her. Yuck.

      • moodgirl says:

        Maybe he is trying to hold on because he doesn’t want to search or wait for someone else who may not come along. In other words, he is so insecure that he feels she is his best opportunity.

      • Ingrid says:

        Soothy, I always go with evidence ;D

        http://sophiehuntergossipblog.tumblr.com/post/105450474750/cb-anon

        (To add to my orginal answer to you above which is still stuck in mode)

      • Claire says:

        Soothy what were you saying at the time of the FO? Wasn’t here then. Agree with your last statement. My married male friends are warmer to me in comparison to the consistent weird body language he displays towards her.

        HBIC: yes all of that. her not having a job, not even like stage manager at some two bit theater, is actually embarrassing.

      • HBIC says:

        @moodgirl
        I think you just hit the nail on the head.

      • Soothy says:

        @Claire

        I disregarded the FO at first, because it was devoid of anything at all so assumed just an event with a pal.
        But when this unfolded, it became obvious to me that was purposely done and I couldn’t believe some people weren’t seeing it.
        This guy has been silent about his private life for over a year and very paranoid and conscious about being linked to every woman he’s seen with.
        So the likelihood that he would choose to sit at one of the biggest sporting events in the world right in front of press as a Lacoste model with a person he’d just started seeing is V V unlikely indeed.

      • Claire says:

        Soothy I understand what you’re saying and I think you’re right, unless they had already been dating on the quiet well before then, which is highly unlikely.

    • Lucifer says:

      getting papped @ Christmas??? how is that not stged? he has been building momentum in his interviews fir this for a long time now. i say theu’ll get papped @greece too.

      • moodgirl says:

        He sets up the anticipation in his interviews. He uses the media to create a backstory and drop hints to keep the whole thing going.

    • Claire says:

      I’m going to say the most likely scenarios are 1, 2, and 7, but with two being not completely fake. No order in particular either

  40. Ingrid says:

    Oh God, he really did go around Edinburgh broadcasting to strangers that he was there “to spend christmas with Sophie and her family”. *snort* *facepalm*

    Ben, you are overcompensating…

    (So far I thought it was just a crazy nanny but it seems that was a legit meeting)

    • HBIC says:

      I’m thinking he’s either riding the crazy train or his head is so far up his ass that he thinks that this is the best way to go about winning that Oscar.

      Too bad he’s not going to win… it’s not his year.

      • MissMary says:

        I’m firmly in the HW told him to “get snapped and make it sweet and make it look loved up” camp. I know a lot of folks are thinking it can’t be PR because “HW wouldn’t make him do that/BC wouldn’t do that” but if you spend a minute googling what HW is *on record* as having done, this would be kind of him in terms of PR stunts.

      • Soothy says:

        I think people are really overplaying this.
        It really isn’t a grand romatic display. I was doing that to my female friend for about ten minutes last night. And as I’ve said before, the issue was never PDA. Couples that are really in love don’t need to make physical contact to show it. It’s intangible and not to overuse the term, it’s plain chemistry.

      • HBIC says:

        Oh, even though I think the relationship is real, I do think that all of these little “sightings” and such are definitely PR. I’ve spent enough time on gossip blogs to know how it all works at this point.

        I think we are all disappointed b/c we thought that Benedict was above all of this. But it’s Hollywood. All actors are hustling out there. And sometimes they have to give in and do PR that they don’t want to do (or are made to do) to get the bigger projects and the awards. It’s sad that it works that way, but it’s not like he could say no.

        I just hope he’s not too messed up after all of this craziness is over. I’d hate to see him depressed or upset as a result of this mess.

      • Claire says:

        Hbic, can you shed more light on what you’ve learned from following gossip blogs? And how it relates to this?

        I disagree with you on the idea if it were really fake he’d sell it better. My drama coaches all told me I was a brilliant actress but I can safely say if I were in a showmance I’d only half arse it. I’m just too “principled” like that and is it too presumptive to say bc strikes me as like that as well?

      • HBIC says:

        A lot of times when relationships “surface” out of nowhere, it’s usually PR. And a lot of times when you see two people together that just seem odd together, that’s PR too (Michelle Rodriguez and Zac Efron/Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello).

        Also, when they just “happen” to be photographed shopping, or holding hands walking away from a club, or smiling and laughing and grinning at each other like happy fools while randomly walking down the street, a lot of that’s PR as well.

        The couples that are real? They are usually not photographed often or look like they are running away from the paps. They are usually only smiley and happy (like they should be, of course) when they are at events together.

        The wedding announcement for Ben and Octopussy is def PR, the ridiculous amount of press that they are both getting is as well, and this cathedral sighting probably is too. This is how celebs stay relevant. If no one is talking about you out in Hollywood, no one is trying to give you work. You become easily forgotten in a sea of thousands trying to make it out there just like you.

        Hollywood is a cutthroat place. And I swear, only the strong and the backstabby survive out there. It’s sad, but true.

        If Ben didn’t have a soul, he’d be able to fake this relationship way better. There are a lot of people in Hollywood who don’t have one and are in fake relationships/marriages for the sake of their careers. I don’t think I have enough fingers to count how many there are out there. And that’s pretty damn sad.

        Ben’s saving grace in all of this has been the fact that he isn’t fake and his facial expressions back that up. And that’s why we are all still on this blog supporting him. We all know he’s a good guy who’s probably just in a bad situation. Hopefully he’ll be ok when it’s all over.

      • Claire says:

        Thanks for that Hbic. So despite this surfacing out of nowhere (I wonder why there’s been no back story on how they met) you think it’s more likely real.

        I found this blog post:
        http://linkedinhollywood.com/2010/12/22/the-hollywood-faux-mance/

      • HBIC says:

        Oh, and I forgot to add… usually all of this PR stuff pops up when someone has a movie to promote (or they have a good shot at winning an Oscar).

        Ben and Octopussy, case and point.

      • moodgirl says:

        “So despite this surfacing out of nowhere (I wonder why there’s been no back story on how they met) you think it’s more likely real.”

        I am so confused. To me it all points to fake. They may have dated but he acts like he abhors her.

      • Claire says:

        Moodgirl…yeesss but does he abhor her if he’s with her on xmas morning?

      • moodgirl says:

        Yes, if it’s pr to keep their agenda going.

    • blended says:

      i’m still not convinced any of it is real. they sat in the second row on the most crowded day of church so they could be seen. they knew they were being watched by a fan. ben still doesn’t look at her. it’s still skewing staged to me.

      • HBIC says:

        But if this relationship is not real, wouldn’t he be doing a better job of FAKING IT?!? This is why it can’t all be fake. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes did a bang up job with that fake relationship. They looked smiley and happy ALL OF THE TIME. They had a lot of people fooled for a while there (until someone spilled the beans…).

        Benedict can’t even fake a smile at Octopussy, let alone even properly LIE about how he feels about her! And he can’t even pretend like he likes her! If this was really fake, he would be doing a better job of pretending. But he can’t, and he’s an ACTOR! What actor can’t fake being in love?!?!?

      • blended says:

        he’s too sincere to be happy about a fake relationship? he’s a bad liar? the real question should be why isn’t he happy? he should be over the moon if this is real.

      • HBIC says:

        Oh, I think she’s awful and that’s why he’s unhappy. Oh yeah. And neither one of them is in love. That too.

        Either way, this whole situation is just ridiculous. Fake or not, both of them need to do themselves a favor and end this mess.

    • Claire says:

      My first reply to you is awaiting moderation Hbic. I guess my only devil’s advocate response to you would be…if a fauxmance, why didn’t he and/or HW pick another celeb? why her? Surely they could have found an actress his age who’s single?

      Still, from your lips to god’s ears

      • MissMary says:

        Claire: The mercenary reason? she lifts right out. she’s not a big name star people will run to for comment, she doesn’t have a remarkable career people can look at for gossip or past relationships to compare, and she’s a known quantity for HW and his circle (her connections to them…). And she’d likely be willing to play along. Interesting side note; She’s apparently involved with a theatre group mounting a production about how you can control your image through social media and public perceptions. Due out in 2015. Think on that.

      • Ingrid says:

        Well they needed someone who wouldn’t overshadow BC. This is The One-Man Engagement Starring Dame Benedict Cumberbatch.

        I believe Suki was a nobody before Bradley Cooper relationship. Now she’s a celeb. Harvey had his hand in that too.

      • HBIC says:

        That’s why I think it’s real. They could have gotten someone way better to play along. There are so many thirsty actresses in Hollywood, Ben could have had his pick.

        But he’s looking for true love. And I think that Octopussy somewhat close to what he’s looking for, and since he’s probably desperate to find the one and hasn’t yet, he’s settling for her.

        But usually what happens is that once you throw in the towel, the right one suddenly pops up. He should wait a little longer, and see what happens in 2015. He might just get lucky.

      • Claire says:

        Missmary: wow. Could be coincidence but interesting. When exactly did she join that project?

        Hbic: my original reply has now gone through. You all should read: it contains the linkedinhollywood link

      • moodgirl says:

        Wouldn’t they need someone who fit the situation? If BC suddenly appeared with a woman straight out of Hollywood, maybe a struggling actress or model, everyone would side-eye it, not just his internet fans. But they can explain away SH.

        They met each other in 2009, a successful director, attended Oxford, from a wealthy family. Big up her resume, don’t mention that she probably didn’t graduate from Oxford, hasn’t really had a real job since 2012 and gets handouts from her family and she’s perfect. On paper. They are both upper class snobs and BC would NEVER be seen with anyone of a lower social class. So, no Victoria’s Secret models. I don’t see where he had a lot of options, which is why he shopped around for an award season girlfriend, including lady KB.

        They would have a very hard time “creating” that out of Hollywood with a woman he really couldn’t establish a prior connection with. And they definitely couldn’t get them engaged in five months.

      • MissMary says:

        Claire: I’m digging to find out more–I just read it on a site this past week so I am looking for more details. I’ll post ’em when I find ’em.

      • Claire says:

        moodgirl, i’m willing to buy they let him have some say on who to do an Oscar season fauxmance with, but I don’t buy he’d never settle down with anyone who wasn’t upper class. He’s not even upper class, though his family once had a lot of money. She’s also not a successful director lol.
        Another thing, as the link I posted from Toothy the other day shows, a fauxmance is all about maintaining your brand. She does that. A VS model or Hollywood actress wouldn’t: it might make him look thirsty to make it in Htown. Someone from his own country doesn’t.
        But this is all speculation.
        Would be interested to know where this 2015 play is being staged. I hope the tabs pick up on that bit of irony! If she was hired for it before or around the time the senyorita nonsense started, that will be very interesting.

      • MissMary says:

        Re the play she’s involved with: Boiler Room Theatre company (not the famous one–this is another co of hers that has the same name as another, according to the person who found the info). It’s run out of a house for sale and the name of the piece is Public + Private. The info is on http://www.ovalhouse.com

        I’m not the one who did the legwork for this info–it was someone on another page. I’m just reposting.

      • MissMary says:

        Sorry for the double post but edited to add re the theatre company and the piece they’re doing at Oval House this spring (Oval House being the venue, Boiler Room being her company): the piece runs March 2-May 15 of 2015 and the company IS legit–they are on record as having filed all their fees and paperwork and is current, and she is listed as a member/director. the piece is apparently avant garde/experimental and an exploration of private lives made public/defining privacy and public via social constructs.

        Interesting timing.

      • Soothy says:

        Why does she run around between several companies as opposed to focusing on one and actually making it work? And does she specialise in plaigarising the names of other successful preexisting groups? Good publicity, if nothing else.

        And this play sounds terrible. “Avant Garde” Ugh, those words make me shudder..So utterly pretentious and usually a synonym for “utter sh&te”

      • HBIC says:

        @MissMary
        $10 bucks says it’ll be a crapfest.

      • Felice says:

        Very fascinating timing. Seems like they are both busy for baby making 😉

      • MissMary says:

        HBIC: LOL no bets–I want to save my ten bucks for a drink during Oscar season when the crazy gets to be too much.

        My cynical, tinfoil hat wearing heart says this is going ot be her jump off project post split. “Oh, I learned so much from dating Ben. He’s wonderful, but the lifestyle… *sigh* *applies lip gloss, tosses hair* I’m so bohemian, I just can’t with the artifice.”

      • scarf girl says:

        Miss Mary (and others) I am starting to speculate she isn’t just pretentious but moody as all get out and very fickle. To jump from one project to another the way she has…..it really is the definition of dilettante. And why on earth, if this was a “real” relationship, would you be involved in a play like this which would only fuel speculation about your relationship? It all leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

      • J says:

        to be fair, scarfgirl, unless youre lucky enough to get a permanent position with a theater, most directors do jump from project to project b/c theyre independent contractors

      • Felice says:

        @J

        Quite so. But that is a really weird coincidence that she is working on this project.

      • MissMary says:

        Someone on SoGo pointed out her name isn’t attached but the name of her co-director is. On his old page from his agency Curtis Brown, it listed works he’d done for Oval House and he’d brought in actors from “his” troupe. It’s relatively recently listed so , as Ms Hunter the elder might say “Watch this space” for SH’s official attachment.

      • Felice says:

        Maybe after the potential breakup and she makes a very awkward and haughty woe is me interview about the whole experience.

      • scarf girl says:

        J-yes, I understand it is very difficult to stay with one theatre company. I have friends heavily involved in theatre, and they struggle to be sure actors are directors are paid living wages to retain talent. My comment is on her career as a whole. I find it so hard to take her seriously. Granted, mostly because of those God awful mime videos and the videos associated with the Isis project. It feels like she landed in theatre and has been searching for her place there. And it seems interesting to me-others who were involved in the Boiler Room when it won the Samuel Beckett award-they describe themselves as having won the award as part of the company and not as an individual like SH.

        It is for these reasons I describe her as a dilettante. I want to give her more credit in a way, because theatre is a medium I support (mainly because of my friends and their pains to draw me into their world and educate me). But I just cannot take this woman seriously. And for her to be involved In a project that investigates public vs private life-so opportunistic. Yes, I acknowledge she might have a unique view point. But……

        Aargh. On paper, I should be supportive of this woman. I support theatre; I am drawn to a wide spectrum of music, creative expression. But every time I view her art, I just cringe and say, “no.” Just no. On one hand, I feel like I should commend her for trying. But she comes off as so self aware, so repetitive of other women (Isis just screams I am a Charlotte Gainsbourg/ Jane Birkin wannabe).

        And that is where the dilettante comments comes in-I feel no emotion from her work. I have never seen her theatre work and have refrained (very hard when holidays and alcohol involved) from asking friends who are in from NYC. Because I would love an insiders opinion.

        Sorry J for the long response. My negativity isn’t coming from her being part of whatever this thing with BC is solely-it is the whole package.

      • Soothy says:

        @scarfgirl

        No, I completely agree. A successful director would just direct, but she seems to be one of these people who thinks she can do everything: Singer, actress, performance artist, director and that smacks of a rich girl who doesn’t actually need to make a living out of anything they do. I know people like that – money is no issue and they just play at life. Jumping from one thing to the next all like glorified hobbies.
        And I’m sorry, but as far as I can see, her art is appalling, she’s not a good singer, she can’t act at all and as for her directing – I don’t have high hopes.
        It doesn’t instil confidence when you have someone who directs and they don’t seem capable of recognising the limits of their own talents.
        I studied art at uni and the ‘experimental’ artists were all rather insufferably pretentious and sadly talentless.

        John Lennon once said ‘Avant Garde is French for bullsh-t’ and I think he may have been right.

      • scarf girl says:

        @Soothy, yes to all of this, and the Lennon quote sums up my feelings to a tee.

      • J says:

        @ scarfgirl: no need to apologize!

        i just havent drawn any conclusions myself tbh. can’t see any of her work, and i know its a difficult field

  41. delorb says:

    I haven’t read all the posts in this thread because frankly they scare me a little. But I think I’ve got gist. He may or may not be in Scotland because someone who no one trusts said that he was, but no one will put it past him to PR this story because suddenly Oscar voters keep up with the comings, goings and engagement (sorry, enGAGement) of all possible nominees and its somehow important to them that all their possible nominees have wives and/or girlfriends, but not posh girl friends who are somehow not good enough for Benedict, of which the ladies here know exactly who that person should be and Sophie isn’t that person because she did performance art or a music video with a pregnant sea creature. Whew! Oh and Benedict hates his parents or his parents hate Sophie otherwise Benedict would be spending Christmas with them and not with the in-laws. What I’m unclear on is why do so many people care? Did they think they had a shot and are now pissed off at him? Are they trying to look out for him against the evil Sophie, but not like those nannies, one hears so much about? Oh and Happy Holidays everyone!

    • Soothy says:

      Delorb,

      Never have I read such irony, as a prolific IMDBer saying the Celebbitchy posts ‘scare them a little’. And unless you weren’t paying attention, the oscar voters DO care. Particularly where a famous gay man is being portrayed by what WAS a single man.
      And no, nobody is ‘pissed off because they though they had a shot’ … I mean….really? Is that all you’ve got?
      Also, Sophie doesn’t come across as that nice and people are perfectly entitled to say so.

      I appreciate what your post was trying to do, but you are just ultimately being very silly.

      Also, I’ve read many of your very locaquious posts on IMDB and was just wondering if the ‘why do so many people care’ question has been directed at you or in fact anyone else on IMDB?

      • Maggie says:

        @ Soothy
        You should come over to the dark side and visit IMDB. We are talking about the following:
        Cabin Pressure
        TIG reviews
        Rotten Tomatoes
        BC’s best 10 performances
        Merry Christmas
        LCOZ
        Star Meter Guesses
        Hamlet
        Various best of year lists
        and the LA mansion, but no one believes it is true or that it is PR

        Oh and nothing about his personal life or alleged sightings.

        I cannot see the fascination you all have for these odd tweets and the obsessive interest in his love life. That is his private life and I do not confuse secret with private. His relationship with Sophie is his business, it is private but not secret.

      • Soothy says:

        @maggie

        Haha, oh god. The invasion of imdb.
        Yes, I’ve been to the dark side, as you so aptly put it..many, many times. And I will categorically never touch that terrifying place again.
        I don’t understand the significance of listing every single subject you’re discussing, but never have I been on a site that is so utterly and creepily obsessed with worshiping him and outright attacking anyone who doesn’t join in the slavish devotion. It was a frightening and deeply unpleasant experience. The inappropriate glee in his personal life and this bizarre sham of a relationship he’s trying to so desperately flog is just utterly spooky too. Do you think he’s going to reward you for it?

        “The obsessive interest in his love life”?
        Wtf? Do you realise how aptly this statement sums up imdb? Except on here, nobody is so insanely sycophantic that they choose to ignore how he has blatantly adapted his private life for Oscar bait publicity.
        And the little private/secret lesson? lol. Nice try. But see above..
        The games he’s has played with the press are blindingly obvious. All led to this moment where to chose to make his well timed paper announcement in order for maximum publicity and embark on a press tour which largely ignored alan Turing and instead gave him the opportunity to make turgid, OOC and bizarre quotes about her, instead of politely describing it as PRIVATE and moving on.

      • Felice says:

        They must be bored with those topics since they decided to come all the way here.

    • Catherine says:

      Delorb, I don’t get it either and where I used to come and read the BC threads I now avoid them, only today I came here to see what the take on the church pic was. In answer to your q “why do so many people care?” or maybe fangirls, appears to me to be classic cognitive dissonance.

      I only read up on this recently as I saw it mentioned on another site regarding negative comments (which I shared) towards another actor, and with difficulty recognised this in myself.

      The phrase “sour grapes” is cognitive dissonance.

      • Soothy says:

        LOL @ ‘cognitive dissonance’. When all else fails, try and sound clever, eh?

        You want to attribute cognitive dissonance to people’s exasperation at the circus he’s made of his personal life over the last few months, then you go ahead.
        But do know you are wrong.

        I think the only thing you have diffculty recogising in yourself is a fascination with some bloke off the telly which has impaired your own cognitive abilities.
        Oh and btw, Catherine..a couple of threads ago, you stated you waited for him outside the BIFA and you were certain he arrived in the same car as her.
        Since the photographic evidence that confirms otherwise has since emerged, I was just wondering what you thought about it?

      • Claire says:

        ^Damn, she shut it down

      • Curioser says:

        Daymn Soothy, remind me to never get on your bad side because you. shut. her. down!

        Love it, truly!

    • Ingrid says:

      Delorb, maggie & Catherine: why then do you read this board? I’m actually asking.

      It’s not like this is the front page of the internet. You need to make an effort to come here.

      Please do explain because I really do want to know.

  42. Lucifer says:

    What do you think he is staying at hers or in a 🏨 hotel..
    Even infgrid n missmary is on the fence now. M upset

    • Ingrid says:

      Not on the fence, Lucifer, just trying to make some sense of this. I’m just shocked that if this is pure PR (what the big picture def looks like), he would go as far as spending xmas with her. I though he would sleep and rest and eat at Wanda’s table, but not this. Suprised me. Then again, never thought they would get engaged either. (Oh dear, they are getting married, arent they?LOL)

      I vote for hotel

      • Soothy says:

        But I don’t understand the surprise that he’s there for xmas, I 100% expected it.
        It would’ve looked odd if he didn’t. Despite the fact that he was banging on about seeing his ownfamily.

      • Ingrid says:

        I don’t think it would have looked odd. Many couples spend the holidays with their own families so he could have gotten away with it.

        I was sure they would get papped over the holidays 100% but not with her family in Edi on xmas day. That was suprising. But efficient for sure.

        So either they are for real, PR is really, really, really scared or her family doesn’t know ( her mum seems like a loose canon, calling tabs every other week).

      • Soothy says:

        But for a normal couple, spending xmas with your own families would be normal, but everything about this has been very OTT and abnormal.
        And for the people who thought this isn’t a real engagement, did you really think her parents would be in on it? Because I never have.

      • Claire says:

        Yes I agree I doubt she’d have told her family: they’re not a showbiz family so they’d have looked down upon the idea of faking an engagement.

        But if it’s real…why did her mother imply she didn’t tell her own family he’d proposed?

      • Ingrid says:

        I would think his parents, close family, adam would def know. Maybe a few other friends as well. (James?) But that’s it. Her side & parents? IDK. Never understood her mum’s comments, why? She either knows or really doesn’t.

      • MissMary says:

        I’m not on the fence at all, Lucifer! No worries!

        I mentioned elsewhere that I think her mom and brother are 100 percent on board–look how fast they talked to a tab after the enGAGment was announced. And still nothing from his side. A tweet from JR but he tweets if BC sneezes in his presence. People going on about NDAs may also consider that, while BC and SH would likely have one, his friends and family silence may be due to not wanting to embarrass him and disapproval mixed. They don’t want the drama or attention, esp if it means harming his career or rep, or harming their own. (Esp Adam–if BC’s career is shot or harmed, SunnyMarch might suffer and who knows what HW promised BC in the way of a boost for SunnyMarch, given BC’s comments about wanting to produce more and HW’s way “maybe being the best way”).

        A pap pic was expected for the holidays (esp after the ESA stomp off drama and the wave of “why are they never pictured together doing something coupley? Why aren’t they ever affectionate with one another?” comments not only on fan sites but popping up on the Fail and other tabs running articles about them). I feel this is timed for PR, and it’s part and parcel. I don’t think it’s a legit thing. And if they do get married and I’m wrong about that, no skin off my back but I’m going to sit back and wait for the tearful nannies crying about the divorce in under 2 yrs and wailing about how awful SH is for leaving their bennykins.

      • Gracie says:

        For me, the part where he reveals his Christmas plans to random strangers is very OOT. Can’t see him doing that if the ‘relationship’ is not used for PR. I am not English, but it’s a little too on display, don’t you think? Spending the Christmas with a family full of strangers is weird enough, not to mention going to a church with them when you’re not a believer. And the fact that she’s never around his family except in professional categories, it’s another tell.

      • MissMary says:

        @Gracie: All of this, yes.

      • Mikasa says:

        I think BC spent Christmas with SH family for “Research”. I think he’s aware and has been advised that he needs to sell this enGAGment better and more convincingly, but he is such a terrible LIAR!! So instead of lying and making up nonsense answers for his next interview…. ‘What did you do for Christmas?’ He’s gonna walk the talk so he won’t have to struggle and feel guilty. Those pics don’t prove much, except that he was really there in Edinburgh. This is pretty much still work for him at this point.

      • Ingrid says:

        Gracie, it does seem so odd, doesn’t it? For a Man who doesn’t want blurry ring pics, he surely doesn’t seem to have a problem sharing his private life with the entire world atm.

        On the topic of her family, how an earth did the tabs get a pap photo of her mom and bro the day after the announcement? It’s not like paps know what they look like. Oh, of course, the paps were called in. What a family…

      • Claire says:

        Ingrid that’s a good point you make about the paps the day after. I didn’t even think about that! I don’t think they’d have called it in themselves though. I imagine he or his/HW’s PR team would have been behind it. They’re paying for the photographers for the staged pics after all.

        Also, people keep talking about how HW’s PR team takes over once award season begins. is that just speculation or is it confirmed that’s what studios or TWC does?

      • MissMary says:

        HW’s “team” does indeed exert hella pressure on “his” stars/movies. HW himself gets involved. There’s a book about his tactics (it’s been mentioned on a few sites but it’s called Down and Dirty Pictures that details his horrid tactics and machinations. He sued to have it stopped but it was proven in court to all be truthful so his charges of slander and libel wouldn’t stand. As well, there’s a lot of things leaked and outright stated by former, ah, recipients of his professional treatments that confirm he takes over completely and does some horrid things (harranguing people on their deathbed, threatening to replace a director with an actor to pretend to be him for interviews b/c HW found the director dull, causing people to lose their homes, etc).

    • Gracie says:

      Please do NOT make me think about how she is once the light is out. I don’t care how sexy she is underneath all the awful looking clothes she owns. 🙁

    • MissMary says:

      Wrong spot! sorry!

  43. ellesbelles says:

    I just saw TIG. I don’t know what to say other than beautiful and heart breaking. I dont envy Oscar voters

    • Gracie says:

      @elles, dear, *wave* glad you enjoyed the film. We’re hit with another round of weirdness, on the Christmas day, nonetheless.

    • Ingrid says:

      Wait, there was a movie starring Ben coming out? I forgot about that, good job Harvey!

      (Glad you liked it. We only get it in Feb. Ugh)

    • Cate says:

      I can’t wait to see TIG! Merry Christmas everyone, happy holidays. Let’s sing a bit:

      ‘On the twelfth day of Christmas a Chinese Santa brought to me:
      A sneaky pic of Benedict and the woman he loves, Sophieeeeeee’

      (It sort of rhymes…)

  44. tsmiv says:

    So are these church pics really from the same account that took the Paris pic? Even if not, why post to Chinese twitter? That seems a little strange to me. Do they have a Chinese stalker?

  45. Koodles says:

    I just realized what my problem is with that dress that sophie is wearing today. It’s not the florals or anything like that. It’s that she is wearing a black sweater underneath it. Either put a cutesy cardigan or even a leather jacket Over I repeat I over the dress or, it’s winter time, there are so many cute sweater dresses with long sleeves to wear. Joan rivers would be rolling in her grave right now if she saw that. Such a shallow post, but, had to get it off my chest.

    • Oh Hey says:

      Said the same up above, for someone who’s the newest style icon she has appalling taste in clothes. Who the hell wears a long sleeve shirt under a summer dress?

      • ellesbelles says:

        It must be some avant-garde THEATAH fasion us plebes cant even begin to understand. Or something. Sometimes her fashion choices make me wonder where her home base is. Does she not have winter clothes at her moms?

      • Felice says:

        Her actual attire pre-GAG was very……..sheer and cut. It just makes me wonder why she’s suddenly all nun.

      • Oh Hey says:

        If you were going home to where it’s cold would you not pack appropriately? Should we assume she doesn’t own anything with sleeves?

      • Claire says:

        Felice, i don’t think it’s implausible to assume she’s been instructed what kind of style to take off the red carpet.

      • Gracie says:

        I too am not a believer, but on Christmas eve – more like midnight – I took my mother to a nearby church for communion service because she was curious. (Don’t get me started. I didn’t wanna go at all. But she’s not the type who takes no for an answer.) Anyhow, I saw a lady with the exact same getup, even so, looking far lovelier wearing a summer red and white abstract print dress with black long sleeve underneath. 🙂 Sophie-the-trend-setter didn’t invent that look, and I dare say the lady I saw pulled it off better than she did. If she must wear a summery dress over black in winter, that fabric and the colour she had on were just wrong.

    • Lucifer says:

      yeah koodles i noticed that too. awful. thanks for saying that. i feel light

  46. Mikasa says:

    Sounds like he’s leaving Edinburgh now.
    Tweet from a Scottish neuroscientist: ‘me too today until I came thru fast track security w Benedict Cumberbatch at EDI :-o’
    That was a tweet in reply to a friend, ‘early morning flight brings out the worst in me’.

    Not sure where he is headed and no sign of the invisible fiance’!!

    • Alice says:

      Good! I wondered how long before he’d be getting the hell outta Dodge.

      • moodgirl says:

        Maybe she caught a later flight but wouldn’t a loved up engaged couple fly back together? Either he waits for her to finish her visit with family or she wraps it up and accompanies him back home.

    • Ingrid says:

      Well I suspected as much. Finally I’m right about something. LOL.

      TIG is the opening film of Capri Film Festival on 27th. Maybe he will be there? If he is free, Harvey will make him go. It’s semi-important festival. Let’s see.

      BTW, what’s up with people of Edinburgh? Why there is 10 people tweeting his movements when everywhere else it’s maybe two people? Or is our Marilyn “stopping the traffic” & making sure people see him when in Edinburgh? Interesting…

      eta: I’m picturing BC going around Edi like Dennis Quiad:”Benedict Cumberbatch is HERE!” (From 00:50)
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g59GrPrt6CQ

      • Lucifer says:

        getting eaten

      • Lucifer says:

        For those who asking why these fan pics? Benohiedaily alrdy has them up in twitter,nannies going crazy about invasion of PRIVACY(LOL) just watch out for mainstream media to pick thm up in 1.2.3….again it gives him a talking topic for upcoming interviews now with pictorial proof.

      • gg says:

        Also a reason for the inevitable breakup “Sophie couldn’t handle living in a fishbowl/being watched all the time”

      • **sighs** says:

        You were right, Ingrid. Fly in, get the obligatory pic/story about them in a public place, fly out the next morning.

        Wouldn’t you want to spend every possible minute with your center, your everything when you work almost constantly and actually have a week off?
        😉

      • Alice says:

        @***sighs***. Not with this particular center. Nope.

      • Ingrid says:

        Also, this way he gets new material for his next interviews. The romantic christmas with his center and in-laws. People & co will have a field day with that. (Maybe this is the reason behind The trip? This way he doesn’t need to lie, at least not 100%, because he truly sucks at it)

        I will need more barf bags…

      • gg says:

        If he’s only going to Capri I wonder if Sophie is coming with?

      • Mikasa says:

        if he really is going to Capri film fest there’s a good chance she’ll show up with him….its for TIG remember….Harvey demands more pictures of the ‘happy couple’, especially now that they’re getting better at this showmance. Expect lovey dovey pictures soon.
        ps. I suspect she misses her florals too…so we’ll likely see more of her fashion.

      • Ingrid says:

        Either what Mikasa said or they are saving her first overseas trip for a bigger event. I dont know.

        Of course he might not be there. I just assumed because it’s an easy flight and some stars do go there.

      • Felice says:

        That floral monstrosity is on net-a-porter. It’s $6,000. Why?……

        There’s another Erdem dress on there and I wonder if she’s gonna wear it. It’s even louder and more floral.

      • gg says:

        TIG is opening the festival so makes sense he would be at Capri

      • Lucifer says:

        6000???????? what?? which one?

      • Felice says:

        The yellow blue floral one.

      • Lucifer says:

        i may never recover from this shock.!!

      • Alice says:

        Give the poor guy a break!! Let some of the others handle Capri.

      • Mikasa says:

        what?! 6000 for that ugly dress!! Does she get the 2000 incentive coz I think it only cost 4000 when it was first researched. the price of showing a sponsored red carpet dress – only nannies would buy that!!

  47. Koodles says:

    I can’t wait until the golden globes just to see what she wears!!! I looked at the erdem website and think she would pick the Mildred gown, that one is over 4 grand. Or the conceta gown.

    • Felice says:

      I like the skateboard lol

      Please be the Mildred, it would almost be testing the fashion police.

      I’ll remember your name. I’m gonna yell out KOODLES if she wears one of those.

      I will never understand why chartreuse is a thing. It reminds me of The Exorcist pea soup.

    • Alice says:

      I saw the first picture and all I can think is – Seinfeld, puffy shirt.

  48. scarf girl says:

    I hope all had a happy holiday. I have been trying to catch up on all the comments. The church pictures were interesting. I shook my head a little. I can’t imagine, as Octopus and Otter were surrounded by her family, why they weren’t more protective of someone taking pics during a religious service. And the Twitter sightings were also odd. Everything about these two is odd. Miss Mary, congrats on finding the info out on the play. Topic of play is fascinating. Makes one wonder if entire thing a performance art piece.

    • sad DSA says:

      I hope not. I rally hope not. Yesterday Ursula’s Stompgate had me thinking that her humiliating a partner at a work function was her trying to be a “L’enfant terrible” (but for her on marketing/image-building/personal PR, so she can have a sort of personal brand by the time this is over) because she’s supposed to avant-garde and if I were in her position I’d be trying to save face in front of my avant-garde crowd… But if this is part of a performance piece, I would be really upset (and I’m shocked to find out this play is in the works—when I heard about it on Tumblr I came here right away). Because I’m betting you, and I’m 99.99% certain of this, that some real-life people were legit hurt in the process. It’s bad enough as a showmance, then she’s going to sell it as art? I can understand creating art based on your past pains, writing about your experiences… But actually letting up a lie to manufacture an art piece while hurting people in the process?

  49. Angie says:

    Just want to say Happy Holiday to you all : )

    And I’m the asian anon at sogo LOL, it’s just, most of the time I have difficulty visiting CB, it’s extremely slow…And, although I think the OP is legit, it’s still a bit weird to me. But idk, maybe I’m just reading too much as I’m not buying it, I was not and never will be, that I’m just constantly questioning everything LOL.

    • moodgirl says:

      @ Angie – I quote you a lot, you are fantastic.

      • Angie says:

        Thank you, you are the same xx

        I had my pre-Christmas little vacation last weekend, distanced myself a bit, watched some movies, sadly to find that although I feel the mess stupid and embarrassing, I still felt affectionate when watching Hobbit, seeing smaug, LOL

        I recharged a bit and let’s get prepared for the onslaught in Jan ; )

      • gg says:

        Yes, I saw TIG for the second time yesterday and I have to admit that since I already knew the plot of the movie I spent most of the time staring at Benedict’s eyes LOL Really he was so much more attractive than I’d expected him to be, based on the stills we saw pre-release.

      • Angie says:

        @gg I just can’t stop joking with my friends, although we know smaug is just very bad, it’s not that sort of character who turns to a bad guy because he was hurt and heartbroken or something, we’re not fans of the books, we sort of like it and felt sad when it died, it’s all just because of Ben, LOL

    • Ingrid says:

      Thanks angie for your info and translations. Languages are power, aren’t they?

      • Angie says:

        My pleasure ; )

        I always tell my little sister, if you feel like learning something, just go and get some foreign language. I have been thinking, apart from passing time, I get to practice my English through this, it’s at least a good thing, LOL.

    • Lucifer says:

      i had the same difficulty with google chrome . It works fine on firefox. try that

  50. lindy79 says:

    Evening all.
    I expected a proper pap shot pre christmas but i dunno….would they really go as far as to have him go to church with her family on Christmas day of theres not some element of truth in their relationship? Also it was a twitter shot, not a pap shot so surely it was a gamble that someone would take a shot of them if this is PR, why not get a proper pap to take shots of them going in/coming out?

    I did lol at the shot of her draped over his shoulder and hes not reacting at all.

    • scarf girl says:

      Do you know what I can’t get over? That the person wasn’t shut down, taking pictures in church on Christmas Eve and there wasn’t more of a negative reaction. I go to a church that is known for its Christmas music. We get some famous people on occasion. Some even want to take pictures of the service as it is a “high” service. But people shut them down because it is so disrespectful. But here, at least in one shot, it looks like a parting of the Red Sea. Not even her family was being protective. So odd to me. Especially if real relationship.

      • Gracie says:

        Angie probably would have said the same thing. I can tell you this: Chinese people take pictures A LOT. Like they can’t look at life happening in front of their faces if not through camera lens. In church, concert, etc, places that you are not supposed to whip out a camera. Especially if you’re using an ipad with a cover that might make it not look like an ipad, you might just look like you are holding a small folder of something at your chest’s level. As long as the photo-taker isn’t making too much noise or causing a scene, people generally just ignore the person taking the picture. Not my thing, but that’s what people do. As to the church the sighting pictures were taken, my understanding was that it was quite the tourist attraction, so perhaps people were used to tourists doing that?

      • Ingrid says:

        The clear angle is suspicious as is his Tour of Christmas Plans Broadcasting. How many places in Edi he visited? 3 at least, but most likely he spent the entire 24th on his grand tour of “please spot me.”

      • Gracie says:

        @Ingrid, and finally somebody did! They just look so… indifferent to each other.

      • Angie says:

        The OP uses a blackberry, I presume it’s small and he’s able to sneak the photo without being noticed.

        And as I posted in Sogo, I feel sorry to say so because I’m Chinese, but I think the pics finally ended up popping up in a CN website, maybe including that Paris one, is because Chinese people are constantly taking photos these days, it’s hard for you to imagine, but people taking photos in the theatre, during plays/concerts, they need the evidence to show off in the social network.

        Also, as someone has pointed out, they were in the second row, and it seems the one bench right behind them, in the third row, was empty, it made perfect view. How convenient. I know I’m just constantly questioning everything these days, but why there’s always something suspicious is also beyond me.

      • Angie says:

        @Gracie Yes, I was posting LOL

      • Gracie says:

        @ Angie, give me five! 🙂

        Don’t think it’s a conspiracy that the pictures ended up on a Chinese site – most likely it’s just someone waving their camera phone around 24/7 again. But one thing does surprise me more than someone got their picture in a church. At the danger of being called gender stereotyping, I had no idea Chinese boys even knew who BC was. Let alone going up to SH to ask if he could speak to BC, does this sound strange to you too? Although, this could be just someone writing fanfic to go along the pictures.

      • Angie says:

        @Gracie Yeah ; )

        Oh I just checked, the OP deleted it also, in the original post with photos, he @ someone in the comment, it looks like a girl who is a bit of a fan of Sherlock. I’m not really sure as it was quite late yesterday night local time, I was sleepy when I saw it. The OP probably gets to know BC because of this friend. Maybe the girl didn’t respond and OP felt a bit of losing face and deleted it.

        That’s what people usually do now, don’t @ people directly in the original post, but in the comment. I guess it’s easier to delete if the one being @ doesn’t respond.

        And yes, it’s weird as why the OP didn’t go straight to BC but the GF instead. I don’t think he knew her at all, he only made the conclusion that it’s his GF as he was behind them and able to watch them for a bit during the hymn. Maybe he wanted to be polite? Asked the lady first?

      • Mikasa says:

        @Angie Is it possible that the chinese tourist was alone and wanted Sophie to take a picture of him with Benedict? That’s why she asked him first??? But she ‘politely declined’. Which makes sense coz I can’t see SH doing favors for anyone, BC included!! Yet she doesn’t seem to have trouble getting him to do things for her ie. buying dresses, out of town trips, using His PA, even going to the chemist. Still wondering what BC gets from her in return??

      • Claire says:

        “Still wondering what BC gets from her in return??”

        The answer to this question is too obvious. Unless you mean personally, emotionally. In which case who knows

    • moodgirl says:

      I agree that there is/was an element of truth in the relationship at some point but the one thing most agree on is that the enGAGment is being used for PR purposes. So couldn’t the posing also be PR related? They couldn’t just use the announcement to gather attention and then stop; they have to keep it going or what was the point? They have done so much shady crap it is hard to tell but once shady always shady?

    • Soothy says:

      There’s so many elements to ‘being seen’. He’s well aware of social media presence, for example. I don’t think that the lame head on shoulder, which she seems to attempt on every red carpet, means much but I also don’t think that particular move was executed in the hope that someone would snap a pic at that particular moment.
      I’m also surprised that anyone is surprised to see him there at Xmas. Her family seem very much into talking to the press and happy to go along with whatever it is, real or affected.
      Let’s not forget her mother’s quote , which was apparently- “watch this space”. I find it hard to swallow that in retrospect, people can’t see how weird it was for her/whoever to say that.
      Nobody can say for sure what’s going on, but if it’s real, I feel very sorry for him. I’ve never seen anyone look so un-in love in my life. And one thing is 100% – if it is real, the whole thing has been stage mangaged from the moment she and her hair tossing first appeared at Hay .
      If he wants to be in a miserable relationship with a rude and snobby woman that’s up to him, but sad that he’s apparently thrown his principles out the window in the process.

      • scarf girl says:

        The entire thing just seems awkward, unfortunate and contrived. And if it is real, yes, I agree, principles thrown out window.

    • Ingrid says:

      Lindy, BC spending xmas with her family is either because A. They are real B. Her family doesn’t know C. the rumors of this being fake scared PR and they needed to counteract.

      But I dont think the engagement is real, regardless of what this is. Thats pure PR.

      • Felice says:

        At the very least of this being real: He timed the engagement to his gain. But I’m still on the train 😉

      • Lucifer says:

        they have tried multiple times to get snapped by fans to go on the sneaky narrative. succeeded once. and we are going crazzyyyyy here

      • lindy79 says:

        Oh yes i fully agree the engagement was pure PR. Theyre only dating a short while so if they really wanted privacy then wait until march to get engaged. Could still have done the Times but not facing months of PR.
        personally i feel she refused to do any red carpets without a ring and he was getting pressure to be seen with a lady on his arm so figured I’ll just speed it along.

      • moodgirl says:

        The enGAGment rumor is starting to see the light of day, appearing in Gawker and somewhere else. Maybe they saw this, got nervous and hoped this will kill the gossip.

        By the way, Gawker responded that the relationship is real but the enGAGment is being used for PR.

      • Claire says:

        not sure when gawker is the authority on strangers’ relationships but okay lol

        i’m glad to see the strangeness gaining traction though

      • HBIC says:

        I keep telling y’all that this relationship is real… it’s just dysfunctional. I don’t believe for a second that he would propose to someone he didn’t have feelings for. I think that they were secretly and casually dating, but he didn’t tell anyone what was really going on b/c something was off between them and he knew she wasn’t the one.

        But somehow or another, he decided to make this a thing (I’m starting to think only God and Jesus truly know why) and agreed to commit to her and use this relationship for PR purposes. And what has basically happened is that all of this ended up backfiring horribly. Why?!? B/c she is AWFUL (and a gold digging famewhore, might I add). And he knows it. He’s either ego tripping off of his Hollywood status right now and/or he’s really afraid that he’ll never find the right person so he’s settling for someone who just unfortunately ended up being truly mediocre.

        But don’t worry… this craziness will end sooner or later. Probably after the Oscars and/or before Hamlet, as long as he doesn’t truly jump on the crazy train and try and marry this awful woman. He has free will, and we all know how impulsive he can be, so… fingers crossed.

        Cut her loose, Ben! Save yourself!

      • Soothy says:

        As I’ve said before, there’s nothing ‘secret’ about whatever relationship they had/have. When she very first appeared on the scene, they very publicly sat in front of the press at very famous sports tournament. That is not the action of someone who wants to keep anything secret.
        People have let that whole contrived ‘secret girlfriend’ nonsense which was made up by the press (he was nowhere near her at that point), bleed into the consciousness and they’re having a hard time letting it go.
        There really was never a ‘secret’ anything.

    • **sighs** says:

      They’ve done this since the beginning of their “relationship”. Go out in very public places, expecting his *rabid* fans to spread the news. Then when they could actually spend time together in private they go their separate ways.
      If you were famous and seriously guarding your privacy, would you go to the biggest church in the city on Xmas day in the front of the church?
      By all reports he didn’t spend much time there, and it didn’t seem like he was with the family most of the time. He was too busy out and about spreading the news that he was spending time with her family. Lol.
      He makes me laugh.
      He does have to keep up the charade, though, no? It has to at least appear real. I’m quite sure most of his friends and family don’t know it’s fake. (I mean, they prob *know*, but…)
      I’m still on the total PR train. A few awkward church pictures aren’t going to change my mind.

      • MissMary says:

        **sighs** All of this yes!

        I said elsewhere but I don’t think they “hired” the guy who took the pics but I do believe they were well aware they’d be snapped or at least get on twitter/FB/social media. It’s a see and be seen situation and him broadcasting his presence as much as possible (if those tweets about telling random strangers his holiday plans are legit) combined with going to a major tourist spot/huge popular to visit church for a major holiday service did the trick.

      • Lucifer says:

        twitter has it ,ainstream media ll pick up tom dnt worry benny boo

      • Claire says:

        There’s nothing conspiratorial about this to me but I do have a couple questions: how did the guy know it was him from behind? Did bc turn around at some point? And she’s supposed to be tall, but she doesn’t look nearly as tall as him (which is how she’s often described), kind of supporting what I said weeks ago about the exaggeration of her height that began with senyorita

      • Mikasa says:

        annickpass just posted a pic of bc standing near a pole and a similar pic of sh also standing by a similar pole. Famewhore much or just a nutty fan?? In the beginning I was convinced it was SH herself and asked her bf web designer gambles to amp up the site after the announcement. And now, I’m not sure what to make of it…very much like their arrangement, so messy yet very attention seeking!!

      • MissMary says:

        She’s apparently five seven or so but wears heels a lot. The “tall” thing was senyorita and her “they’re almost the same height! and she has CURLY hair!” thing that she started bleating when BC was seen with a very tall woman with curly/wavy hair.

        Allegedly, the guy who took the pic saw BC in the church so he went in but…IDK. I’ve walked past many churches, both touristy and not, and have never just seen someone inside.

        I don’t think they hired the guy but I do think they were intending to be papped/snapped, given all the things we’ve mentioned on here.

      • gg says:

        Never mind the pole photos, did you see the photo of the altar (?) at St. Giles???

      • lola says:

        @gg
        I saw that picture of the altar. No comment needed – it’s going to be a mourning day if the wedding between the two actually realizes.

      • MissMary says:

        The altar snap is from google.. someone on SoGo or BTT found it. It’s like the third pic if you do an image search for the altar at St Giles.

    • Ingrid says:

      I’m boarding the real crazy train now but oh well.

      SH is wearing a dress in the church photos. Now, why would she wear a summer dress in a freezing church when everyone else is wearing coats? People did point this out earlier but I didn’t think there was anything there.

      But her dress is the same one she wore at FO! And those photos have been everywhere. And she is more easily recognized if she looks the same and wears the same clothes.

      +biggest tourist church
      +front row
      +his “I’m here with Sophie” parade the day before

      He was in Edin to be seen.

      • Laetita says:

        @Ingrid
        I’m sorry but you have truly boarded the crazy train. Take another look at those photos and at her dress.

        @All posters
        Sometimes people see what they want to see when trying to avoid the truth. I think a lot of posters on here are afraid they may have been wrong about the “showmance”.

      • HBIC says:

        @Laetitia
        Oh god. You’re back. Heaven help us.

        All of your posts are delusional. And I think you have a lot of nerve calling someone crazy. Look in the mirror, honey.

      • MissMary says:

        It’s not the same dress but she HAS gotten into florals since FO. She’s gone from sheer, revealing garb to marmish. Almost as if someone told her to dress “conservatively” for a, I don’t know, awards thing or something, like she’d be with someone who was going to be judged by some old white conservative dudes. Weird, huh? 😉

        But all else, yes… save me a seat next to you on the train. 😉

      • Ingrid says:

        Laetita, it is 99% sure the same dress. The cold lighting makes it more blue, but the pattern and cut is the same.

        The other parts of my theory: at least I’m owning my crazy.

      • Soothy says:

        @Laetita

        Please don’t patronise people who think for themselves. There’s no ‘truth to be avoided’, there’s behaviour which is blatantly contrived to court attention, showmance or no showmance, he clearly thinks little enough of whatever this relationship is, to use it for attention. THAT is a fact and no lame assed photo of her grasping his shoulder will convince me otherwise. And anyone else who’s disregarding the embarrasing way it’s been played out due to that, really needs to reconsider their perception of what they see and how easily they’re influenced by nothing.
        If other people are that easily manipulated by the media, then that really does explain a lot.

      • Gracie says:

        @Laetita, if you think that’s what loved up looks like, maybe you should have gone to specsavers.

      • moodgirl says:

        She wore the same dress to two movie premieres. The woman doesn’t have a job and appears not to be fashion forward. Wearing a cotton dress in the middle of winter probably wasn’t a big deal. Or she was in a hurry to JFK airport and left her winter clothes in New York.

      • moodgirl says:

        MissMary always hits the nail on the head. It makes sense that someone told her to tone it down to fit the narrative.

      • Koodles says:

        Ok, I looked at both the fo pictures and the church photos, zooming in and everything. And it is the same dress.

      • Ingrid says:

        Thank you Koodles! Because I cannot unsee it.

        Look closer people. The big red dots and light yellow patterns. The light in the photo is very blue so the dress seems more blue than in summer sunlight.

        Of couse it could mean nothing. Just an odd choice for a cold church.

      • lola says:

        @Ingrid
        How could it not mean anything? She has !ZERO! sense for fashion. That is ZERO in Kelvins. I haven’t seen a picture of her in a decent dress – the ones on the RC were surprisingly good in comparison to her usual choices.

        Beside that … I actually can’t shake this deep odd feeling that this mess is a real thing. It is just to weird to be a PR ploy. Rationally looking at it – it is PR, but it is just so badly executed that it is worrisome. Idk

      • Claire says:

        ^so you suddenly think this relationship is not pr or pr dictated because she dresses like crap? I don’t know how some of your brains work sometimes.

      • lola says:

        @Claire
        No, no, no. Her clothes are imo really awful, but that has nothing to do with the weirdness of the “relationship”. It is absolutely PR dictated. Judging from the RC videos and pictures I’d say he is not in love with her and he doesn’t seem to be attracted to her at all. What I am thinking about is whether it’s been PR from the begging or it was real at some point or still is. If it is former – it will end soon as planed, if it is later then it might have a manipulative resuscitation attempt from her every time she messes up (and god knows how many times she can do that before he kicks her out of his life – they are not going to last).

      • Claire says:

        how bad is it Laetitia can’t even spell her “name” properly in her post? shows how much attention to detail she puts in to nanny here

      • Claire says:

        lola you are saying in one post “I actually can’t shake this deep odd feeling that this mess is a real thing. It is just to weird to be a PR ploy.” and the next “What I am thinking about is whether it’s been PR from the begging or it was real at some point or still is.”
        they contradict one another

  51. tsmiv says:

    @Soothy
    “Let’s not forget her mother’s quote , which was apparently- “watch this space”. I find it hard to swallow that in retrospect, people can’t see how weird it was for her/whoever to say that.”

    After the Nov 5 announcement, I decided that was a plant. Just too weird to say that on September 13, when they might have been dating all of 3 months and one of those months he was in Boston!

    • Claire says:

      I am still wondering when did they have time to date???? He was in Boston for June, he was in California in July when he was snapped with a blonde who may or may not have been a date. They were seen once in June and possibly in Italy. They weren’t even seen together in august in london, when he was with another blonde. She only entered the picture in sept when he started giving those weird interviews that were published a month or two later around announcement time. What the hell????

      Let me ask this: what are the chances someone in her family decided to google the dating history of their future son in law and saw the daily mail/mirror mystery blonde/brunette photos from august? And what would they conclude then?

      • lola says:

        The only conclusion I’d see coming from that family is that they need to step up their game – all of them, SH was not successful enough on her own.

      • moodgirl says:

        Her family would conclude that BC, being a famous actor with fantastic earning potential, would be perfect for slacker SH. No one would pass up that opportunity.

      • tsmiv says:

        @moodgirl
        Real or fake, her family is like “Look at us we finally found a rich husband for our old maid daughter!”

  52. Lucifer says:

    At this point of time they may as well shag in my living room still I’m not gonna believe that this is NOT for PR

    • scarf girl says:

      It is sad, isn’t it? This is an actor I rooted for and really wanted him to find someone special. And now all of this-starting at the strange behavior at LFF and to where it is now-so much credibility lost (to me). I know I don’t matter and am just a plebe in a great big world. But it will be a long time before I believe any word he utters about his private life.

      • lola says:

        It is even more sad that this will undoubtedly leave consequences. Whoever is going to be the one (the one he’d actually be in love with) she’d have to deal with shitty leftovers and she’d be compared to SH (which in my opinion is an insult tbh), and his chances in meeting one normal who’d be willing to put up with this have been slimmed down significantly.

      • Alice says:

        @scarf girl. Just when I think I’m out, he does something like the Sohana video and I’m pulled back in again.

      • scarf girl says:

        Lola: sadly yes to all counts.

        Alice: no question he uses his fame for good causes and to raise awareness for many issues. But for the past six months or longer, dude has been all over the place on fans, fanfic, fame, his private life….in addition to the adventures of the Otter and the Octopus. So, I side eye. Can’t help it.

      • Claire says:

        “Whoever is going to be the one (the one he’d actually be in love with) she’d have to deal with shitty leftovers and she’d be compared to SH”

        This is not how relationships work, both among everyday people and famous people who are truly in love. If this future woman is his true love, none of this matters. It’s long history.

      • HBIC says:

        I concur, Claire.

        Also, once he meets the right person and shows everyone how happy he is, everyone will pretty much forget about his relationship with Octopussy, give or take a few months. She’ll just end up being a blip on his dating radar, and float the eff back to obscurity where she belongs.

        Not to mention, love lifts people up, makes them better and truly brings out the best in them. I’m pretty sure everyone will see a HUGE change in him once he finds the right person, a change for the better.

        And I like to think whomever she is, she’ll be waaaay cooler and more likeable than Octopussy.

  53. Ingrid says:

    SoGo: BC spotted at LHR flying to Miami. Grain of salt of course.

    Miami is filled with paps during New Years and famous for staged pap pics. Or maybe he’s going to the caribbean?

    • Mikasa says:

      Ahh…so they’re gearing up for more lovey dovey beach photos and with SH in her bikini and BC in his gray boxers!! I don’t see why it can’t be both vacay and pr. He’s already done it on xmas day, might as well go all the way. And don’t forget SH was there on her birthday with her ex so maybe she can show BC all the hotspots in Miami.
      ps. Waves Hello to annickpass!! You noticed we were on to you…Don’t worry, we’ll find you once again.

      • moodgirl says:

        We’ll see them either running/lying/kissing on the beach or relaxing on the deck of a yacht. Supplied by HW of course. I heard his yacht is fantabulous and he rents it out.

        Anyone want to take a poll? Who expects to see warm weather pr shots of these two before New Years? I raise my hand 👋.

      • Ingrid says:

        Me too, moodgirl!

        Barf bags are located under your seats, ladies! It’s going to be a bumpy ride

    • MissMary says:

      My money is on a private screening for Academy members who live in Miami (one of HW’s favorite tactics is to arrange private screenings in cities where Academy voters live) and/or a private holiday party hosted by TWC, a company involved with TWC, or academy voters.

  54. Koodles says:

    Maybe benedict is gonna party in the city where the heat is on all night on the beach til the break of dawn…welcome to Miami…I’m sorry, will smith got stuck in my brain.😛

  55. moodgirl says:

    SoGo has two articles about HW acting looney, MissMary is absolutely on point. One has HW putting a reporter in a headlock and dragging him outside. Maybe this is why BC was shaking while giving his speech at the London awards. Wow.

    • Soothy says:

      Yeah, I’ve heard about the headlock story. A very nasty character. It’s really quite unpleasant to see BC mixed up with him. And didn’t he order Jennifer Lawrence to walk a red carpet against doctors orders too?

      • moodgirl says:

        I admit that I had doubts about how much power HW has but after reading these articles I can actually see him manipulating the enGAGment scenario and yanking BC’s chain.

      • Oh Hey says:

        Her comment was she was dragged out of bed, given a shot in her bum and told “you go dance, monkey!”.

    • scarf girl says:

      No matter how you cut the cake (relationship PR or some weird relationship that has been pimped out for PR) BC and SH are going to have to look very happy to be together during awards season. There can be no storm offs on red carpet, or rumors of being unpleasant on Oscar campaign trail. That is a lot of pressure. And add to that BC’s work schedule, the international travel. I know I would crack.

      The nannies will just continue to eat the crazy cupcakes.

    • MissMary says:

      My “favorite” HW story is the one where he threatened a director with replacement–not during filming but during PR! He felt the guy was boring and demanded he get less so or he’d hire an actor to replace him. It’s not a violent story but it speaks to the depths to which he’d sink to make HIS vision and HIS narrative “fit”.

      • Alice says:

        And that was Erroll Morris, one of the greatest documentarians ever that he threatened.

      • Felice says:

        I like how he tried to sue for that book. The best thing about defamation is that the truth is the best defense and it’s just awesome to see those types of lawsuits crash and burn because it’s either an opinion or the truth.

      • Claire says:

        I didn’t realise that was Erroll Morris he did that to. I love him! Hands off HW

  56. Mikasa says:

    Both hands up! I wanna see beautiful tanned relaxed benedict…the way he was in that greece interview last year. He looked so damn fine in those pics, like a greek god with his dark curls tumbling about his face. 😉
    ps. Minus the Octopussy of course.
    Unless he’s there to throw her back into the ocean, then I don’t mind.
    Re. annickpass, I doubt its SH but could be someone sh’s close to – assuming she’s on the same flight with BC to miami, they would have been in mid air when she closed her account. I just don’t see logic of closing and opening a new tumblr tho.
    As for the St. Giles altar table, saw it yesterday when the fan pic popped up and didn’t think much of it, but I quickly figured it was the same church.
    It’s the perfect place for BC to have his private wedding, since the altar table is big enough for SH to hide under! You see, His wedding and Private. Very private, we don’t even have to see the bride!!

    • moodgirl says:

      She would use her tentacles to hang on for dear life.

      SH would be under the altar table with her hired paparazzi taking pictures from the balcony.

    • Oh Hey says:

      That altar photo was a publicity shot they use in advertising, she stole it, it’s not from her being there. She sounds like a total whackjob. Her whole account’s been deleted, btw.

      • Alice says:

        @oh hey. She’s back, but all new posts are “friends only.”

      • scarf girl says:

        I don’t think it has been deleted just whited out. You can still find it but not on tumblr. Have to go a back way via Google search. Nor do I think she is a whack job. I think she is an art director with ties to SH. Can’t prove it, of course and I don’t want to spill details as to why I think this because well, real person who may be completely uninvolved and I am the one of my rocker.

        But I think this tumblr is professional.

      • scarf girl says:

        70% sure it is a pro.

      • scarf girl says:

        If this ends up being a triplicate comment I apologize. The person behind that blog is, IMHO, not a crazy fan but a person with connections to the NYC art and theatre scene. I am 70% sure. Not floating names around, but at the end of day I think of the scene from You’ve Got Mail when Tom Hanks character’so aol handle turns out to be prosaic.

      • Claire says:

        Yeah sorry if this is a multiple comment too. So let me get this straight: Sophie Hunter has a tumblr account where she’s posting photos of herself with the church’s altar dressed up for a wedding? She’s a psycho if he isn’t in on it. Since the nannies are sending gifts to Karon, can we send screencaps of that to her? She can let BC know the histrionic antics this golddigger is doing on social media.

        I doubt this is a theatre person either. Who would do that? Wha would the purpose be unless it was with her permission?

      • Claire says:

        I doubt this is a theatre person. What kind of person would do that? What would the purpose be, unless it was with her permission, so they can mock his fans? (and as nutty as some of us are, that kind of behaviour is childish and not ok under any circumstances)

        And yeah sorry if this is a multiple comment too. So let me get this straight: Sophie Hunter has a tumblr account where she’s posting photos of herself with the church’s altar dressed up for a wedding? She’s a psycho if he isn’t in on it. Since the nannies are sending gifts to Karon, can we send screencaps of that to her? She can let BC know the histrionic antics this golddigger is doing on social media.

      • scarf girl says:

        It is not Sophie. But yes, I do firmly believe and am 70% sure that person knows people in Sophie’s world, is involved in the arts community, and is probably based in New York. I am reasonably certain Sophie is aware of the blog, and her friends are aware of the blog, as Instagram pictures from her friends’ Instagram accounts that have been commented on and liked the person who I suspect runs the account wind up on the tumblr blog. And no, this isn’t a stranger. She is known to the group, although I do not believe she has worked in theatre. I might be wrong, which is why I am not giving out names. Actually, if you look long and hard at the posts on the blog, compare to other tumblr accounts, some discrepancies in set up and tone should jump out quickly.

        As there is a 30% chance I might be wrong, that is all I will say because I don’t want to throw out the name of an innocent.

      • gg says:

        But wouldn’t she have to be *really* close to know about the Paris weekend, and the trip to the cathedral yesterday? If you look at the posts that SoGo reblogged from Eggs Benedish, that blog was posting Paris related stuff while BC and SH were supposedly still there. It wasn’t confirmed for days that he had even been there….

      • Claire says:

        good god scarfgirl, you did your homework. if this implodes, or nuptials are impending, you have to do an expose. even if you named names now i really doubt consequences would be harsh for anyone, so i’d have at it, but your call.

      • J says:

        IDK it existed well before HW came on the scene.

        when ppl freaked out over it I went and looked at it and it had been around for i think like 2-3 years at that point but was kinda inactive.

        i doubt its pro or anything. i think they irritated who owns it and are getting trolled occasionally because of it tbh. of course you can mess with days and time on tumblr so who knows? could be troll from the get-go

      • scarf girl says:

        Yes J the blog did exist beforehand. The name of the blog, when translated, suggests that-it is almost funny.
        Yes GG, that Paris posting makes so much more sense to me now. It clicked. And it clicked when I remembered Phantom Limb was one of the first theatre companies to come through and open an experimental art venue in the city where I live and why background in one picture looked so familiar.

        Edited by user to attempt to be brief. A failure without coffee

      • MissMary says:

        Fellowship-of-Erdemheart has an interesting post I linked to below (it may not show up) where she CSI’s the pics back to one oSH’s friends and it’s pretty damning.

      • scarf girl says:

        MissMary, I don’t think it is the friend mentioned in that post but another one. Another friend who pops up in like and comments on the pics that were CSI’d. It should pop out especially as url changed this morning.

      • Alice says:

        @scarfgirl, missmary, et al. So, basically, one of SH’s friends is pimping out BC to big up Sophie. Is that it?

      • scarf girl says:

        Alice I hope this winds up in right place. Others have searched this out and their theories are on blogs. Their findings match mine but my conclusions slightly different. I think it is more complicated. I don’t want to say anything else on that issue for a bit.

      • Alice says:

        @scarf girl. I wonder if Ben is aware of this. Or, if so, cares.

      • scarf girl says:

        I don’t know. But it is bizarre. In so many ways.

  57. Alice says:

    Just a thought: when BC said, “if you like me, you’ll like her”, was that a shout-out to his family and friends as well as fans? Does anyone connected to him appear to like her?

    • scarf girl says:

      I wonder that too.

    • HBIC says:

      Nah. I just think that was wishful thinking on his end. Probably b/c he knew that people already didn’t like her.

      He wants people to like her, but how can you expect your fans to like someone you act like you don’t even like YOURSELF?!?

      Hop off the crazy train already, Ben. DAMN.

    • Claire says:

      None of us can know for sure, but just like some people say “if this was fake, he’d have faked being happy”, if this is real I’m amazed there are no happy photos of her with her future in laws, not even any tweets from people in London. I hope to god we have to endure none of that for award season.

      • HBIC says:

        What star in their right mind gets fake engaged, announces it to the public and then shows up on the red carpet looking MISERABLE?!? This is what I don’t get!!!! When you are in the business of selling a lie, you FAKE being HAPPY about it, not fake being MISERABLE!

        Why everyone keeps going on and on about this being fake is truly mind boggling to me. It’s SOOOOO obvious that it’s not. He would smiling like a happy loved up person if he was faking it. And he would have chosen someone who would have PLAYED ALONG. Why in the hell would you stage a relationship and then “encourage” your future spouse SHOW THEIR ASS on the red carpet?!?!?? That doesn’t make any sense!!!!

        Hollywood is in the business of selling a lie, not showcasing dysfunction, ESPECIALLY during Oscar season. Use logic here, people!

      • Claire says:

        Ok so let’s take what you say for granted for the sake of discourse: it’s real and he’s truly as miserable as he appears to be whenever he has to pose with her in public. Why then did he propose after dating her, possibly not exclusively, for a few months and why is he still with her?

      • Claire says:

        Also how did he encourage her to show her ass on the RC? If you mean her temper tantrum, I don’t think he caused that in any way. If you mean by turning up well that would be the point of staging it, so she’d be his arm candy, right?

      • blended says:

        i’ve said from the beginning that this is a fake relationship with all the reason so many times on here. but basically i think he was forced to announce an engagement and sell a true love story. he is too sincere to lie convincingly and didn’t want to take this road (this has never been his style in the past). he thought he would just have an awards season girlfriend who would just accompany him to events, which would have been easy. no need talk of forevermores and ‘most incredible woman’ and other nonsense. he was truly naive enough to think that he only had to sell the movie and turing. instead he has to sell the biggest lie of his life, on the biggest stage he’s ever been on, all under the hammer of HW. that would make anyone miserable. i honestly don’t see how anyone can think this is real, and their body language has been discussed in detail.

      • HBIC says:

        @blended
        You are doing him a disservice by thinking that he’s that naive. He’s not. He’s been acting long enough to know how the game is played out in Hollywood.

        Like I said, if he truly wanted to sell a fake relationship, not only would have this been better orchestrated, but he would have chosen someone who would have played along. All of you are somehow or another missing that. No actress/director/whatever would jeapordize tarnishing their brand on the red carpet like that if they were faking a relationship for their career. No other actor would take them on in the future as their “fake” date. And what director in Hollywood would give someone like that a job if they can’t even help promote a movie and their brand with a smile on their face if they behaved like that?!? COME ON. One word – liability. That’s all she would be. And that’s bad for business.

        Now, if you can name ONE other actress in history who has EVER behaved that way on the red carpet, I will stand corrected.

        But I bet you can’t.

      • gg says:

        I think she was always meant to be “girlfriend” but the gay experimentation rumors that hit after that Out interview got her upgraded to “fiancee” The engagement was announced just 2-3 weeks later

      • Curioser says:

        But HBIC, I don’t understand what you’re trying to get across. Do you think its real and he’s just miserable? If so, why continue on with the charade? Do you think its fake and he just cant sell it? What? You say use logic, but honestly, I cant understand what you are trying to say.

        And thats not you, its me. I am having a really tough time trying to work out what is going on with everything BC/SH related.

      • Lauren says:

        @HBIC
        New here, long-time reader. I have to say, you have fully captured my hesitations in believing in a fake relationship. I veer to logic and if a PR relationship, none of what has occurred makes sense if you are attempting to run a successful PR campaign (who would want to run a bad one?). 1+1 isn’t equaling 2 in this situation.

        However, based on Benedict’s comments regarding campaigning and his BIFA speech, I believe the bad showmanship (for those in camp fake) may be his way of being passively defiant without openly opposing those running his campaign (cough, the Harvey machine). I have the impression he doesn’t like campaigning and what he’s being told to do. He finds little ways to “stick it to the man”.

      • Claire says:

        Right okay. So, Lauren, going with the ‘stick it to the man’ theory, how does that explain the instances where one of them is slapping the other’s hand away to avoid the other from holding it? How about how they drop holding hands as soon as they think cameras have stopped clicking? And the fact both times they’ve gotten into a car, they refuse to sit next to one another? His niece was sitting between them in one case. And how does that explain my favourite phrase from this whole campaign so far: “the love in my life at the moment”? A couple weeks after he proposed. Sticking it to the man typically doesn’t involve telling the public you don’t expect your fiancee to be in your life permanently.

        How do these things fit the scenario of a couple in love reluctantly and bitterly engaging in public appearances for his film? Not to mention, where PR for TIG is concerned, her appearances haven’t garnered a fraction of the press the announcement did. The appearances have, if anything, highlighted some red alarms that would have never existed if we never saw her post-announcement (would the press have wondered where she was and attacked him if she never went to any of these events? I don’t know but i don’t think it would have been a huge deal since she’s such an allegedly private person – that’s a simple explanation if any reporters would have asked).

      • Soothy says:

        I don’t think there’s ever been an instance of ‘slapping hands away’, not that I noticed anyway, but the affection doesn’t look natural.

      • Ingrid says:

        Me neither, Soothy. But the RC handholding is ridiculous. They hold hands for those two second they move two feet to pose to a different set of photographers. Just because they know there will be photos, not because they cannot bear to be separated. They are the definition of showmance.

      • Claire says:

        I swear someone said that when they were getting out of the car, she tried to hold his hand but he made a motion like he was slapping it away. I know it wasn’t in my head!

      • Lauren says:

        @Claire
        “Stick it to the man” theory. Everything you mentioned fits the scenario. Why would a couple engaging in a showmance (trying to sell love) act as though they are not “in love”? Using your examples: drop holding hands as soon as they think cameras have stopped clicking, and the fact both times they’ve gotten into a car, they refuse to sit next to one another. I don’t know if your examples are true, however if so, they scream “defiant behavior”. They could sell their “love” as a grand romance, but instead they choose to engage in the latter behavior as if saying “you can ask us to show-up together for the red carpet, but we won’t sell ‘in love’.”

        “How do these things fit the scenario of a couple in love reluctantly and bitterly engaging in public appearances for his film?” Your examples would support the reluctantly and bitterly engaging in public appearances. That just leaves explaining how they are a couple in love, which I can’t explain as I don’t know them intimately. However, I am not willing to assess their love based on appearances on red carpets with the exception of her poor behavior at the Theatre award. Her behavior was embarrassing and deplorable, relationship real or fake, I would have kicked her immature arse to the curb.

      • Lucifer says:

        The slapping hands away happened during ESA where they arrived together. He did not help her get out of the car. Her hand was clearly showing in the pictures in the hope that he would hold them. Though he did not. Slapping might be a too strng term.Its a light brushing away. BUT in Red carpet that is SLAPPING.

      • HBIC says:

        @Lauren and @Curioser
        I posted a longer response to your questions, but it got lost I guess.

        I think he hates the PR. And yes, he’s being defiant. But he’s reluctantly going along with it for now. He created this PR mess for himself, and now he has to ride this thing out.

        Yes, this relationship is real, and he’s miserable. But it’s not like he can propose and call it off a month later. He would look crazy and people would side eye him. Hard.

        B/c this whole relationship is weird, that’s why these posts are receiving so many comments and people are asking so many questions. It makes sense that we are all frustrated, and since his and Octopussy’s behavior is not normal, no one can make heads or tails of this situation. We’ve all just been left to scratch our heads and watch this situation play itself out.

        Hopefully, he lets her go, takes his head out of his ass and calms down. He needs to. I have my fingers crossed for him. He’s a good guy trying to survive crazy Hollywood, all the while looking for the one. I think he’ll find her one day. He just needs to relax and think in the meantime.

      • **sighs** says:

        This may double post. My apologies in advance:
        HBIC- what you guys are missing again in your logic, is that it doesn’t have to appear real for us. We aren’t who they’re trying to fool. The average People reader just sees pretty pics of them on a red carpet. They aren’t dissecting body language and slow-mo-ing video of her strops.
        If it’s real, then why has he, even from the moment they first are reported to be dating, look miserable with her? Not just from the engagement, but way back in June? Do you really think this is true love? Do you even think that at some point it was? I surely don’t. They’ve looked miserable and awkward from day 1. If they had looked loved up for a bit and THEN looked miserable, I’d believe it.
        He was more interested in his ice cream at the FO. And that’s when they were supposedly starting to date. Please tell me at what point you think this was real, because I just don’t see it.

      • blended says:

        @HBIC yes i believe ben was that naive.

      • moodgirl says:

        Now I understand what HBIC is saying. I didn’t yesterday, guess I needed some sleep.

      • HBIC says:

        @sighs
        I have no explanation that is sensical for why their behavior is so weird. I have an over the top theory, but if I expressed it on here, no one would believe me.

        Anyhoo, they are def not in love, and I can only guess that him hanging on to her sprouts from some type of insecurity. That’s the only sensical explanation that I’ve got.

      • moodgirl says:

        HBIC – Please give us your theory, it can’t be more OTT than some other stuff we’ve seen.

      • moodgirl says:

        Maybe “boyfriend Ben” is not the same as “husband Ben” Could be he’s stressed about being a husband vs. a boyfriend. We’ve seen him with OP but he wasn’t married to her and wasn’t a huge star. Now we get Ben the husband who’s star is rising – a different scenario all together. We need to adjust our expectations to his new attitude.

      • HBIC says:

        @moodgirl
        I just keep thinking that he’s desperate to find true love. And that he’s looking for something very specific… and Octopussy is kind of close to what he’s looking for, hence the settling. It’s almost like he’s given up. I’d just wish he’d wait.

        I may sound silly, but that’s what I think.

      • moodgirl says:

        @HBIC – Unfortunately, I understand desperation when it comes to relationships. 😣

        Like I posted downthread, he has had successful relationships in the past so how can he even think that Sophie could be close to what he is looking for? We don’t know what went on between BC and OP but she couldn’t have been a disrespectful shrew to last as long as they did. They seemed like a mature couple and apparently are still friendly after their split. Even though BC and AJ lasted only a year I have never heard of her disrespecting him in public or acting like an idiot.

        Could it be that BC thinks that SH’s connections can get him where he wants to go? Someone posted in a thread way back about how BC wasn’t really wealthy like his classmates and was considered unattractive until even recently. He describes himself in a not so fantastic way and seems extremely insecure despite his fame and fans.

        So, like the poster wrote, maybe BC sees SH as the cheerleader/rich snob that wouldn’t give him the time of day when he was younger. Now that he’s famous he gets to have the rich snob and doesn’t care how she behaves. He is satisfying his ego so maybe her crap turns him on. And he gets to prove to his upper class friends that he can pull the society girls.

      • HBIC says:

        @moodgirl
        I think they have things in common, that’s why. She’s in the business (and/or has knowledge of it), she’s artistic, musical, athletic and speaks French, like he does (or attempts to). They are also from similar backgrounds and she’s close to his age. I think he’s looking for someone like that.

        But the love isn’t there. That’s the problem.

        Yes, this relationship is mostly PR, and she’s good on paper, but he needs to ask himself whether or not this will be worth it in the long run. Can he actually commit to a loveless marriage regardless if she fits some things on his checklist?!?

        We’ll find out.

        And… I think it’s a little less about the snobby rich girl thing. He could do better than her if he really wanted that. Not saying that her and Lady K don’t contribute to some type of ego boost, but I think it’s more about finding someone who fits him and his lifestyle more than that.

      • moodgirl says:

        @HBIC – Got it.

      • Soothy says:

        @HBIC

        Um, she’s really not artistic and since hearing her ‘sing’, I’d say she’s not musical either. As for the French thing, he can’t speak French and there’s really nothing special about the fact she can. It’s a very standard second language for people to have and he knows lots of people that do. Siobhan Hewlett is fluent, for example.

    • blended says:

      he and his team were probably preparing for fangirls to be wailing about him being off the market and directing their hate at sophie. none of that materialized of course so the quote now seems weird.

  58. Lucifer says:

    said repeatedly saying again.
    Every month spotted with a random woman and rumored to be a girlfriend. DM even published something about his playboy image. HW sys he needs to make a serious image. NO random dating. still he continues dating, multiple blonde/brunettes spotted with him till august. SH with her SERIOUS career *sarcasm* selected by harvey.Casual dating/ acquaintances – supposed to be arm candy during award season. BC attends FO with her. Seems genuinely uninterested in her. Experimentation interview in OUT comes out. Harvey says WTF have u done. Trots her ass out in LFF he still refuses to play along. BAM!! engagement announcement by TWC with a missing initial(rookie mistake). BC has no way but to play along. Shitty behaviour begins

    • Ingrid says:

      ITA Lucifer.

      Timeline:
      Edin trip: oct 13 & 14
      Gay experimentation news: oct 15&16
      Daily Fail upgraded the Edin trip to “asking for her hand”: oct 19 (plant)
      Quaglino’s: oct 19 (staged)
      Really PissyBatch: flaunt party oct 20
      15 days later the engagement was announced.

    • Claire says:

      You have me until LFF. Up until late August the timeline is fairly solid: he was playing the field, regardless of his true intent. From that point on it’s pure speculation. We still don’t know who is pulling the strings, if anyone. We don’t even know the goings on behind his anger/frustration. We might have it wrong. But the whole Edinburgh trip is fishier and fishier in retrospect. Also, it could be purely coincidental but those DM proposal rumours predated the Out interview. You’d think HW’s people would have been on his case by the time he was giving interviews to be published during the campaign, and would have told him not to mention anything of the sort. I still wonder whether the DM story was a plant to get the engagement wheels rolling: didn’t the rumours start with senyorita contacting the tabs on twitter to say he’d gone to propose? (I’m also curious what people’s thoughts on senyorita are: is she an obsessed fan or PR info clearinghouse?)

      How’s this for an experiment. One of us creates a twitter account and contacts all the journos she did with a fake rumour (not necessarily about BC, about anyone). Let’s see if the tabs pick it up: if they don’t, it means there’s a good chance the tabs made some calls and found it doesn’t have legs. If they called around after senyorita’s tweets, and senyorita is a PR shill, they’d have gotten either a confirmation or a kind of waffling to indicate it had some legs. Catch my drift?

      Someone on tumblr broke down his actions that show how ambitious he is with his career and how he’d easily be okay with pulling off this sort of thing, so let me ask this. Consider he proposed of his own will for Oscar season with no heart to really marry her, and he’s told no one? It makes him a bit ruthless but thought I’d put it out there. This is the guy who cleverly manipulated a hijacker once and likely saved his life by it. He’s clearly good at making people believe what he wants them to for his benefit, and under pressure.

      • Ingrid says:

        Great post, Claire (as always).

        The DM story IMO was either A. a plant or B. PR got the engagement idea from it (“you know what, let’s just confirm that. They did the back story for us”).

        The fact his PR used the same column (girl about the town) for JR piano lessons to counteract Eddie’s wedding and timing with the gay thing would back up the former, loose back story the latter (they though that article was enough proof that this thing is legit, no need to do more)

        I dont think this is BC working on his own. He is clearly very uneasy with the GAG. I would not be suprised if Harvey acted without BC’s consent, however. The BIFA speech, people. If HW can tank his own movies when he doesn’t get his way, he can post a fake engagement notice.

      • Claire says:

        Thanks Ingrid 🙂 I forgot about the piano lesson story. Oh goodness.

        I can’t tell whether he’s uncomfortable with the engagement or uncomfortable publicising it, though (or third scenario: something else entirely is making him unhappy). The key to what’s going on here hinges on this distinction, when you come down to it.

      • Lucifer says:

        @claire i did not read ur last para earlier . ITA 1000% with u. HE Can be a manipulative person..People pleasure person’s are generally controlling or in this case manipulating.. ITA that this might be the case totally. Took a hint frm Sherlock. 😀

      • gg says:

        Here’s a timeline I am working on. Anything this add?
        Feb 2014: TWC buys disti rights to TIG
        April 17: Showbiz Spy runs “secret girlfriend” story
        May 22-June 1: Hay Festival
        June 8: French Open
        June 17: Rebecca Eaton says it’s time for Cumberbitches to move on
        late June/July: BC in Boston area filming Black Mass, then at SDCC
        Aug. 3: BC photographed on holiday in Italy, seen with brunette possibly SH
        Aug. 20: BC attends the NT. Spotted in the lobby after the play with a woman with long blonde hair
        Aug. 28: BC attends Secret Cinema in London with Loo Brealey and her bf.
        Aug. 29: SH is part of a group outing (with BC and most of the Sherlock cast) to see Martin Freeman in Richard III.
        Sept. 14: Girlfriend revealed as Sophie in the Daily Mail
        Sept. 27: James Rhodes wedding
        Oct. 8: LFF premiere of The Imitation Game (first appearance in public but not “together”)
        Oct. 15: “gay experimentation” stories hit the press in wake of Out interview
        Oct. 18: Benedict and Sophie papped arriving at Quaglino’s
        Nov. 5: Engagement announcement in the Times

      • HBIC says:

        First he’s naive, now he’s manipulative?!? Those two things do not go together.

        WTF, people?

      • Ingrid says:

        gg, I would add Telluride and TIFF because BC and TIG became Oscar frontrunners after those festivals. This whole mess started after that.

        Also, SH was in Scotland in July or August when BC was in Italy(?) ot somewhere. They were “dating” then, if we believe the 5-month timeline. BC was in Ireland for his bday with Acklands and Loo.

      • gg says:

        Damn, and you know what happened the VERY same day as Telluride? Benedict, Sophie and the Sherlock crew went to see Richard III. The same day!

      • Peridot says:

        gg, it might be worth mentioning that at TIFF (when that deplorable woman asked to “feast” on him) he responded “I’m taken.” Was he referring to SH?

      • Soothy says:

        @peridot.

        Nope. From the video it was 100% obvious that he was joking and referring to Keira.

  59. Lucifer says:

    4 days NO bendy threads. WHOA!! hope we dnt get any until new yr..

  60. scarf girl says:

    Regarding possible SH projects….Phantom Limb did a two week residency in Nashville at a new avant garde venue called OZ in July of 2014. Phantom Limb is debuting Memory Rings at OZ in either June or July of 2015. Believe it is a labor intensive project. Small world.

  61. Dakota M. says:

    @HBIC
    HBIC says:
    December 26, 2014 at 11:34 pm
    @blended
    You are doing him a disservice by thinking that he’s that naive. He’s not. He’s been acting long enough to know how the game is played out in Hollywood.

    Not that naive? Two words. Neutron Cream

    • HBIC says:

      Wow. You really showed me just how insanely naive he is with that one event that happened to him on set. B/c that one time thing defines EVERYTHING he has done in his entire life.

      I have been schooled.

      • Felice says:

        Patrick Stewart also trolled him hard after he accepted Khan. Sit down.

        Google “Brent Spiner, Patrick Stewart, and Benedict Cumberbatch.”

        Sherlock crew pranks him too. Martin says he is easy.

        And even if I am wrong, we are ignoring the more important question. Why do you think you know him more?

      • Lucifer says:

        LOL

      • moodgirl says:

        BC may not be as naive about show biz as we would all think. He’s been exposed to it for a while.

      • Dakota M. says:

        @HBIC

        Many people who actually know him have said he’s a bit too trusting. Pardon me for assuming that people who have actually met the man may know more about the man than random people on the internet. My apologies.

      • j says:

        @moodgirl

        it may be less true naivety and more taking to people too fast and therefore trusting/believing when he shouldnt even though hes aware of the risk. my cousin is like that, an eternal optimist. sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesnt (like pessimism, I suppose)

        i will agree a lot of people who know him say he is too trusting

  62. scarf girl says:

    GG reply in wrong place, but yes, I think she is **really** close to the group. I am content to just sit back and watch. Bet there will not be new posts for a while.

  63. Alice says:

    Annick has posted some more. Starts off with the altar pic, then two shots of S being all snuggly wuggly (with people other than BC), then a shot of Ben with a big smile(no SH in sight, of course he looks happy).

    • Felice says:

      she changed her url again

    • scarf girl says:

      Well, I stand corrected re she wouldn’t post for a while. But she had to change her url. You could still do a search for the blog outside of tumblr and it wasn’t locked down. Changing the url is how access could be controlled. And why is it so important to control access? What a tangled web we weave…..

      • Claire says:

        I hope youre taking screencaps of all this scarfgirl. Would it be too much troub to ask you to start a tumblr to document all the evidence? He and his people need to be made aware of this

        Just curious, has this tumblr “predicted” anything correctly in the past w its postings? Also link to the person who csi’ed something pls?

  64. Alice says:

    @felice. Changed to what? I have it on “follow” so I can check it periodically. That’s what came up for me – that P/NY/L tumblr. Does she have a different one?

  65. Lucifer says:

    Did they really had a Christmas 🎅 wedding 💒?

  66. Lucifer says:

    *have.pardon my mistake

  67. Ash says:

    From twitter – sorry, no screens. Someone’s mom works in Heathrow, Ben was seen with SH there today. “So, my mum works at the airport and happened to be serving Benedict Cumberbatch and his fiancée. She said to him ‘You’re my favourite in Doctor Who!’Even when he asked ‘Have you seen Sherlock?’ She still didn’t realise her mistake.” Enjoy your popcorn and expect beach and bikini photos, ladies.

    • Alice says:

      If he feels she’s the best he can do he has very low self esteem and I feel a certain sorrow for him.

      • moodgirl says:

        The sad part is he knows what a good relationship feels like because he had successful pairings with OP and AJ. How could he have so much trouble in a rocky relationship and still accept it, it’s not like he’s never had a girlfriend who made him happy. It’s like dumping the man who treats me like a queen and marrying the man who makes me miserable.

    • Gracie says:

      Why is always someone’s mum, dad, aunt who saw something? *baffled*

      • MissMary says:

        I side eye any and all 2nd and 3rd hand sightings of late, esp as it always seems to be teens or uni drama students who just *happen* to have a relative who saw them together, but first hand accts always seem to lack his plus one.

    • Ingrid says:

      I couldn’t find that tweet or anything related to that anywhere, Ash?

      But I’m hoping they will spend more time together. It will def speed up the break up process, LOL.

      • Gracie says:

        That’s a very positive way of looking at their time spent together (which is minimum), LOL.

      • Ash says:

        Ingrid, sorry, it was tumblr post. Here it is.

        http://taurusronnie.tumblr.com/tagged/benedict-cumberbatch

      • Ingrid says:

        I’m a romantic, Gracie. 😀

        But honestly, let’s play a game called This Is Real (at least some of it). How in earth they had the time to get to know each other well enough to get married? And why he chose a woman who brings out the worst in him? It should be the opposite.

        Ash, thanks. Brave couple, these two. Flying on a same plane and everything.

      • Soothy says:

        Why can’t he just some quiet time in the country he claims to love? I guess being seen is more important right now.
        Good to see him being present with his family as he claimed he wanted to be. Yet more BS.

      • moodgirl says:

        @Ingrid – There’s no way these two had time to get to know each other before the engagement because it was PR based. But if the engagement is real then maybe they are using this time to get to know each other and move forward.

      • gg says:

        But there’s no date mentioned at all, on that post. Could have been any time (or in La-La Land, most likely)

      • Gracie says:

        @Ingrid, you mean This is Real like the mascara, LOL? I can’t imagine why someone is willingly doing this to themselves, given the way those two look around each other. All the nannies trying to convince me that it’s real love need to get their prescription re-checked, or if this is what real love likes like, that answers the question why I am still single, and gladly so. 🙂 But for a laugh let’s do this. After all, it’s almost impossible for them to find each other, with extraordinary difficulty – was that what he said?

      • Mikasa says:

        still waiting on those pap pics from miami…
        But if he’s barely recognized in the UK then there’s less of a chance he gets seen in the US, unless they’re his fan. At least that mom noticed the Invisible fiance’.
        I believe BC sees something in SH (just like he saw something in KB and the Russian) and is running on a timeline(kids by 40) and pressure from mom and realizing friends who are settling. Same for SH and if she wants kids as well she better hurry and grab what she can. I also think she’s the only one who is able to put up with him. SH doesn’t seem to mind being left alone for long periods which works for him, but it seems like every time they’re separated, they have to re-introduce themselves again or something?! And that’s what the weird indifference and lack of chemistry is. I agree with what all of the above said and this relationship has been going ON and OFF since May that’s why it seems very rocky.
        Ingrid, worst case scenario: they get to know each other and finally fall in love with each other.
        Sometimes it just takes time, especially with someone who’s willing to stick with you thru thick and thin.
        BC is definitely a keeper for sticking with her, despite her bad attitude.

      • moodgirl says:

        @Gracie – This reminds of a lecture a co-worker – a guy – gave me after I complained about a man that I was constantly struggling with. My co – worker said that people expect relationships to be half ugly and angry, argumentative and rude, make you feel bad and cry and if not we don’t think it’s real. In reality you may have ups and downs but if it’s mostly downs and all you do is feel bad “you’ve got the wrong one baby.”

        Best lecture I ever got and the next day I dumped the guy and moved on. I love talking to men because they know the deal. Too bad we don’t have a guy poster on this site to give his point of view, I bet he would hit the nail on the head.

      • moodgirl says:

        @Mikasa – The only thing SH sees in BC are dollar signs and an opportunity not to have to pimp herself out for jobs. People who love don’t treat their loved one the way she treats BC, especially putting his career and professional reputation in jeopardy and treating his management and family member like shit.

        SH is immature and selfish and there is something really wrong with him to accept her. Maybe she is still single, where she should be a catch in her social class, because she is an ass.

        Edit – I don’t think BC saw a thing in KB but his Richard did.

      • Lucifer says:

        blindingly obvious question is, if this woman doesn’t recognize Benedict Cumberbatch then how the hell does she recognize his fiancee?

    • **sighs** says:

      I thought he was already in Miami? He really must be Dr Who with all that time traveling. 😷

    • Oh Hey says:

      No pictures, no descriptions, could have been Emily his PA for all she knew, she didn’t even know who HE was. Many grains of salt needed.

      • Lucifer says:

        All twitter/tumblr sightings are true. DONTCHA know??LOL

      • Ingrid says:

        Yes, the internet is all true. All of it.

        If this is “get papped” trip, SH of course is with him. And those photos will be released on monday or tuesday (not during the weekend or New Years, as we all know. PR 101)

        On DM yesterday,I saw at least 4 celeb pap pics from the caribbean. Just saying… (Also loved the Amalooney pics. Casamigos logo in every one. Staged much? LOL)

    • Lucifer says:

      i totally think that was a JOKE

  68. Felice says:

    Instagram alert. Sogo submission shows her on a guys lap. It’s a TBT but still. More relaxed with that dude than at church.

    ETA: Taken in August. Even if it’s platonic, it will give leverage to the inevitable “trouble in paradise” articles.

    • Ingrid says:

      Yeah. Looks like Scotland? Maybe it was taken during the August trip when BC was in Greece? Pure speculation of course.

      Speaking of social media and SoGo: she reposted the screen of her Facebook. Under education it lists St Paul but not Oxford. Weird if she graduated, right? (She didn’t, I’m sure)

    • Claire says:

      Oooh this is getting rather fun. Sitting in a guys lap isn’t normal when you’re in a relationship with someone else. can one of us send it to the tabs a la senyorita? I’m not joking btw, I really mean it.

      • moodgirl says:

        The tabs aren’t going to rock this boat.

      • Soothy says:

        Tbh, as much as he’s driving me nuts right now and I don’t agree with the way any of this is playing out, I wouldn’t want to cause any media trouble for him.

      • Felice says:

        not yet anyway

      • Claire says:

        One never knows until one tries

      • gg says:

        I feel like some Bizzarro World Woodward and Bernstein LOL

      • moodgirl says:

        Maybe they weren’t exclusive then. From what we can see he was seeing different women as well.

      • Claire says:

        If you’re not exclusive in late august, who proposes and accepts by early Nov? Esp when by all appearances you’re not in love?

        Gg i’ll be bernstein!

      • MissMary says:

        GG: Bizarro WOrld Woodward and Bernstein needs to be the name of an alt rock band. the imagery is too perfect.

      • moodgirl says:

        I thought we all agree that the engagement is for PR? Exclusivity is not an issue, it was the situation they were trying to satisfy.

      • scarf girl says:

        I swear, if pieces of this thing end up in that play about social media and blurring lines between private life and public I will not be shocked. It isn’t just the wtfery about how they act but about how social media is reacting around them (hides under blanket knowing she has been a guilty participant). Contradictory Twitter sightings; private pictures seemingly passed to PR Twitter accounts; blogs that change url every time they are challenged….it’s almost a Charlie Kauffman script.

  69. Madly says:

    I leave for a week for a cruise and all I get when I return is a photo of them trying to get attention in a church? Come on. And I am laughing at the idea of him praying in a church.

    • Claire says:

      haha you do make a good point. I tend to think it’s legit and not staged though. Madly, we were saying you were likely the lady on here just after the announcement who’d worked for a mid-tier PR firm in Hollywood and based on your experience you said this was all PR. Was that in fact you?

      • Madly says:

        Not pr firm, but have worked in the industry.

        Still in the showmance camp. How long have people been complaining that she is always leaning away from him, then we get pics where she is over the top all over him? Come on. This is getting funny.

      • **sighs** says:

        IKR? I just laugh at everything now. It’s like a colossal joke.

      • Lucifer says:

        that’s why i come here everyday. I want more pics and more jokes.

  70. Alice says:

    I just forced myself to watch the entire 4 minutes + of Epitaph and I now know why his friends have maintained dead silence on this. They’ve all seen that and her other videos and they are embarrassed as hell for him. Probably can’t face him. I’d love to hear Amanda’s review of Soph’s work.
    But, honestly, if he wants to appear as serious actor man, hooking up with someone whose talent is on the Pamela Anderson level won’t cut it, IMO.

    • Claire says:

      Hey I think Pamela Anderson is a cool chick compared to this lady. PA doesn’t seem to take herself that seriously and she speaks out on sexual abuse.

      • Alice says:

        And she was quite good on Home Improvement. I can’t come up with any stellar SH performances.

        Was the white hair flipping girl showing ta-tas and more SH or someone else in Epitaph?

      • HBIC says:

        I love Pamela Anderson! I used to watch V.I.P., and I thought that show was hysterical.

  71. Mikasa says:

    Perhaps they went to Miami to discuss negotiations re. the arrangement with HW as well as his next PR strategy…which could be MARRIAGE!! They might even stage a MOCK WEDDING!!
    So what are the chance of this happening? Can HW even push them to go that far??
    It’s quite possible they might elope in Miami and then BOOM! Surprise!! Another shocking announcement!!! Please don’t forget to vote for Benedict Cumberbatch pre-Oscar nomination… because Harvey said so. Plus divorce seems easier if they marry there, he might even get to keep most of his assets. 🙂
    Their engagement is Old News now. They’ll be pushing for a new narrative in order to keep relevant. Brace yourselves everyone!

  72. Gracie says:

    Jesus, 700+ comments!

    • Angie says:

      This thread has the potential for 1000 comments I think, LOL

      • Ingrid says:

        AA voting starts tomorrow. I’ve a hunch Harvey is making sure BC is in the news so we’ll be getting a new thread tommorrow. Brace yourselves…

        (Hoping I’m wrong because it will be something ridiculous again. Vacay photos most likely…)

      • Angie says:

        I know, it feels like constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop……

      • MissMary says:

        @Ingrid: I’m betting we see him at an industry-NYE-party-disguised-as-a-private-‘do soon.

  73. Angie says:

    An update, it turned out there’re at least three sightings from CN people who r in Edinburgh, one more in the church, and one in a, according to the comments, M&S.

    They were gathered by another big public account and was posted in the afternoon on 26 Dec (CN local time).

    And it seems WB link is not allowed here.

    • Alice says:

      Brain not working this a.m. What’s an M&S?

      • Ingrid says:

        Marks & Spencer (department store).

        He really was on Grand Tour of Please Spot Me.

      • **sighs** says:

        I’m surprised he didn’t decorate himself with a strand of Xmas lights and shirt with his name on it. And her in a shirt with an arrow pointing to her side saying, I’m with benedict cumberbatch. (And *fiancee* on the back like a footballer)

      • Angie says:

        It’s that sort of small supermarket of M&S, the post didn’t actually say it’s M&S, but people in the comment recognise it, not just one, at least three as far as I saw. One even said it’s on one of the main street.

      • Felice says:

        Love those M&S brand white cheddar wotsits 😉 It was one on a main street too.

    • gg says:

      Thanks Angie, it is up on SoGo now. Is he with Sophie’s brother in M&S?

    • Mikasa says:

      Oh dear…Benophie Daily is working overtime! It’s up on her site already!!

  74. anon says:

    OK-REAL conspiracy theory. Sherlock starts shooting soon (I think the 6th). So where’s the Sherlock hair? We’re all so busy discussing the wtfry that we’re missing what’s in plain sight – no Sherlock curls! ROTFLMAO!

    • **sighs** says:

      I know! What are they going to do? You can’t cut off the Sherlock curls? the humanity!

    • Angie says:

      So maybe that photoshopped-in-a-hurry holmes and watson photo is true? They’re going to do some JB style victorian AU? I miss the Sherlock curls ; (

    • gg says:

      I think they are doing the special in the style of Grenada Holmes, if you check out the wardrobe on that preview photo they posted it looks just like Jeremy Brett and David Burke. So Benedict could have short hair! Or maybe they are just messing with us….

  75. **sighs** says:

    YOu know, it’s actually pretty brilliant, what they’re attempting to do. They don’t even really have to look loved up. I’m completely in the PR camp. They don’t have to look loved up for the more invested fan. They merely have to be in the same place at the same time. And some cumber crazy will hunt like mad to find a tweet or a pic. They then spread it to all the major blogs and tumblrs. It then gets picked up by some not so major news sources, and then onto the bigger media.
    It’s what they’ve been doing since the beginning. It was simply that in the beginning it wasn’t picking up much steam with the cumber crazies because it was obvious they barely liked each other. Hence the engagement. Even though we who dissect everything can tell something is off, it doesn’t look off to the normal public. And that is what the plan is.
    This is why all the public stuff. It doesn’t have to be lovey dovey. They just have to seen so someone can tweet it. And if she is draping herself on him and someone gets a pic, all the better.
    So staged and so funny.
    You notice as well that they each got a week or so to do their own things and not be pictured at all. Now we’re getting sightings like mad. They’re back to work!

    • Lucifer says:

      BEN knows he is internet famous and he is using IT at his own advantage. He is SMART.

      • Ingrid says:

        Sighs: ITA. I love the fact that they (and fans) have set the bar so low now. One sighting together and everyone goes “It’s real!! This is not a drill!” Beyond ridiculous…

        Lucifer: his HFA speech sealed the deal for me. The man is a marketing genius. (he spent the time selling the movie, not listing random names most people don’t recognize. )

      • **sighs** says:

        And once it gets to the larger media outlets it’s just a picture. It hasn’t been dissected and picked apart. It’s just, “look at the lovely couple! So in love! True love 4evah!” And people swallow it hook, line and sinker.

      • gg says:

        They probably are at the Standard in Miami – in completely separate buildings! LOL

    • Milly T says:

      Sighs- of all the comments I have read about this engagement, yours make the most sense to me. I agree with you, and I also think that HW would do about anything to promote one of his films. What we see from the outside of Hollywood is all glamor , but behind closed doors is another matter. I think it is possible, that things have gotten out of control for BC. It is important to him to at least be nominated for an Oscar, but at what price.

    • MissMary says:

      **sighs**: So, so, so, on point!

    • Soothy says:

      This is what I was saying the other day, in this exact thread.
      It’s not about big papped exclusives, it’s about being seen. He knows about social media and he’s using it.

    • scarf girl says:

      Very articulate post Sighs. It is really bizarre to watch. Do any of the rest of you wonder if BC will have any lasting regret from this? Clearly I misjudged him, but I am not sure he is thick skinned enough to let it all roll off once Oscar over.

    • Megan says:

      Well, when you have people fighting over what sandwich he is ordering, it really doesn’t take much to set things off.

  76. Ingrid says:

    And we have tomorrow’s new thread. BC is rumored to be among The Queen’s New Year honours. (With Eddie)

    Maybe OBE?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/england-rugby-legend-jonny-wilkinson-4882163

    If this is real, well that was fast. If not, PR is working overtime.

    • moodgirl says:

      If it’s PR would BC and ER be mentioned together?

    • Soothy says:

      Watching the nannies debate whether he’s getting a knighthood has had me rolling on the floor.

      • Ingrid says:

        Oh dear, now they think he’s getting a knighthood? *facepalm*. Maybe in the year 2050… Even OBE seems too soon. #notthesamething

        Moodgirl, IDK. Maybe mirror just listed some names, maybe they called reps and Karon said “watch this space”? LOL. Buckingham palace for sure didn’t “leak” that.

      • Felice says:

        Isn’t there…..a process to get knighted?

      • moodgirl says:

        If BC gets an OBE he will never get rid of SH.

      • Soothy says:

        You have to have a career of Ian mckellen length and standard to get a knighthood. Just shows how delusional the nannies truly are.

  77. Ingrid says:

    Little OT but I’m reading The Bridgertons series (stupid Regency romance fluff but passes the time). The first book tells a story of couple who fake an engagement (there are gossip columns and everything). The third book’s couple are called Benedict and Sophie.

    I’m laughing so much…

    • Alice says:

      And last night SNL repeated the MF episode. The wedding segment was still hilarious, and there was even a Midnight Mass segment, ha!! And no mention of Sherlock. Seems so obvious, no matter how the nannies spin it.
      And speaking of nannies, there’s a little flame war on imdb right now. One poster accuses another of being fairyspit and cumbertweets and a whole bunch of other sockpuppet accounts. This is on the way-out theory thread. And naturally, they’re accepting that they’re in Miami for a vacation. And they’re high fiving because he hasn’t been doing much campaigning, unlike all the others.

      • Soothy says:

        Have they finally lost their tiny minds? In what world is he not doing much campaigning?
        Perhaps the others aren’t pimping out their own version of a private life as he is, so they may need to just schmooze at industry parties that bit more.

      • Ingrid says:

        I love the fact that they are tearing each other apart now. So the united front isn’t as strong as they would like to believe.

        If you don’t count the GAG as campaigning (which it is 100% and they don’t count it), it appears as BC hasn’t done much. But the GAG is the cornerstone of his campaign. Oh the denial…

        Also, his nom was sure. Now they are going for the win. Sh*t is going to hit the fan soon…

      • MissMary says:

        @Ingrid: Now would be the perfect time to start a “time apart” narrative.

    • Gracie says:

      Damn, I forgot the second Bridgertons son’s name was Benedict… Tell me which book is your favourite once you’re done, please? Mine was Colin and Penelope. 🙂 Maybe we can have a little side book club going on the PR train.

      • Ingrid says:

        I agree, we need to add a library car to our PR train.

        Just finished the first one (Daphne). It was good and the plot, how ridiculous it seemed, was so much more believable than this fake gagment. LOL. Almost died laughing when the columnist wrote “the couple only seem to spend time together at public events.”

        I’ll keep you posted.

      • Gracie says:

        @Ingrid, nothing gets past Lady Whistledown! She’s my favourite out of the entire series!

    • MissMary says:

      Omg I love the Bridgerton series! *romance novel fistbump* Now I wonder if HW’s new PR lead is a fan, lol.

    • Gracie says:

      @Ingrid, @MissMary, I think we three just outed ourselves as penny dreadful readers, LOL.

  78. Soothy says:

    Another thing that got my nerves jangling –
    Last night on tumblr, someone pointed out the only reason she’s being touted in the media as an ‘Opera Director’, is because of the avant garde, experimental mash up of ‘Rape of Lucretia’ she collaborated on. That’s it. And she’s being credited in the press as AN.OPERA.DIRECTOR.
    I cannot begin to imagine how infuriating that would be for actual operatic directors, I really can’t.

    • scarf girl says:

      Yep. If she has no talent to back this PR bulk up of her CV, wouldn’t the theatre world rip her apart? It strikes me as being (in great scheme of life I have limited exposure, so forgive if stereotypical assumption) very backbiting. Maybe I know insecure people and have watched All About Eve too many times.

      Even if backed by HW, what happens when he walks away and you have only your own two legs to stand on?

      • B says:

        Long-time reader, first time poster. Forgive me if I’m stepping on toes.

        I’ve been seeing/reading the bulked-up CV complaints for months and couldn’t fathom what was wrong. Now I realise that I was looking at it from the Theatre perspective. CVs in Theatre are not at all the same as employment CVs, though I understand why people would treat them equally, if they don’t know the difference.

        Production teams (actors, back-stage crew, management teams, etc) often ‘bulk up’ their bios (biographies) for different productions. Typically, they either write their own bios or give some list of information to the Playbill (performance program) editors for print. For instance, even if they didn’t do a lot of the work to establish a Theatre company, they’ll list themselves as one of the founders, because 1) saying “founder” fits better when space is as limited as bio space is; 2) “founder” is more impressive; 3) Technically speaking, if you helped to bring the idea of a specific kind of theatre to life from the beginning, you are a founder; 4) it’s not lying, just not giving all the details about what a person’s role might have been. (Most times, people don’t care about such details anyway. They’ll read the bios maybe once, get an idea of the performer and never look at it again.)

        Now, this isn’t to say that all bios are ‘bulked up’, but the vast majority are – in one way or another. Also, a lot of things get left out of Theatre bios. Again for space. (For instance, you may know a certain performer from a certain fandom, but that information may not be listed in the bio. This could be due to space limits or because they like to keep their different careers separate. Example: a certain actor might not want her voice-over work for a cartoon mentioned for various reasons.)

        Also, sometimes bios are edited down. The editing isn’t done by the performer. Such editing is done by the editors of the Playbills, editors make mistakes or sometimes end up ‘bulking up’ a bio, not to make something sound more impressive, but simply because space is limited, so they change a long sentence into something that can be described in two or three words. Those in the Theatre world know this happens all the time and so we’re not really bothered by such things. Also, we know what the person actually means when they make such statements.

        Now, if you want to start talking about CVs for employment, those are a different story. But rarely would you apply for directing, other such production roles the same way you apply for jobs in other industries. In the art world, your portfolio is more important than your CV (IE: great, you’ve done all these roles, that doesn’t mean that you style will fit in with a given production or specific theatre company).

        To be honest, I’d be interested to see her portfolio. While I haven’t liked anything of hers I’ve seen so far, I’d like to see how her portfolio matches up with her bios.

        Anyway, I hope that sheds some light on some of the “CV Bulking” issues.

      • Ingrid says:

        Thanks B. Very good information and welcome!

        TBH, I’m more annoyed how media painted her, comparing her to Princess D and Amal, just with more accomplishments. Those articles were insulting. Hollywood reporter used the word “impressive fiancee” on it’s headline. I became Variety reader after that.

        Ugh…

        Maybe that was what HW offered her? Good media?

      • scarf girl says:

        B- that is…..interesting.

        Is it normal for these CVs to be broadcasted widely to publications such as Time magazine? I understand the bulk up if you are keeping it in the community. I do not understand it outside of that community. And clearly, most readers here are picking up what has been released to mainstream publications and viewing it from the employment perspective.

      • B says:

        @Ingrid Thanks for the welcome.

        I’m really annoyed with how the media is portraying her. It’s like they’re taking the bio and bulking it up even more. Which is another reason why I’d like to see her portfolio. While reviews should not be trusted 100% – whether positive or negative – stacking so many negative reviews against a raving media portrayal makes me question pretty much everything about her production work.

        A positive media image doesn’t help one’s porfolio. If you have a production concept that doesn’t lineup with the company you want to work with, I don’t care if you’re Trevor Nunn, you’re not going to get that job. (Note: Mr Nunn would do his research and make sure his concept matches up with a given company. I use him as an example because people have heard of him.😉)

        ETA:
        @Scarf Girl It’s hard to tell if the different media took it upon themselves to do that research or if they were provided some information from some PR team.

        I know when doing press releases for our theatre productions, we send the media A LOT of information and they cherry pick what to publish. Sometimes, if it’s a paper we’ve worked with a lot in the past, and they need something longer than what we’ve supplied, they’ll bulk up the article with info from previous articles on their own.

        All that said, what I work with is nothing close to the scale of something like BC. In that, BC/HW PR people might have “final edits” rights that would never be granted to us . Though, having read some of the articles… Maybe not, because wow some have been bad.

      • scarf girl says:

        B-thank you for taking the time to reply.

        I don’t know if there is an untainted CV source for SH. The only ones I know are on Wikipedia and IMDB. Both can be edited by anyone I believe.

        Many of my questions came from comparisons about how SH’s involvement with specific projects stacked up against descriptions of same project by other members of the same company with similar roles in the production. Specifically, Boileroom. The Terrific Electric was do-directed by SH and another woman. Not the same write up in CVs to my pedestrian eye.

        Thank you for the education! Appreciated.

      • B says:

        @Scarf Girl Anytime. Trying to use IMDB or Wiki is stupid at best, because as you know, anyone can edit them.

        What would be most helpful (and I’ve seen one post for one production – either here or on Tumblr) are PDFs or scans of the Playbills for the various shows she’s done. While some bulking still happens, it’s occurring through the lens of the proper industry. Websites, unless archived, can be easily changed as well, so I don’t trust them too much either.

        I’ve learned not to trust anything in the media. Hell, when we’ve sent “print ready” press releases, sometimes the editors still change things – like the cost of tickets – because they think they know more than us. I can’t tell you the clusterf**k that kind of error creates. Take that kind of error and multiply it by the pressure of a BC/HW/Oscar related article and then imagine rather than ticket prices it’s talking about a SGF/star’s engagement and that’s what we’re being fed by the media. That’s not to say they’re wrong about everything, but it’s just to point out they’re not always right.

      • gg says:

        B – I found a PDF of a program for a show she did in 2007 (?) in NYC with Lacuna. there is a link to it on SoGo

      • B says:

        @gg. That might have been what I saw. With the holidays, I’ve been indulging myself in these places much more than I should. lol

    • MissMary says:

      I think I’d be less irked by the media saying “she’s an opera director” or whatnot if his camp/her camp said “Oh, that’s a mistake. I really/she really did ____.” Or if she/her PR/agent issued a CV that wasn’t full of “mistakes” and padded. Not necessarily on the news or something just on their site, or made a comment about how the media/fans are mistaken. But their silence tells me they’re fine with it and encouraging her portrayal as Super Sophie.

      • Ingrid says:

        Super Sophie makes Unicorn Benedict look good which makes TIG look good. Hence no corrections.

        But I honestly don’t get how the media arrived to their conclusion that she is Super Sophie even from her padded CV. So It was pure PR involvement.

      • B says:

        I agree with Ingrid. Also, the general public (those the PR is aimed at) doesn’t really care if the media is exaggerating. Sophie isn’t a big enough name to worry about and outside of the Internet, neither is BC – I know people don’t like hearing that, but it’s true. Joe Public is only just now starting to recognise the guy with the unpronounceable name. And he looks so different in SHERLOCK or even STID compared to everything else, that I’m not sure they’d recognize him on the street.

        I was just thinking… If we want to compare BC’s career/campaign, what we need to do is to compare this moment in BC’s career (and the PR surrounding it) to Brad Pitt just around the time for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT (circa 1992). Sure the Internet was just starting back then, but as far as how promoting a young potential superstar, little has changed.

        I’m intentionally taking Pitt’s history pre-1994. Because INTERVIEW and LEGENDS are what made him a household name – in spite of any negative reviews and I’m not sure TIG will do that for BC unless he wins the Oscar.

  79. **sighs** says:

    (I may be mistaken) but, it doesn’t seem like octopussy has spent any time with any of his friends or family since the engagement? No theater outings or what have you. The only time I think I’ve seen her near any of his friends/family was at a premiere where she made the niece hold her clutch?
    Trying to keep them away from each other?
    😉

    • Felice says:

      Only Andrew Scott but apparently they already knew each other.

      • **sighs** says:

        When was he with both of them? I don’t remember.

      • Ingrid says:

        AS was pre-gagment. RIII play with Sherlock cast. To be fair, the happy couple weren’t spotted together post GAG apart from RC until xmas.

      • Alice says:

        It’s striking how at RC events BC seems to grab and smother colleagues in hugs, almost like they’re a lifeline(re AS at BIFA, I believe).

      • scarf girl says:

        Were there shots of SH and AS at ESA?

      • Oh Hey says:

        Alice, the difference between the intimacy and affection he shows for friends (get right in there down and dirty full on hug) and the total lack of affection and intimacy he shows with Sodious is night and day for me, you don’t fake that kind of affection with friends, they look like they can’t stand each other, don’t want to touch each other because of cooties and such. It’s sad.

    • Alice says:

      At Martin’s RIII, but supposedly didn’t go to after party. Papped with BC and AS at some restaurant/bar.

    • **sighs** says:

      I was referring to post engagement….. I don’t think there’s been any. And for someone who spends A LOT of time with his friends…. Just an observation for the “this is real” camp.

      • scarf girl says:

        No, I don’t think there have been. But candids with her brother after Xmas at a supermarket.

        And wouldn’t it be normal to go to the RIII after party especially as AS is a former co-worker?

      • Alice says:

        What I find most noteworthy is that his friends who used to casually mention him and post pics on twitter, e.g. James, Adam, Loo, have maintained dead silence since the engagment. In fact, I think Loo may have deleted some pictures. Everyone seems to be distancing themselves from this. Did he even get to spend any time at Christmas with his BFF, Adam? His sister? I hope he has some support sytem we don’t know about.

      • HBIC says:

        No one is saying that there’s no PR involved. All of these pap shots, horrible dresses and “sightings” clearly are. And they are both in on it (don’t think for a second I think that Ben isn’t innocent in all of this – he’s well aware of the deal).

        The question is whether or not they are currently or were dating at one point in time. He has some type of relationship with her, be it business, sexual or actual or all of the above.

        I stand by my gold digging comment, though. And that she’s awful. And I still think they would be faking it better if it was 100% PR. Something relationship wise went down between the two of them back in Nov, and we are seeing the aftermath of that drama now. I’d bet the farm on it.

      • **sighs** says:

        Notice he’s spending time with her family but she isn’t spending time with his. Or his friends. I bet they arent happy about it.

      • Felice says:

        Loo was asked about it but kinda danced around it. She said that she got tweets saying it should’ve been her but she didn’t say anything about how she felt about the engagement.

      • **sighs** says:

        @alice- I also wonder if maybe his friends feel used. If all those outings with his friends were for PR… I know I’d feel used and would be distancing myself from the whole mess.

      • Ingrid says:

        I truly think his friends are confused and mad/hurt. The GAG is 100% PR and most likely they found out about it from the times. Hence the silence.

        BC might also be distancing himself from his friends to avoid questions and/or doesn’t want to pull them into this mess.

      • Alice says:

        The Sherlock filming should be interesting. I thought I heard that the publicity pic was photoshopped – they were shot seperately and then sandwiched together.

      • Felice says:

        I’m sure everyone is fine with each other. Martin just hates being asked about him during HIS film press tour.

      • scarf girl says:

        The following statements and questions are based on what may be faulty assumptions. Ya’ll correct me if wrong.

        1) Are Loo and SH friends, or is that an urban myth that was created because both at Hay festival at the same time?
        2) I don’t follow Loo in Twitter, so don’t know what is normal for her. But wouldn’t it be normal to congratulate the two if you knew them both? Or is she more reserved?
        3) I do follow others on Twitter. Am I the only one who thinks the silence is weird? Initially, I thought they were asked to be silent. But even more vocal ones have been uncharacteristicly restrained when replying to rumors submitted by nannies. Just me? Over-analyzing?

        Alice, Sherlock filming will be very interesting indeed.

      • Ingrid says:

        Maybe the photoshopping was done because they had costume fittings on different days? Most likely they were.

        Loo used to tweet about BC but hasn’t after the GAG, IIRC. I love the pic of the three of them from Hay. Loo is so done when SH is trying to talk to her. LOL.

      • gg says:

        Mark Gatiss retweeted something that was commenting on how sexist the cover of the Daily Mail was…and of course it was the day Sophie was on the cover as the “future Mrs. Cumberbatch.” He made no mention of his obvious connection to MR. Cumberbatch, which I thought was very odd.

      • Gracie says:

        @gg, MG’s tweet actually read like subtle shade to me.

  80. Alice says:

    @scarfgirl. No Loo is not really reserved, pretty outspoken about causes she supports. She used to post quite a few pics of her and BC on set, at Hay, etc. as friends, that is, not on his coattails as all the annick/benophie posts are. She doesn’t do that now and where there used to be scores of pics of him now there are only a few. Deletion?

    • InvaderTak says:

      Who is Loo? I’m lost.

    • J says:

      tbh with people stating to tweet nasty stuff to his friends weeks back, idk how much id read into it. id avoid it

      • Soothy says:

        What nasty stuff? I’ve not heard anything about that. all I heard was people tweeting adam asking why he’s so miserable. Which is weird, but there’s always been weird fans tweeting inappropriate things on there. Block and move on.

      • j says:

        @soothy

        there were people tweeting ackland and rhodes (dunno about anyone else) links to nasty posts on all those gossip blogs that have sprung up on tumblr

        then there were tweets like ‘benedict is garbage’ basically

        i cringed pretty bad at it. not appropriate imo. if i were them id stop talking about him because i wouldnt want to encourage it. yeah you can block but jfc if i saw those tumblr blogs about my friend id be miffed and a little creeped out

      • Soothy says:

        Like I say, that’s always been the case. People have always tweetd weird stuff and I doubt they’ve even looked at it. As for Tumblr blogs, which do you mean? If you’re talking about the ones that are posting about this farcical little circus he has going on, then I wouldn’t say majority of the ones I’ve seen were ‘nasty’ as such, and it’s to be expected with the way he’s behaved, he’s invited it all in.
        Besides, I doubt they even bothered to click on what they were being linked to.
        And that doesn’t explain why they aren’t publicly supporting him.

  81. Koodles says:

    @scarf girl-I follow loo on Twitter. She is such an awesome person. See, I’d totally be fine if it were her that benedict was with. But, she is in a relationship with someone else. And idk about dating someone you work with as well.

    The only thing I know that she has said about the engagement was about the reactions that some sherlolly fans have made. she didn’t say “oh, I’m so happy for him” or congrats. But, she has also said she is very protective of him so that could be it as well. It is on some magazine

  82. Alice says:

    @ingrid. I thought Amanda tweeted that they were all there that day. Except Loo who was in NZ.
    And I loved that picture too.

    • scarf girl says:

      I also thought Amanda said all were there for the reading. Not sure when the picture was made but I assumed same day.

      Thank you all for answering my questions! If any of this screws with Sherlock, I will be very unhappy. I won’t tear my hair, put ashes on my face and walk around in a sackcloth but I will be unhappy.

  83. Alice says:

    @scarf girl. Same here. Don’t screw up Sherlock’s dynamic.

  84. Lucifer says:

    Can I ask why the love ❤ yyy couple 💑 was not seated together in the church ⛪ pics.???💔

  85. Alice says:

    Is Miami still up in the air? No confirmation?

    • MissMary says:

      Not yet…don’t jinx us, lol.

      • Alice says:

        Maybe we should all pretend we went over to the “real” side. Every time we point out something fishy they make an adjustment to their behavior.

        PS. Another imdb doubter who questions his statements about being present for family and his actions belying said statements. She’s getting slagged for it, of course. I have noticed that several long time posters are absent or showing up infrequently.

      • Ingrid says:

        Alice, I read that. It was one confusing thread. So he doesn ‘t always tell the thruth about his personal life but when it’s SH it’s def the absolute thruth.

        Help me out here, where’s the logic? They are The Andersons of BC fandom.

    • Peridot says:

      He hasn’t been seen in Miami because he doesn’t need to be seen. Maybe HW figures the Christmas pics were enough for now.

      • anon says:

        No. He hasn’t been seen because he just isn’t well known enough in the US to be recognized immediately, despite all the publicity re. the enGAGment!! Without pr help, he’s pretty much a nobody. This could be a test run for HW pr to determine their next move. Or perhaps they’re already planning and being schooled for their next pr stunt.

      • moodgirl says:

        Agreed. They are used to big name stars so they won’t recognize BC without help. If they show up at all it will be at parties or on someone’s yacht.

  86. tasha_nat says:

    I think “newly-engaged” Benedict has run its course for keeping up the PR onslaught. I wonder what new spin is going to come up with now that Oscar noms are starting…

    “Wedding plans?” Benedict already said it’ll be private (although with all the contradictions, I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a talking point).
    “Trying for a baby?/pregnancy rumors”?
    Maybe some “trouble in paradise”?
    Or more complaints about fame and invasion of privacy and throwing the cumberb!tches under the bus?

    I’ll be waiting…

    • Felice says:

      Trouble in paradise blaming the fans.

    • gg says:

      I wonder if it’ll be “papped in church” – which of course would give them an excuse to run the photos

    • Ingrid says:

      Trouble in Paradise would make this mess seem slightly more realistic and human. But that is very risky. I always remeber Sandra B’s win and the drama that followed literally the next day. Someone was paid to keep her mouth shut until the oscars. Break ups are not very good press for Oscars.

      Keaton and Eddie are now in the lead but I truly think Harvey is only getting started. He knew noms were sure thing so he is saving the big push until later. (Ads and behind the scenes). There is such thing as peaking too soon. Underdog status suits BC better.

      I’m just scared what he has in his sleeve. There will be false wedding rumors for sure. Aniston’s go to trick. Maybe the reason for the miami / caribbean getaway? (If that’s true)

      • Alice says:

        Maybe looking at property more believable than a 16 mil monstrosity.

      • tasha_nat says:

        @Alice – Oh, that’s also a good possibility. House hunting. But not in LA, maybe a bigger place in London. And then he can spout his rambly rambles on family and children. It would work well with the serious actor family man he’s trying to do.

  87. Lucifer says:

    All this is so much fun now, I might get depressed when its over 😀

  88. Angie says:

    I know maybe I’m too suspicious, so I think I’ll just post it here FYI.

    I go over the original OP of the church pics, that one with five pics, as I mentioned in SoGo, about the part the OP approached them, the words are very strange, it doesn’t sound like chinese tbh, more like a translation, so I thought the OP maybe from hk where local people usually speak Cantonese. But, it seems the OP is from mainland, north part of CN and it doesn’t seem to me he has the same problem in other posts.

  89. Gracie says:

    Angie, what was the ‘flipping the bird’ picture on Sogo about? Is that picture making rounds on cn social media as well as the enGAGment atm?

    Edit: sorry about the wrong place. On my phone and fingers are frozen.

    • Angie says:

      It was posted in a very big online forum early morning (07:26) on June 8, CN time. The poster is probably a friend of the OP, it said two girls was in a bistro in Paris previous night ( don’t know the exact date), they saw B coming in, they were very happy, smiled at him, than one of them took out the phone and did the sneaky photo. They said B flipped the bird, also said f**k off, twice. Because it’s quite noisy, they didn’t hear it the first time, and still smiled at him and he said the second.

      Yes, it caused much debate, as there r people don’t like him, said he is very rude, also, nannies and fannies said he was doing some blessing gesture not flipping the bird.

      The point is, people think hes rude to CN people so…