Benedict Cumberbatch is currently promoting The Roses, a (modernized) version of The War of the Roses, about a wealthy couple’s chaotic divorce. I was going to say that Benedict sort of fell off, but that’s not true. He’s part of the MCU (as Doctor Strange), and he’s working constantly. But a decade ago, Bendy was definitely a more buzzed-about, obsessed-over actor. It’s just not the same now. He probably prefers it that way. Well, as he promotes The Roses, he decided to talk about how Hollywood is very “wasteful.” He cites… food consumption, set-lighting and lack of recycled materials…?

Benedict Cumberbatch called Hollywood a “grossly wasteful industry” during an interview on “Ruthie’s Table 4” podcast. The Oscar nominee is no stranger to massive studio productions given his role as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Cumberbatch loves undergoing a “body transformation” for his work, he also says “it’s horrific eating beyond your appetite.”

“Going back to responsibility and resourcefulness and sustainability, it’s just like, ‘What am I doing? I could feed a family with the amount I’m eating,’” Cumberbatch said, noting he would eat five meals a day while getting into Doctor Strange shape, in addition to snacks like boiled eggs, almonds and cheese in between meals.

“It’s a grossly wasteful industry,” he continued. “Think about set builds that aren’t recycled, think about transport, think about food, think about housing, but also light and energy. The amount of wattage you need to create daylight and consistent light in a studio environment. It’s a lot of energy.”

Cumberbatch admitted that actors are routinely slammed and branded as hypocrites when they speak out in support of sustainability in Hollywood given how wasteful the industry is, but the actor noted that he tries to “push the green initiative” on his film sets as both an actor and a producer.

“You don’t have to give the crew plastic bottles,” he said as an example. If you’re in the middle of a desert and you can’t get glass bottles there, fair enough. But we’re in the 21st Century.”

[From Variety]

I’m sort of fine/whatever with Benedict talking about the lack of recycling and Hollywood’s energy-consumption, but I find it bizarre that he’s talking about his personal food consumption as an example of Hollywood’s “waste.” Like… first off, you’re playing Doctor Strange, not Thor. I’m sure Benedict wants to be in good shape, but is Hollywood “forcing” Benedict to eat five meals a day to be a ripped wizard? He’s not even complaining about the “waste” of craft services. Is it really wasteful if… people are actually eating the food and making the choice to bulk up for their jobs? Also: one of the most environmental-wasteful aspects of Hollywood currently is all of this AI sh-t and I kind of wish more people would talk about that.

Also: since Benedict cited “eating food to bulk up for a role” – which is really a personal choice – it’s kind of crazy that he doesn’t self-identify another personal choice with consumption/waste implications: having three children, like Benedict. I’m not against people having kids, but hey, he’s complaining about eating food for work!

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.