Benedict Cumberbatch, Transition Completed

by Lynnette Porter

  Cumberbatch’s ascent to film, television, theatre, and radio stardom may be described as the clichéd “meteoric rise to fame,” but the degree of his increased celebrity since 2010 is unprecedented among actors of his generation. Even celebrities who achieve “overnight” fame do not have the staying power his career has so far demonstrated. Yet Cumberbatch is treating stardom as he has every other aspect of his career: with his creative and professional needs in mind, despite what might be “expected” of him in London or Hollywood. No matter how many people wish to own him in some way, Benedict Cumberbatch is his own man, and a highly talented, career-savvy, and indelibly memorable one at that.

  297 Rebecka Schumann. “Benedict Cumberbatch Talks The Perils of Fame, The Magic of Acting.” International Business Times. 16 July 2014.

  298 “Stone-Cold, Drop-Dead, Fk-You Confidence.” Esquire. Nov. 2013, p. 101.

  299 Benedict Cumberbatch. Cheltenham Literary Festival. 6 Oct. 2012.

  300 Ibid.

  301 CityNews. “Raw Video: Benedict Cumberbatch Discusses 12 Years a Slave at TIFF.” 6 Sep. 2013.

  302 TIFF LiveStream. 12 Years a Slave red carpet. 6 Sep. 2013.

  303 Tom Butler. “Benedict Cumberbatch Scolds Journo for ‘Silly Questions.’” Yahoo UK Movie News. 9 Dec. 2013.

  304 British Film Institute. Sherlock. “The Empty Hearse.” 15 Dec. 2015. Several fan reports and videos (many removed within hours of the screening) support my interpretation of Cumberbatch’s reaction to questions. See “Sherlock Series 3 Preview @ BFI - The Empty Hearse,” London Reviews; Dr. Brooke Magnanti, “Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Fanfic: Don’t Mess with These Women (and Men),” Telegraph, 16 Dec. 2013.

  305 Adam Farasati. “Benedict Cumberbatch: The Next Great British Export?” Guardian. 6 Oct. 2013.

  306 Dunlop. YouTube. July 2014.

  307 “Benedict Cumberbatch Involved in Fight During Oscars Weekend - Report.” Hollywood.com. 12 Mar. 2014.

  308 “Benedict Cumberbatch Punched a Journalist to Defend Keira Knightley’s Honour.” Independent. 6 June 2014.

  309 Borys Kit, Kim Masters, Pamela McClintock, Alex Ben Block, Rebecca Ford, Michael O’Connell, Tim Appelo, & Scott Feinberg. “Golden Globes: Inside Sunday’s Bashes with Matt Damon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lady Gaga.” Hollywood Reporter. 13 Jan. 2014.

  310 William De Martigny & David Annand. “Behind the Shoot: Tertius Bune on Benedict Cumberbatch and Alice Eve.” GQ. 25 Mar. 2014.

  311 Graves, “’I Wish They’d Let Me Play Holmes!’”

  312 Los Angeles Times, “Benedict Cumberbatch Talks Sherlock, ‘Penguins of Madagascar’ at Comic-Con 2014.”

  313 “I Am Benedict Cumberbatch.” Reddit. 11 Oct. 2013.

  314 Rick Fulton. “Benedict Cumberbatch on Playing WikiLeaks Whistleblower Julian Assange: He’s No Hero He’s Just a Human Being.” Daily Record. 15 Sep. 2013.

  315 Margareta Lidskog. Email. 29 Oct. 2013.

  316 Lidskog, 23 June 2014.

  317 Lidskog, 27 June 2014.

  318 Keith Perry. “Benedict Cumberbatch to Feature as Madame Tussauds Waxwork.” Telegraph. 21 July 2014.

  319 Ibid.

  320 Ben Arnold. “Benedict Cumberbatch Colouring Book Unveiled.” Yahoo UK. 12 Mar. 2014.

  321 BATS Theatre Press Release. “Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die.” Scoop. 10 June 2014.

  322 David James. “Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and a New Face in Cardiff for Latest Sherlock Filming.” Wales Online. 17 Aug. 2013.

  323 Robert Bateman. “What If All Celebrities Followed Benedict Cumberbatch’s Lead?” The Politics Blog with Charles P. Pierce. Esquire. 19 Aug. 2013.

  324 “I Love Benedict Cumberbatch, But He’s Wrong to Pick On the Paps!” Now Daily. 19 Aug. 2013.

  325 “Sherlock Star Benedict Cumberbatch Questions Decision to Detain David Miranda.” Metro. 21 Aug. 2013.

  326 Ibid.

  327 Ellis, “Benedict Cumberbatch - From Star Trek to Sherlock to Oscar Night Sex Symbol.”

  328 Francesca Menato. “Was Cool Britannia Another Benedict Cumberbatch Protest?” Handbag. 2 July 2014.

  329 Leo Barraclough. ”Benedict Cumberbatch to Star in Blood Mountain (EXCLUSIVE).” Variety. 28 Jan. 2014.

  330 “EFM: Benedict Cumberbatch to Climb Sergei Bodrov’s ‘Blood Mountain.’” Deadline. 28 Jan. 2014.

  331 “Benedict Cumberbatch Does Wookiee Impression.” The Graham Norton Show. BBC America. 17 Oct. 2013.

  332 Robert Yaniz, Jr. “Gary Oldman to Direct Benedict Cumberbatch & Ralph Fiennes in ‘Flying Horse’?” Screen Rant. 16 Feb. 2014.

  333 Caleb Williams. “RUMOR: Marvel Studios Wants Benedict Cumberbatch?!” Superhero Movie News. 10 Dec. 2013.

  334 Mike Fleming, Jr. “Marvel Starts ‘Doctor Strange’ Search: Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch Early Wish-Listers.” Deadline. 6 June 2014.

  335 Bea Kaye. “Alfonso Cuaron in Talks to Direct J. K. Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Series.” Gamma Squad. 20 May 2014.

  336 Ben Dowell. “Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston Linked to New Movie Journey’s End.” Radio Times. 1 June 2014.

  337 Dave McNary. “Benedict Cumberbatch Replaces Guy Pearce in Johnny Depp’s Whitey Bulger Movie.” Variety. 21 May 2014.

  338 Borys Kit. “Benedict Cumberbatch Joins ‘Jungle Book’ for Warner Bros. (Exclusive).” Hollywood Reporter. 19 Aug. 2014.

  339 Ariana Bacle. “Benedict Cumberbatch Joins Warner Bros.’ ‘Jungle Book: Origins.’” Entertainment Weekly. 19 Aug. 2014.

  340 Rodrigo Perez. “James Gray Says ‘Lost City of Z’ Will Shoot Next; Talks His Sci-Fi Project, Dances with Brad Pitt, & More.” Playlist. 6 May 2014.

  341 “Sherlock Star Benedict Cumberbatch to Film The Lost City of Z in Belfast.” Radio Times. 25 June 2014.

  342 David Grann. The Lost City of Z. New York: Vintage Books, 2010, p. 7.

  343 Ibid., p. 40.

  344 Christina Radish. “Benedict Cumberbatch Talks SHERLOCK Season 3, Trading Character Notes with Robert Downey, Jr., and More.” Collider. 21 Jan. 2014.

  345 Grann, pp. 8-9.

  346 Ellis, “Benedict Cumberbatch - From Star Trek to Sherlock to Oscar Night Sex Symbol.”

  347 Alexandra Cheney. “Comic-Con: DreamWorks Animation Brings Out Benedict Cumberbatch, Jim Parsons.” Variety. 25 July 2014.

  348 Shauna Murphy. “Every Celeb at Comic-Con Wanted a Pic with Benedict Cumberbatch.” MTV. 27 July 2014.

  349 Brian Truitt. “Sneak Peak: ‘Penguins of Madagascar.’” USA Today. 8 June 2014.

  350 Ibid.

  351 Emma Dibdin. “9 Best Moments from Benedict Cumberbatch’s Comic-Con Debut.” Digital Spy. 25 July 2014.

  352 Todd Cunningham. “DreamWorks Animation Switches Release Dates on ‘Penguins of Madagascar’ and ‘Home’.” The Wrap. 20 May 2014.

  353 Pamela McClintock. “Berlin: Weinstein Co. Pays $7 Million for Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Imitation Game.’” Hollywood Reporter. 2 Feb. 2014.

  354 Mike Fleming, Jr. “Berlin Record Deal: Harvey Weinstein Pays $7 Million For Alan Turing WWII Tale ‘The Imitation Game’. Deadline. 7 Feb. 2014.

  355 Susanna Lazarus. “The Imitation Game Starring Benedict Cumberbatch Gets a UK Release Date.” Radio Times. 14 May 2014.

  356 CBM Trailers. “The Imitation Game - Official Trailer (2014) [HQ] Benedict Cumberbatch.�
� YouTube. 21 July 2014.

  357 BFI. “The Imitation Game Will Open the 58th BFI London Film Festival.” 21 July 2014.

  358 The Weinstein Company. “The Imitation Game - The Official Trailer - The Weinstein Company.” YouTube. 21 July 2014.

  359 Nicole Sperling. “Benedict Cumberbatch Outwits Nazis in ‘The Imitation Game’ - FIRST LOOK.” Entertainment Weekly. 5 June 2014.

  360 Adrian Lobb. “Benedict Cumberbatch Interview: ‘I Went to Public School, But I’m Not a Public School Boy.’” Big Issue. 9 Jan. 2014.

  361 James Killough. “Benedict Cumberbatch: Can a Character Actor Be a Leading Man?”

  362 Sven Raphael Schneider. “White Tie DO’s and DON’Ts - Met Ball Gala.” Gentleman’s Gazette. 7 May 2014.

  363 Cinya Burton. “Sarah Jessica Parker & Anna Wintour Critique Men’s Fashion at the 2014 Met Gala - Find Out the One Guy That Got It Right!” E!Online. 8 May 2014.

  364 Alyse Whitney. “Benedict Does His Best Mr. Napkin Head at Lunch with Dakota Johnson.” PopSugar. 7 May 2014.

  365 Susanna Lazarus. “Ten Actors Who Could Be the Next Benedict Cumberbatch.” Radio Times. 15 Nov. 2013.

  Also Available