Benedict Cumberbatch, Transition Completed

by Lynnette Porter

  According to the Hollywood Reporter cover story, Cumberbatch is at the top of DreamWorks’ list for everything but a broad comedy. (Even after the commercial flop of DreamWorks’ The Fifth Estate, starring Cumberbatch, the studio wants to work with him; one of the actor’s movies released in 2014 is the animated The Penguins of Madagascar from DreamWorks’ Animation.) While his career provides an exciting number of choices and potential directions, the actor also has to balance the other side of celebrity - deciding how much to present of himself and how best to protect the most private aspects of his life.

  The Hollywood Reporter interviewer commented upon Cumberbatch’s ability to be both warm and personable or cool and prickly, depending upon the questions being asked. The resulting portrait paints Cumberbatch as “[b]oth highly intellectual and intensely emotional... At the flick of a switch, he can turn from icy to incandescent, from dignified to indignant”.[2] These contradictory descriptions suggesting the actor’s mood shifts illustrate the final stage of Cumberbatch’s transition from being “merely” a highly respected working actor to a multimedia star with its accompanying global, especially Internet, celebrity. Sometimes, as discussed throughout the following chapters, he embraces his new lifestyle, which includes fans and paparazzi as well as a plethora of excellent roles from which to choose and the clout to establish a production company. At others, he does not respond well to media scrutiny and chooses to lash out with a harsh comment or to find a way of hiding in plain sight.

  That Cumberbatch was selected for the new A-list cover is not surprising, given his remarkable number of high-profile films released in one year or his popularity in Sherlock. What may be surprising is that the actor did not “play the game” in this high-profile interview but offered the reporter - and thus his readers - a glimpse of two sides to his public persona, that of a friendly, emotional man who is not ashamed to reveal his feelings about important moments in his life and a wary professional who analyses not only an interviewer’s questions but the way his responses will be interpreted in the media.

  Like the cover photo, Cumberbatch is both a man of his time and of the past. He in some ways seems as old-fashioned as some of the characters he plays. He enjoys books and is frequently reported to be carrying around at least a few tomes, electronically or in paper. He chooses not to use social media because of its frequent “vitriol” yet has a vast Internet following and sometimes uses online chat to converse with fans.

  Cumberbatch at times still has difficulty incorporating both personas or types of responses within a single interview or on-camera moment in the spotlight. Yet that dichotomy allows fans to see the actor as more “real” than most Hollywood actors who only seek to deftly present a unified glossy image that is attractive but reflects only what the public wants to see in its stars. Cumberbatch well understands how media and publicity work, but he does not shy away from saying what is on his mind.

  Toronto International Film Festival

  One of the most prestigious international film festivals is held in Toronto in early September. The timing allows buzz to build for key films likely to be nominated for Academy Awards or BAFTAs. Although having a film at TIFF is a remarkable opportunity to showcase a film to eager public audiences as well as critics and industry insiders, the most highly publicised and therefore desirable are the red-carpeted galas that bookend the two-week festival.

  In September 2013, The Fifth Estate gained the coveted opening gala spot on the schedule and was shown twice on the same date, once at the Elgin and shortly after, with full red carpet premiere media and fan attention, at Roy Thomson Hall, which seats more than 2,600. The film tackles the controversy surrounding WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, and as such was highly anticipated.

  On the red carpet, director Bill Condon explained the film’s acting challenge for Cumberbatch:

  You are bringing a dramatic work to life while the person that you’re playing is just down the road... [and having] the responsibility to that person... but also to the truth,... to actually including details that person may not like.[3]

  As the director noted to the media, not many actors have the opportunity to play a real person who is still living, much less one as controversial as Assange, who closely monitored the film’s progress and frequently commented to the media about his portrayal. That Cumberbatch felt a responsibility to the performance but also to the man he represented on film was a key point to make to the press on the night the film premiered at TIFF.

  The gala screening itself was not as well received as DreamWorks might have expected. The director and cast (Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl, Carice van Houten, Dan Stevens, Alicia Vikander) sat in the auditorium’s second tier to watch the film and were rewarded with a standing ovation at the conclusion. Despite the audience’s apparent enthusiasm, the press was less charmed in their reviews published a few hours later. One of the most positive critics wrote that

  I wouldn’t read into [the standing ovation] any Oscars significance.... Cumberbatch... nails Assange with a convincing Aussie accent, a slight lisp, snow-white hair and a somnambulant look in his eyes. Moreover, he gets to his essence: He is a hacker who is brilliant but also an egomaniac.[4]

  Despite being lauded with praise for his acting (even though The Fifth Estate received mixed reviews), Cumberbatch remained humble during press interviews. He told the Los Angeles Times of his appreciation of the ability to work in so many films in such a short time and seemed both gratified and yet in awe of the attention even small roles in an ensemble were gaining him at TIFF. He proclaimed his love for his work when “the variations in characters are there and I’m still learning and progressing. It’s great to have the freedom to play the entire orchestra. I saw that working with Meryl Streep,”[5] and then he reiterated that he still thinks he has a great deal to learn.

  Of course, the media followed him beyond the red carpet, press gatherings, and screening rooms to TIFF’s night life. During Cumberbatch’s few days in Toronto, his “off” time was also reported just as diligently, another sign of his celebrity status. One media item aptly describes the dual nature of TIFF - emphasis on and celebration of film as well as exuberant interest in the actors who star in them: “After several hours of being yelled at, lusted over and praised... , Cumberbatch found escape... at Grey Goose Soho House Toronto, where I saw him drop a few dance moves,” but because of the limitations of his tuxedo, his “grooving was short lived and more for jokes”.[6] The actor’s moves, on screen or the dance floor, seemed to be of equal media importance at TIFF.

  Among the many media-and-fan encounters along the red carpet, one streamed by CityNews is typical. Whereas Cumberbatch could be more expressive during the cast’s press conference for The Fifth Estate or in one-on-one interviews scheduled throughout his time at the festival, the red-carpet interviews resembled a gauntlet of cameras and correspondents jammed into a small space leading into the cinema. The CityNews reporter eagerly awaited Cumberbatch’s arrival as the time ticked closer to the screening’s 8:00 p.m. scheduled start. The arrivals walking the press line were running late, in part because Cumberbatch signed autographs for clamouring fans and talked to all reporters waiting for him in the TIFF press area off the red carpet. One journalist advised audiences watching the livestream to “Enjoy the view” as the camera operator found a way to stand on something to provide an elevated view of Cumberbatch talking with the group next to them.

  Each time another round of cheers for Cumberbatch arose from the line of fans standing next to the barrier, the actor grinned, called out a hello, and waved. The reporter gushed that he makes fans scream. Cumberbatch, seeming uncomfortable, murmured “Apparently so”.

  When CityNews proclaimed this “the year of the Cumberbatch,” the actor laughed nervously and looked down. He effusively thanked the reporter for that designation before humbly adding, “I have very small roles in other films, but they’re incredibly impo
rtant films, so being associated with them at all is a real honour. To have a lead role in the opening gala film for 2013 is incredible”.[7]

  Cumberbatch warmed to the conversation when discussing his role as Assange. He explained that, before he took the role, he knew that Assange was the publisher of the WikiLeaks website, understood its mission, and was intrigued. When he signed on to play Assange, he then did more of what he termed “the actorly thing” by reading the source material and conducting research into Assange and WikiLeaks.[8]

  Asked whether Assange is a hero or a villain, Cumberbatch said that he wanted to develop a very human character and let the audience decide how they feel about him. “It’s not for me to judge him. I’m an actor who’s portraying him”. Furthermore, the actor explained that the film does not strive to create heroes or villains but to offer “a very balanced view on very complex issues”.[9]

  When another interviewer asked if he would do anything different with the role or what he thought of his performance, Cumberbatch responded that someone more objective than his fans would have to determine the quality of the work, and it is up to audiences (and critics) to determine how well he did. The actor seemed almost annoyed, or at least concerned, by the question. He remained polite but clearly was not going to praise his own performance.

  Asked what being a TIFF gala selection meant for the film, he responded, “a huge deal... It’s a film about the fifth estate, which is about journalists, so they’ll come to it and make their minds up, and that’s the way it should be with this film”.[10] Cumberbatch also appreciated that a broad audience can see the films at this festival. He commended Toronto for hosting what seemed to him to be a very public-friendly event that encouraged everyone, not just critics or those in the film industry, to engage with new movies and the people who make them.

  Although The Fifth Estate may have been Cumberbatch’s most impressive acting project showcased at the film festival, he was also interviewed about his supporting roles in August: Osage County and 12 Years a Slave. Whereas the Fifth Estate red-carpet reporters focused on Cumberbatch, he had a lower profile on the carpet for 12 Years a Slave. Brad Pitt, as a star and producer, received far more attention, as did lead actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.

  Because Cumberbatch was running a bit late and needed to talk with a long line of reporters before the 12 Years screening began in the Princess of Wales Theatre, he walked past his fans on the way in but promised them he would return. About an hour later, he did just that, and the fans who waited were rewarded when the actor posed with them for selfies or commented on posters they had made for him.

  No matter where he went, Cumberbatch made headlines and reached a wide audience of fans, critics, and journalists - as well as a global audience reading TIFF reports or watching the events stream online. During his few days in Toronto, Cumberbatch made the most of being TIFF’s “It” man.

  USA Today’s “Year of the Cumberbatch”

  Like TIFF’s CityNews reporter, “America’s newspaper,” USA Today, also entitled its recap of the actor’s amazing 2013 the “Year of the Cumberbatch”. Instead of focusing on Cumberbatch’s past achievements, however, the article described the actor’s forthcoming projects as evidence that 2014 also would be another incredible year for the rising star.

  When he talked about his upcoming role as Amazon explorer Percy Fawcett in The Lost City of Z, Cumberbatch described his character as a “brilliant, rather lovely Victorian man who just became obsessed with this discovery he made in the Amazon jungle”[11] in the early twentieth century. The actor was clearly enthused about the role, which has been suggested will make him an action hero in the mould of Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones.

  Cumberbatch only expressed displeasure when the matter of Alan Turing’s recent royal pardon came up in a conversation about the actor’s role in The Imitation Game. He explained that Turing is the one who more appropriately should have had the opportunity to pardon those responsible for his “appalling” treatment. Cumberbatch hoped that The Imitation Game would highlight this “extraordinary” man and shed light on what the actor described as a shameful part of Britain’s past.[12]

  Even his brief comments illustrate how deeply he feels about each role and the amount of research he has done to understand a character’s inner life. As illustrated in the USA Today feature, he may benefit from labels like “Year of the Cumberbatch,” but he is hardly complacent about his career and looks ahead to multiple new roles on the horizon.

  BAFTA’s “In Conversation”

  “I am thrilled to be kick-starting this series of informal conversations with British talent for BAFTA New York and The Standard team... The association with BAFTA is a great honour”.[13] Cumberbatch’s selection as the first actor to participate in BAFTA New York’s “In Conversation” series perhaps best summarises the type of career the actor is establishing. The calibre of his work and his eloquence in discussing it make him a top choice for special events like “In Conversation,” but they also illustrate the actor’s ability to retain his “Britishness” (through the association with BAFTA) while gaining a greater foothold in the U.S. film industry. Cumberbatch and U.S.-based BAFTA organisations are a perfect match culturally and professionally.

  Outdoors, the February snowstorm may not have been inviting, but the audience’s attention and support must have warmed Cumberbatch. Luke Parker Bowles, BAFTA New York’s Chairman of Film and Events, hosted the event, and The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg served as moderator. In addition to the standing room only crowd, more than 3,000 people followed the discussion on Twitter via #BAFTANYTalk.[14]

  Cumberbatch nervously rubbed at the back of his neck several times while he talked, but he glibly answered all questions and seemed to enjoy the professional stroll down memory lane. The interview was reminiscent of those conducted on theatre stages earlier in his career; he frequently elaborated on a response for more than a minute or two.

  When asked about his method, Cumberbatch reiterated that each role is unique and has different requirements; therefore, he does not rely on one specific technique. Nevertheless, there are “certain parameters you have to work in as an actor... Timekeeping is one, and I’m notoriously bad at that, and learning your lines”. Perhaps thinking of his role as Sherlock, who must deliver many long speeches very rapidly, Cumberbatch mentioned that he is all right at learning lines, but sometimes it can become overwhelming. One of the most important lessons from his formal education is the way he deals with a text: “Drama school taught me to be very still and centred, and to have a very measured approach to text,”[15] instead of jumping ahead to rely on intuition when deciding how to approach a scene. Although intuition might lead to one way to play a character, taking more time to gain a greater depth of understanding of the text can lead to a more nuanced performance.

  At times Cumberbatch worried that one of his comments might contradict another, to the point that he joked that the audience was getting to see inside his head, because as soon as he made one statement, he could see where another perspective also could be true. If there is one recent interview that harkens to Cumberbatch the pure actor, not the celebrity or embodiment of one of his famous roles, it is this one.

  Time’s Most Influential People in the World

  When Time created its list of the world’s one hundred most influential people, it categorised them by their sphere of influence. Cumberbatch earned a place among the arts’ elite. Actor Colin Firth wrote the tribute to Cumberbatch, who Time called “the alarmingly talented English star”.

  Firth recalled working with Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton and wrote that their son seems to have inherited his parents’ generosity of spirit and immense acting talent. Firth noted that it is “rare to the point of outlandish to find so many variables in one actor... vulnerability, a sense of danger, a clear intellect, honesty, courage - and a rather alarming energy”. Readers could almost see
Firth’s deadpan expression when they read his conclusion: “He must be stopped”.[16] Firth wrote the line in jest, but to actors who, unlike Firth, do not yet have their Oscar or BAFTA, the request might not seem as professionally silly - the apparently unstoppable Cumberbatch does seem to be getting an exceptional number of job offers and professional accolades.

  BAFTA’s British Artist of the Year

  As the BAFTA LA website explains, the Britannia Awards are the organisation’s highest level of recognition of those individuals or companies that advance the entertainment arts. Each year BAFTA LA celebrates the achievements of honourees who meet their criteria for excellence.[17] Presented on November 9, in the midst of the hoopla for films released in 2013 in which Cumberbatch has a role, the award represented a milestone in the actor’s achievements and recognition not only of his fine work but his international acclaim and celebrity.

  BAFTA LA Chair Gary Dartnall underscored the many reasons why this actor was chosen for the award. Not only did Cumberbatch have a “remarkable year,” but

  as one of the U.K.’s leading talents he truly exemplifies the continued respect that British talents have garnered around the globe... [He is being honoured for] [m]asterfully performing in TV, film and theatre and never failing to astound us with his talent and versatility.[18]

  The award was presented by two actors who had worked with him on recent films, Alice Eve (Star Trek: Into Darkness) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave). Even though Cumberbatch knew well in advance that he would receive this award, he nonetheless visibly took a deep breath, exclaimed “oh, goodness me,” and rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand (one of the actor’s now well-recognised nervous mannerisms) as he waited for the applause to die down.