Is anyone else getting kind of obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch’s mouth? I know his beautiful almond-shaped eyes are wildly popular amongst the Cumber Collective, but we need to start making his beautiful lips into a thing. Anyway, Star Trek Into Darkness opens in the UK tomorrow, but American Cumberbitches won’t get to see it until next weekend (CB promised to go with me!). So, we still have another week full of Cumbertastic interviews, although I swear that some of you are already over him. This is a marathon, Cumberbitches, not a sprint. Eat a power bar, take a nap and then obsess, obsess, obsess. Some interesting highlights from Cumby’s latest Time Out interview:
He’s a Star Trek agnostic: ‘Yes, very much agnostic, that would be the term. I didn’t reject it. I’m not Richard Dawkins. I’m not a “Star Trek” atheist! I got a sentimental kick during the reboot, though, so there must have been something there. I think because it was on BBC Two before the six o’clock news. But as far as escapism went, “Star Wars” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” got more under my skin. I’ve got a respect for “Star Trek” now. I remember even at the time thinking these were quite tight morality plays and it wasn’t just about the fastidiousness and endless detail that people can obsess over in the Trekkie universe. Which is great…’
Working on The Hobbit: ‘Working on “Star Trek”, you can marry your role slightly to real-life experiences but, playing Smaug in “The Hobbit”, it’s impossible to do that – he’s a 400-year-old firebreathing worm who lives on top of a pile of gold and likes eating doors. Obviously, I’m personally a biped rather than a serpent, so the motion-capture element is limited. I was mainly on my belly on the floor playing at being a dragon. It was like being a kid: no marks, no make-up, no continuity, no worries about camera positions. It was so much fun.’
On playing Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate: ‘I didn’t want to hang him out to dry, I wanted to give a fair account of him. It’s a living story, and the moral responsibility was very much part of the job. I tried to reach out to him, to communicate with him, and he was having none of it as far as a meeting goes. He felt that a meeting would condone a film he felt was too poisonous an account. He got hold of an old script and all sorts of issues blew up when we were filming. He tried to attack it and in his position I’d do the same, probably. We had a discussion, though, which was good. If Julian is feeling that way, politically, he’s right not to let [a meeting] happen, because it would be like a blessing.’
His rising level of fame: ‘Yes, everyone’s saying that… “It’s going to go to another level”, “Benedict blasts off”, “It’s going to go into warp drive”, and all those terrible puns! But I go: “Well, yeah, I know James McAvoy, and he’s okay. Michael Fassbender, I know a little bit, and he’s doing fine.” It’s possible to remain grounded. It’s all a bit of an adjustment. I can’t be anything but flattered because of the attention towards the work.’
On being his ‘Sexiest’ title: ‘It’s very nice. As you can see, I’m okay-looking. I don’t really get it.’
When I first read this, it kind of bugged me that Cumby is comparing himself – again! – to Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Tom Hardy (that was in the last interview). But when you think about it… he pretty much IS at the same level. It’s not like he’s comparing himself to Daniel Day-Lewis or something. At the age of 36, Cumby IS around the same age as Fassbender (36), Hardy (35), and McAvoy (34), and as far as the work goes… much like Fassbender in particular, there’s a slow-burn quality to Cumby’s career. Cumby has been working for years and it wasn’t until Sherlock that he suddenly became a real celebrity. And 2013 is The Year of Cumby, much like 2011 was The Year of Fassbender. But… Cumby name-drops his contemporaries so often, and he compares himself publicly to those guys so often, it does seem… Goopy. He should just let other people praise him and do the comparisons, you know?
Oh, and Cumby also has a new piece in USA Today – it’s mostly a snooze, just stuff we’ve already heard before. But at the end, Cumby is asked about his Star Wars love, and he goes off on a wonderful tangent:
Immersing himself in sci-fi, though, is a bit of childhood wish fulfillment. While he enjoyed the morality tales of the original Star Trek reruns he watched over biscuits and tea in the early evening, he grew up adoring Star Wars — along with Indiana Jones, Han Solo was one of “the coolest, most aspirational heroes of my childhood,” he says.
Ask Cumberbatch if he’s available for Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII, and he lets loose an impressive Wookiee roar in return.
“Where’s Chewbacca in all of this? You want little baby Ewok-sized Chewbacca and a whole family of Chewbaccas,” the actor says, fan-casting a subplot to the upcoming movie. (If you play a dragon in a movie, you can probably also play a furry co-pilot who growls a lot.)
“It’s safe to say that J.J. knows my work and has my number. It would be great fun. Just promise me you won’t have a banner headline where it goes, ‘USA TODAY exclusive: Cumberbatch wants in with Star Wars director J.J. Abrams,’ ” he adds, laughing. “The worst way to try and get a job I think is to tout it in a national newspaper.”
I want to hear Cumby’s Chewbacca roar. RAWR!! You know he turned everything into a whooshing light-saber when he was a kid. LOL, Cumby is such a geek. I love it.
Oh, and Cumby was on The Late Show last night. I haven’t watched the whole thing yet, but here’s the video:
Photos courtesy of PR Photos.
The comparison was fine. He’s talking about maintaining a personal life. He name-drops CONSTANTLY (the google play interview in which he manages to drop in that he won an Olivier was particularly spectacular), but I think this was one of the rare instances that he really didn’t.
Letterman was *so* dull. DL really phoned it in. And if I hear Cumby say “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” once more, I might shoot myself. He looked good, though. And I like the fact that he’s still filming Sherlock while all this nonsense is going on. Hurray!
Everyone just simma down now! This only sounds to me like he is saying that MacAvoy & Fassbender both got rather sudden popularity & they haven’t gone berserk because of it. He’s saying you can be popular & be all right about it. A pretty neutral statement, if you ask me.
It’s not as though he went all Kanye & declared himself the greatest artist of all time.
Yes, Fanty, Letterman sure did phone it in. He did a little bit of minor fawning, but nothing you wouldn’t see with anyone else. He was in a pleasant mood, neither here nor there, & no Letterman snark. To my great surprise, he didn’t even poke fun at his name, which I thought was de rigeuer.
I was glad we didn’t have to hear about the “Cumberbitch” label again. It was all quite ordinary & flavorless. But the bit with Letterman trying to get him to say that he was playing Khan was funny.
Letterman is always nice to people he likes but hasn’t met yet. One of the things I like about Letterman is that he doesn’t go for the kill on the first meeting, unless you’re a shit guest. Hopefully in the future the chemistry will be there and they’ll be able to play off of each other.
@LilyRose,
Good point, I think that’s true. He does go easy on his first-timers.
I expect we’ll be seeing Cumby on Letterman again, & maybe then they’ll snipe back & forth!
Well, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t they all go to the same school? Not at the same time I don’t think. But I remember Hardy saying that he and Fassbender went to the same school but Fassbender was a higher level so he really looked up to him. I think the comparision is pretty right on actually.
Maybe the same drama school, but Hiddles and Cumby went to Eton and Harrow respectively, which is as exclusive as they come.
Sorry, the guy is arrogant. Remember that the last mention of Fassbender, McAvoy and Hardy was to remind people that they are “equally talented” (to himself) though they did not go to a posh private school. I don’t like the “ready made star” assumptions on his part, nor the false humility that often is a subtle put-down of others.
I was indifferent to this guy now I’m starting to detest him. Constantly trying to place himself in a bracket that many dont even think he has earned yet. Self deprecation will take you further, Lizard King. Imagine if he were female pulling this crap – the interwebs have gone after an actress for much less.
“Self deprecation will take you further, Lizard King.” is the best thing I’ve read all morning. I do like Benedict but that was funny.
“Constantly trying to place himself in a bracket that many dont even think he has earned yet.”
Um, what? Benedict has been working as an actor for over 10 years in tv, movies, theater, as well as radio. He’s been nominated for multiple awards (for various performances- not just Sherlock) too. It’s not like he just came out of nowhere!
If anyone has “earned his place in a bracket”, it’s him.
(Also, this is my first post here. Hi!)
Ummm no, to the contrary you might have missed his point, i.e. pointing the likes of McAvoy and Fassbender, he meant that anybody is equally talented regardless of their background/upbringing, given that social class is an issue in the UK.
I did not miss his point re: “the likes of” McAvoy, Fassbender, and Hardy. Not in the slightest.
“the likes of” is a pretty common term, so him using it doesn’t make it any different, perhaps you are the one seeing it as arrogant because of whatever reason? Again, he meant that talent has nothing to do with social class, and gave examples with McAvoy and Fassbender, nothing to do with him personally nor is he above them, it was a general statement. Nothing arrogant about it.
I used to be a huge Letterman fan, but over the past few years, he’s gone from snarky and witty to just plain mean and spacey in his interviewing style. I love me some BC but I couldn’t bring myself to watch the whole interview last night.
It was *really* bad, right? I haven’t seen Letterman for a long time, and I thought he was disinterested to the point of rudeness. Is he like that with everyone?
He sure seemed like it; the few times I’ve tried to watch the past year or so, he’s seemed like he’s going through the motions and pretty pissed about it, too. I used to be a HUGE Letterman fan so it’s really disappointing to see these borderline embarrassing interviews he does now.
Maybe I’m missing something, but why would Cumberbatch not be on the same level as Hardy, McAvoy and Fassbender? He’s had some serious buzz around him for almost 8 years now (though I actually remember him from Tipping The Velvet, which I think was made a decade or more ago), he’s done very, very good film, TV and theatre work, he has the same level of name recognition (possibly more than Hardy) and as of this year he’ll have a couple of major blockbusters to his name. He may not have been a ‘celeb’ before Sherlock, but I certainly knew his name and admired his work.
If anything I would think McAvoy would be the odd one out there. I’ve loved the guy since Shameless, don’t get me wrong, but rightly or wrongly he rarely comes up when people are talking about the next gen of great actors.
Yeah, I don’t get the negative commenting either. He has worked with at least two people on that list, who else is he going to compare himself with ? And quite frankly, thanks to Sherlock, his face is probably a lot better known than Fassbender’s and Hardy’s (if not his name).
Try and remember he’s a British actor – the way he talks about himself and his contemporaries might sound odd to North American’s because these actors have a different level of recognition over here. McAvoy is probably best known for Atonement and Shameless, Hardy for the last Batman film and maybe the Bronson film.
I feel quite a dissonance between what I experience here in the UK, reading the British press, and the way same people are discussed on Celebitchy. We just have different viewpoints on how well-known celebrities are, and I don’t feel Benedict Cumberbatch is dropping names or bigging himself up – he IS at the same level as these other guys.
I think following celebrity news and gossip can give you a really skewed idea of who’s household name famous, and who just has a vocal fanbase and some industry buzz. At the moment I’d actually guess that Cumberbatch would be the most widely known due to Sherlock. Outside of the US McAvoy’s probably coming in second due to Shameless. None of these 4 guys are big names to the average film-goer yet.
I think Fassbender is great so this isn’t meant to be snarky, but to be honest I feel like half his fame comes from jokes about his cock. That’s how most people I know heard of him; as the guy who does full frontal in that movie they didn’t see. I haven’t come across many people who’ve seen Hunger, Shame, Fish Tank, Jane Eyre, Haywire etc. and I don’t think he (or McAvoy) made a huge impression on the average X-Men film-goer.
Same with Hardy. A lot of people would probably know him from Inception or TDKR given a little prompting, but most people haven’t seen Bronson, Lawless or Warrior so they wouldn’t really get the hype.
+ 1 times infinity.
The same thing that happened to them is happening to him and he’s just stating a fact, he’s not being arrogant.
The last thing Cumby is is arrogant, or so I think after seeing many of his interviews.
I also get the impression that he’s comparing himself to them because they’ve worked together in the past and, I dunno, they’re also friends?
The age of the household name movie star is long gone. Its died with Pitt, Cruise, Depp, Stallone, Willis. My problem is this pretenders assumption that he is as talented as any of those guys. Thats for others to say for him, not for him to keep trumpetting. Cocky SOB!
*splutter*
Sorry. Just choked a little at the idea of Cruise, Stallone and Willis being held up as paragons of acting talent.
@Jess: “At the moment I’d actually guess that Cumberbatch would be the most widely known due to Sherlock.”
I disagree. McAvoy had the Narnia Chronicles, he is known for Atonement and Wanted, but like Fassbender especially for X-Men, Fassy also had Prometheus.
Fassbender has lots of good roles in development because like McAvoy he is considered leading man material, whereas Cumberbatch is restricted due to his looks, he mainly plays villains or creeps.
T Fanty
I am talking about them being household names back in the day. And the fact that there was an age when movies were marketted solely on name brand. That should have been obvious given that only one person on that list has ever exhibited any talent (Depp). Pretty boys and muscle boys but they sold tickets.
That age is over. So going on about who has greater name recognition (as another poster was doing) is almost pointless. And as I said Lizard face simply hasnt earned the right talentwise to be placing himself with these guys constantly.
@stellalovejoydiver,
Cumberbatch has played a creep/villain only twice so far: the creep in Atonement, & the villain in Star Trek. If you count Julian Assange as a creep/villain, that will be three, but we haven’t seen him do that yet.
He has a pretty good range of work out there. I hope he plays more villains—he’s good at it.
@Cher;
Sorry. I get what you’re saying now. Personally, I think he’s more talented than any of them, but I’ll freely own that I’m a bit of a culture snob, especially when it comes to classically trained actors.
That said, I don’t think he’s putting himself up *there.* He has skyrocketed in the UK, and I would place him up there with Colin Firth and Ewan Macgregor in terms of name recognition. Plus, he’s hot right now, so it’s frenzied. People track his movements on twitter and tumblr – someone even spied on him in his home and tweeted it, which is a violation I can’t even imagine. So, when he talks about fame, my sense is that he’s trying to politely process this insanity that has blossomed around him.
I agree with you, Jess and saying benedict can only play villains is just unfair judgement, he’s a great actor. James and Michael may be well known out there but in my opinion, they are the ones playing the same character all over.
You are wrong Jess. Fassbender made the X- Men film. He was the strongest of all the actors. He along with McAvoy showed a great dynamic between the “old” friends.
I agree about McAvoy being the odd man out in this group of actors.
I also think that Tom Hardy is on a completely different level than the rest. And this is coming from someone who is obsessed with Fassbender for his talent. Sorry, but Tom Hardy is arguably the best actor of his generation. I’ve seen almost every movie he’s been in (except that terrible-looking rom com) and he has yet to turn in anything less that a spectacular performance and his range is incredible.
I honestly don’t see anything “arrogant” about what Cumby said and I am the furthest thing from a Cumberbitch.
I think this might not be so much about buzz as it is about how these guys are perceived from inside the industry. I think Mac is considered special by his peers because he was among the first from this generation to cross over in big-budget/Oscar-bait Hollywood leading roles (Wanted, Narnia, The Last King of Scotland).
Mac, like Hardy and Fassy, is at the point where he gets offered roles, he doesn’t really audition anymore. When Hollywood needs a certain type of [European] actor, he’s automatically near the top of the list. Up until StiD (with that great iPhone audition story), Cumby still had to try out for parts.
Hm, it seems I replied to that comment too late. You put it more eloquent than I did anyway. 🙂
” I was mainly on my belly on the floor playing at being a dragon.”
The second I read this I thought EVE! And everyone else who’d been Cumberbatched/ Cumber-Collectivized is going to go nuts with that visual. Let the sexual innuendo begin!
@Anna,
I’m a little Cumbied out, and can’t muster the enthusiasm for innuendo today. However, there is this:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/d1f38e311883978b5133938c4219eb6a/tumblr_mmhb21Z5Rc1rp1b2xo1_500.png
Which, while does not reference name-dropping, makes for a fun drinking game. We’ve been working on one for Hiddles. So far , it’s a shot if;
– he wears a suit, regardless of the circumstances
– he defends Loki
– he finishes a sentence with “man”
– he attempts an awkward double entendre
– he references his classics degree.
We must also add two shots if Luke Windsor can be seen in the background.
Morning, Crumpets! We’re getting more Hiddles action on the other Cumby thread – which features an actual crotchshot. I was bored earlier, and thought I’d see if I could rustle up a little fun.
Heading over with the rabbit fur pillow!
Yes where has Eve been lately?
You guys are such pricks, lol.
Nothing wrong on droppin’ a few names. Especially since his career *is* sky-rocketing, just like Fassy’s did once (although I don’t see as much Fassbender as I used to).
Anyways, nothing new here. I was actually hoping for something more…spectacular.
*yawns*
Just try to imagine any of the other three (Hardy, Fassbender, McAvoy) boasting of themselves in this way.
The last picture of him on the bottom is divine.
99.9999% of the info culled from these interviews is essentially going to be the same info we’ve heard before, just repeated ad nauseam. After all, that’s what passes for journalism these days. *facepalm*
If I were his PR guru, I’d tell him enough with the apologist attitude! So you went to Harrow. Big whoop! It’s honestly not like he’s playing that card to get work. If he ignores all the press vitriol about it, and focuses on doing quality work (which he has been doing for the most part), eventually the subject of his schooling will drop. If you don’t feed into the hype, the hype goes *poof*.
And I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought Letterman phoned it in last night. Now I remember why I only watch Conan and Craig. (I wish he’d have been on one of their shows instead! Less flash, but more substance!). I still had to fight the urge to lick my TV screen, though. Damn it, Ben…you and your sexiness making me all fluttery and fangirly. The nerve. 😉
Don’t worry, his mouth already IS a thing. I don’t mind that he compares himself to them, it’s true after all. And OMG, how bad are David Letterman’s interviews, it was awful, poor Benedict.
Yes. Let’s talk about that Cupid’s Bow!
It does look like Cupid’s Bow.
And it strikes you right in your heart…and a bit lower.
Oh, yes it does—that luscious mouth.
He’s so pasty.
he looks like he is made of wax
UGH! I know the Cumberbitches love this guy but he is not only freaky looking, I think he’s an arrogant tool as well. i just don’t see it
May I ask you what film/series he was in, you didn’t like? Just out of curiosity.
I don’t think he is arrogant at all. A bit dorky, maybe, but in a lovely way.
And the pasty look is all due to the neutron cream…
Proof in the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xG5vywn1Y RU
@Lauli,
I have just applied my neutron cream, as directed, & Oh my God, I look pasty!
And waxy! 😉
@Esc,
absolutely, the same thing happened to me. Lol
Oh Benlizard Colibacteria just stop. You asked Patrick Stewart if Star Trek would ruin your career you douchecanoe.
lol @ that but you’re right…
I don’t think he’s arrogant, just privileged as hell.
I also do NOT get the appeal of him: I’m over it because he is EVERYWHERE these days. Also, he is no Fassy, not even close…
NOTE: I realize that’s not what he was saying so before his fans come in, I get it, he’s just talking about the success part and what’s built up to it.
/sigh
“I don’t think he’s arrogant, just privileged as hell.”
I think he is a bitch, remember that he said that Johnny Lee Miller had a wive to keep in clothes when asked what he thinks about the American version of Sherlock? And that douchey shit above he asked Patrick Stewart of all people.
The 12 years a slave release is coming up where he plays a plantage owner I think and I am already cringing in anticipation.
I don´t care if he´s priviliged or not, he went to a private school, good for him, but I dislike it that he is not only ignorant about his white rich privilige, but that he keeps denying the advantages he had because of it.
I can’t seem to reply to your Jonny Lee Miller part, but to me that comes across as fairly typical Brit humour (taking the piss being something we enjoy).
Perhaps that humour doesn’t translate well and just sounds bitchy?
^This. I have a bitchy sense of humor and live in the states, and it has taken me YEARS to cultivate a group of people who don’t take offense at things I find hilarious. The British sense of humor is something that Americans *really* don’t get.
Literally just got back from watching STID. He completely stole the show from the very first word! Every scene with him in it, I completely forgot that he’s the villain as I wanted him to win!
On screen everyone else pales in comparison to his voice & his acting. Can’t wait to see the movie again!
And his action scenes where he’s kicking a lot of ass were superb!
…” I’m okay-looking. I don’t really get it.’…
Cosign
I don’t understand the vitriol celebrities inspire. What effect does what they say or do have on your life directly or indirectly?
Fassbender, McAvoy and Hardy are all friends of his and his comtemporaries so why not compared himself to them?
What do their looks have to do with their talent? You can be born beautiful or not, you have no control. So why be loved for being beautiful and reviled for not being beautiful. I”ve been guilty of it but I try to push back on being a total twat.
Tired of the whole posh thing, from both directions, the British are obsessed with class and Americans are obsessed with money.
Let him speak his mind and not be overly conscious about the blowback he might get from innocuous statements. I don’t want him to become boring, bland and rehearsed.
Help!!!!
There’s the first trailer, and first look, at “August, Osage country” but the video is not available in my location.
Why ABC? Why???
Hope this one works:
http://youtu.be/9Hd_uO72h1s
Thank you and sorry Eve, I didn’t notice you had already posted it. Btw, I missed you.
Thanks, Eve. This looks good.
Sorry if I do all by myself but I’ve found the link. Thank you, girls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hd_uO72h1s
Meh. I would have more enthusiasm if there was no Julia Roberts.
I’ll look forward to the outtakes, which I assume will feature Cumby and Ewan wrestling naked in a field.
@T.Fanty,
My thoughts exactly. I will certainly see this, but it would be so nice if someone else were playing Julia Roberts. She casts a pall over everything she’s in—just my two cents.
I hope with all my heart that someone in “August’s” production either sees your remark about Cumby & Ewan wrestling (naked, did you say?) in a field & insists on re-shooting some scenes to edit this in. If we have to listen to Julia Roberts bitching up a storm at the dinner table, then damn, throw in some nude wrestling & call it good.
@EsCon – I have a video camera. Maybe we should volunteer.
@Fanty,
Girl, get your video camera & your net. I am warming up the Vespa. BTW, that little scamp Tiggywinkle is proving to be more than just a pain in my bustle. He has started picking up his little teacups with such dexterity, I think he could probably help you with the video camera.
Perfect. The hedgehogs filming will leave us free to rehearse them and position limbs.
@Fanty,
My thoughts exactly. How convenient that Cumby is so bone tired he won’t even be able to put up a fuss!
it kind of just seems like he’s pointing out that his contemporaries, who were walking for a while and got more internationally famous suddenly are doing ok with the higher level of scrutiny. He’s not talking about talent, but how they’re in the media more. And Cumby is in the media just as much as McAvoy or Fassbender. I sometimes feel like this site is way too bitchy, and always assuming that celebs are purposefully trying to draw attention and shit.
I feel like he wasn’t so much saying that he was comparing himself to them so much as using their success as a yardstick-they’re successful-they work steadily and manage to have lives, which is what he is aspiring to.
I really can’t get behind the arrogant thing. I find him so…nice? He seems sincere in everything he says and he’s so appreciative of ALL of his work, and his fans. He’s self depreciating and he understands that he might fade out soon. I think his head is in the right place and he’s doing something he truly loves, regardless of how big or small his roles are. He might come off a bit snotty to American’s because he’s not from here and he’s had a different life growing up etc. You can’t fault someone for the way they’re brought up or the lifestyle their parents provided. Maybe it’s just me but I really think he deserves all the fame coming his way. He DOES have immense talent and he’s so humble about it.
@Dani,
very well said and I feel exactly the same.
I find him vastly unappealing. For me…he’s not quirky cute…he quirky strange looking. 🙂
You people are haters. He’s so wonderful!
And read between the lines… he wasn’t really comparing himself to Fassbender and McAvoy… I’m starting to think that either the readership of this site is extremely stupid (like, you have nothing past a 4th grade education) or Benedict is ridiculously smart and he needs to bring his language down to something that everyone can understand.
Benedict is smart, & so are the Celebitches. I think I get your point, though, GeeMoney. I love love lurve BC, & I don’t think he comes off arrogant at all. I think a lot of people just aren’t in tune with his very droll sense of humor. Also, he’s a “blurter.” (Think Paul Blurt, Mall Cop.) He just says things as they pop into his head, which doesn’t bother me at all because I like people who are unrehearsed.
So, it’s not a lack of education here—must be just plain old hate. 🙂
I guess I just get aggravated b/c people don’t get him. I just think he’s really smart and talented. People are focusing way too much on his looks and every last word that he says and it’s just seems like it’s all a ploy to make fun of him.
He’s probably used to it anyway. I’m pretty sure he’s been made fun of and scrutinized his entire life (and I know how that feels as well) and he probably just rolls with it.
Forgive me for just being just being a huge admirer and a big fan of his… I just like to defend my favorites.
@GeeMoney,
Nothing to forgive! 😉 I agree people just love to pick him to shreds! But I think you’re right that he’s used to hearing it—with his silly name & odd looks, he’s sure been hearing it since his school days.
On one awards show, he even referred to a reviewer who complained about his “arse-named, horse-faced, wooden acting.” If people say things like that about you, you’d better learn to shrug it off & laugh. He can take it—judging by that “lizard” face he pulled the other day at the STD premiere.
So Cumby has his defenders, & that’s great! Anyway on this site, more people seem to like him than not. 😉
I also think that he’s smart and processes things through talking about them – not the best thing for someone trying to build a career, but fun to read, nonetheless. That, plus a bitchy sense of humour makes for good entertainment.
That said, I think on the STiD tour, he’s been instructed to tone it down, and the result has been mind-numbing repetition and stale interviews. Which is made worse by the fact that EVERY SINGLE ONE of the interviews is reposted ad nauseum. Hopefully, Jimmy Fallon will elicit a bit of spark from him tonight.
i really like him as an actor and i don’t think he’s that ugly like some people are saying he is but he’s not that handsome either. and i don’t think he’s arrogant. but i can’t for the life of me stand it when people treat him as if he was some kind of a genius and saint. like he can’t do anything wrong. noone knows what he says behind closed doors or if he’s a player cheater whatever. i’m not saying he does all those things but he’s not perfect either.
Of course he’s not perfect! He’s a human being. We all err. I just like him. A lot.
Most of the time I don’t know what to write about him other than “he’s wonderful”, b/c, I can’t think of anything else to say! I know, I’m lame.
Oh, and I doubt that he’s a player or a cheater… but I bet he’s running through chicks as we speak. Can’t blame him.
this person looks like an alien. which behind the scenes executive decided he should be marketed as a sex symbol? i’m sorry, i’m just totally mindboggled as to how hordes of women find this attractive.
Attraction isn’t always based on physical looks. He is attractive in spite of his unconventional physical looks. He is smart eloquent and insanely talented…..with a voice to die for. All that combined makes him very attractive.
I don’t think he was ever marketed as a sex-symbol. He has never played a truly sexual or seductive character, rather the opposite (asexual sociopath, disgusting rapist, nerdy good guy types whose partners cheated on them with some bad boys, Stephen Hawking etc) and the sex symbol part just happened because women all over the world saw something special in him despite his lack of abs and a weird face. There’s probably a lot of people in the business (casting managers, producers, other behind-the-scenes executives) who already put him in the nerdy-reptilian-asexual box and can’t believe that he somehow managed to attract much broader fanbase than the classically handsome guys they were promoting (like Chris Pine who got overshadowed by Benedict’s villain during Star Trek promotion).
I think you’re absolutely right. It looks like that’s how it happened. Cumby is probably more shocked than anyone that he’s caught the attention of such a vast number of adoring women of all ages, without having played a “ladies’ man” or a romantic hero. Maybe it’s been a big surprise to everyone.
I like your comment “women….saw something special in him despite his lack of abs & weird face.”
I think that somethng special that we see is personality. I like his intelligence & expressiveness, & the fact that he doesn’t look like anyone else. And he seems like a gentleman.
@NBM and EsCon;
Are you actually saying – gasp! – that Hollywood studio execs have underestimated the intelligence and desire for originality of their audience? Heavens to Betsy!
Very, VERY well said! You are absolutely right with everything. His personality made people fall for him. He grows on you, now I find him insanely attractive, but when I saw a pic of him at first I thought: He looks odd.
At this point, I would just like to say that two concurrent Cumby threads is making my head spin.
I saw Star Trek (right here in Asia) and he is the BEST part of the film hands down!!!
Whoever thinks that this lizard has the name recognition of Fassbender and Macavoy in the States cannot possibly live here. That aside, I do not think he was comparing himself, talent wise, to either of them in THIS piece. But he has before. And though I find them all to be wonderful actors (Lizard, Macavoy, Hardy), to me, Tom is the only one who comes remotely close to Fassbender’s talent. And speaking of Fassbender’s talent, he’s got four films coming out later this year, which means you’ll get to witness just how superior he is, talent wise, to everyone else. Lucky you.
Also, Benedryl’s mouth is the thing I find most disturbing about his face. I cannot stand his lips (that top one, especially). At. All.
Fassbender is seriously talented but I would not say superior. He was wonderful in “Shame” but his next four films are not exactly game changers. Well, the Malick project might be interesting.
Hardy is doing himself no favors with films like “This Means War” and “The Warrior”. But hopefully his future films are better. I love Hardy, he has so much talent and “soul” and I would hate to see it wasted on bad Hollywood drivel.
McAvoy is uneven to me at times, don’t get me wrong he is talented but not “OMG” talented. I did really like “Trance”.
Cumberbatch is as talented and his unconventional looks helps put an interesting spin on his career. But I think he’ll do just fine in the bigs.
One woman’s “Lizard” is another woman’s heartthrob.
@allheavens,
Very well said. I agree so much about Tom Hardy’s acting, too—he has a fantastic range & he is an actor with so much heart & soul.
As for Cumberbatch—yep, he is this woman’s heartthrob Lizard.
Is saying that he knows Fassbender “a little bit” and that Fassbender is an example of doing fine with fame really comparing? I don’t think so.
I think they are similar levels of fame anyway, not A++ stars but both being able to ensemble star/co-star in major studio pictures.
Oh hell no. Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Tom Hardy are sexy leading man movie material. Cumberbatch should stick to ensembles where he can chew scenery and be the bad guy or some other character actor type role. He doesn’t have that IT factor that those other 3 have and he is a definite acquired taste that does not appeal to all women and men.
I think the comparison with Fassbender is alright. Both shot from relatively unknown to the next big thing in a really short time. And Cumberbatch is the better actor among those two (while Fassbender is the much much more desirable eye-candy to be fair). Also the “name-dropping” of McAvoy in that context is completely valid. They’re good friends and he uses it to illustrate that you can be famous and keep both feet on the ground, like McAvoy DOES.
I dont agree that Fassy and cumberbatch has a similar career. Fassy has a better career. He makes better choices and frankly is a far superior actor. Also fassy is good looking.
I am going to use this thread as my confessional.
I am ashamed to admit that I used to think Benedict was repulsive looking.
Then, I decided to give Sherlock a chance.
How could I have been so blind?
I find him extremely attractive now, and watching interviews with him has only solidified it for me.
He is kind of beautiful, isn’t he?
Just no. I really don’t get it.
You forget that Mcavoy is one of his best friends and he’s also close to Hardy. So yes he will talk about them and see them as his contemporaries.
You do seem picky at times. Overly analysing what he says.