Benedict Cumberbatch is already in Toronto for TIFF. He will premiere and promote The Imitation Game there, after not bothering to show up for Telluride. These are photos of Benedict at the InStyle party on Saturday night. The scraggly ginger beard is not really giving me a fever. I don’t know, you guys. I usually love some facial hair on a guy (Tom Hardy, Hiddleston, Brad Pitt, Jon Hamm, etc). But I think Benedict might be one of the few men out there who cannot pull off facial hair. Some of you say that the beard is for Richard III. Hm. Also: the hat is terrible. Benny and his curl-covers. God help us all.
Benny also sat down with The Daily Beast for a rather EPIC interview about Alan Turing, homophobia, ISIS and a lot more. The interview is long and there’s a lot of NSFW language, but it’s a good read. I’m not sure why Benedict feels the need to chime in about every hot-button political issue (including internal American politics), but you can read the full thing here.
A few more things… Yahoo News spoke to Cumby at TIFF and they talked about the casting on Hamlet next year. Apparently, they still don’t have an Ophelia. The Yahoo person said that Jessica Chastain had recently mentioned that she’d always wanted to play Ophelia and Cumby was super-jazzed about the idea. That would be interesting in real life – Cumby and Jessica Chastain? She could secret-girlfriend him properly. Last thing: Cumby took part in the newest UK Stand Up to Cancer promo ad. It features Cumby in a denim shirt, running. Enjoy.
Photos courtesy of Getty and WENN.
I actually love this look and it suits him well <3
I've nothing else to say…. 🙂
ETA: The ad for StandUpforCancer looks awesome! Idris Elba……..
Agreed. I’m not even remotely turned on by him, but he looks good here.
I…hm. I don’t find his recent statements about Autism quite problematic, just…privileged (and I say this as the mother of an Autistic person and the partner of an Autistic person, and someone on the spectrum myself). I feel the same regarding his statements about homophobia (and I say that as a queer person). I think he is in the right place in terms of mentality and ideology when he speaks of his views, and he himself isn’t bigoted or ableist (at least no more than the average, able-bodied, neurotypical person), but I wish he didn’t sound like he was trying to be Jesus for the Neuroatypical and queer community in some of these interviews. I apologize if this comes off as harsh–I’m not hating on him or bashing him. I’m just a bit squicked by some of the phrasing and how it comes across in the interview.
Sidebar: Oh lord with the Jessica Chastain rumors starting already. Within an hour of the interview posting, SO MANY people swore they were together, he was in love with her, etc.
“but I wish he didn’t sound like he was trying to be Jesus”
This is it exactly. He does try to do the “Can’t we all just GET ALONG?” thing, and I don’t doubt his sincerity. It’s just very heavy-handed sometimes.
That’s it exactly, for me as well. I think he really does feel passionately about equal rights for all groups, that he sincerely is a GLBTQIA supporter, that he wants Autistic and other neurodivergent persons to have equal footing in the world and also receive services that may be necessary and not be forced into a neurotypical mold, but he is also very…privileged. Most of us are, in some form or another, and I’m sure it seems so obvious with him because of his status as a celeb, as someone with wealth, as someone in a majority racial population in his home country, as a cis-man, as a heteronormative cis-man, etc. A plethora of reasons or possible reasons. It just can be a bit cringey sometimes when he says these very simplified, heavy-handed “And we just need to all embrace our differences!” type of generalizing, sweeping statements. But it’s not his job as an actor and performer to solve the world’s problems but if he starts painting himself as an activist, he needs to really examine how he is presenting these statements and truths before representing a cause.
I agree -it does come over as a touch heavy handed. I wish he had just let the film and the gay issues speak for itself instead of trying to make it the main focus of his PR platform. If he really wants to campaign why not mention the many persons also prosecuted under the laws at that time who have not been pardoned or had their convictions cast aside and should have.
I rewatched the Derek Jacobi TV play two nights ago and it was a very low key film which put the issues across in a very matter of fact manner which in many ways was more disturbing than high dramatics. The characterisations were very British and their social behaviour was very appropriately written for that era and not fictionalised for an American audience.
I also found out that Derek Jacobi won an award when the stage version was brought to New York with him in it.
@ Icerose
“””The characterisations were very British and their social behaviour was very appropriately written for that era and not fictionalised for an American audience.”””
Are you suggesting that The Imitation Game has been fictionalised?
This was a low budget indie movie and the screen play was written by a young man who has admired Turing since he was a teen. He had always wanted to make a film about him and he actually wrote the screenplay for nothing. This has been a labour of love for most of the people involved and I doubt there is anything that is fictionalised apart from the usual constraints required to put a true story on the screen. I am also sure it is “very British”, look at the cast.
Benedict has expressed admiration for Jacobi’s version of the story but of course this will differ or there would be no point in making it.
How is he supposed to play Sherlock and Alan Turing and have nothing to say about these issues? He doesn’t have first-hand experience, but he can’t exactly, as an actor promoting roles he’s played, say, “I don’t have a clue what I’m talking about.” He does his best, and I think, comes off as passionate, mostly informed, somewhat sensitive to his privilege, and human. If you’re going to talk about stuff like this, you’re not going to be able to please everyone, in tone or in content.
I think it’s nice that he actually thinks about what he’s doing and is willing to discuss it despite the fact that every word will be pored over and judged. I feel similarly about his missteps in commenting on feminism/women, there have been things he’s said that I don’t like or I disagree with, but at the end of the day we all just do our best.
Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. He can’t win with some.
CumStain 4Eva!
If “privileged” people don’t fight for and with other people, nothing will never change.
He could totally say “it’s not my problem, I’m not concerned” and people would be screaming “PRIVILEDGES”.
He cares and speak about those issues and people are also screaming “PRIVILEGES”, the guy can’t win.
Good point.
So basically you want people to support LGBT and be aware of the problems of autistic and neurodivergent persons, just don’t speak about them unless they have expertise. All righty then.
Well, you know he may not be an expert but at least he’s not a coward.
+1
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I just re-read what I wrote and no, I dont’ see where I said any of that, allheavens. What I did say, and I appreciate that it can come across differently than intended online, is that I find some of his statements, while from a very good and well-intentioned, and educated, place, to be off putting and not quite problematic but in need of better phrasing. As a member of the neurodivergent and queer communities, it is *my personal experience* which informs the opinion. I don’t think he is out of bounds, I feel he can opine all he wishes and good on him for doing so. My problem is how it comes across as savior-ish and how it can be off putting to members of the communities he supports through his work as both an actor and a potential activist. I find that the sweeping statements he, and others, make can paint a very “well, it’s a simple fix!” type picture of different issues and while it is awesome attention is being given to the issues, I think a better-phrased or better-presented approach would do more good, if that is his goal.
I hate to sound nitpicky, but it’s not an “Autistic person”, it is a person with Autism. Person-first language is important in my field and I know it seems like a minor change, but how we use language shapes our beliefs and attitudes. Most people choose not to be defined by their disability.
As an Autistic person, I prefer “Autistic person” as does my partner. We’re letting our son make his own decision on which terminology he prefers when he’s old enough to do so. I understand that, within the community, there is divide on the terminology for many reasons both personal and political, but for myself, as an individual with Autism, I prefer Autistic person. I rather resent the implication it is “defining me by my disability” when I make that informed decision to use that terminology for my own person, but at the same time I respect that others on the spectrum do not wish to use that terminology and try to make sure I ask first which they prefer when it becomes necessary to use either one.
@RJ-Totally agree, people are not defined by what makes them different from a typical person.
Yes, words matter and within the neuro-diversity community it is common to hear both “autistic” and “person with autism.” Often, as professionals, we ask someone which terminology they (or their family) prefers.
@EleanorRigby: Thank you!
It’s an interesting point of discussion. As a mother of an ADHD child, I always in advance tell his teachers/coaches/whoever is supposed to work with him that he is hyperactive. While hyperactivity doesn’t affect a person’s life to the same extent autism does, and is generally regarded as a milder condition, it still is associated with some negative effects and consequences.
The reason why I do this is closely related to this concept of not letting your disability define you (or in this case your child, and I do realise that hyperactivity isn’t a major disability, but it does influence my child’s life in a number of ways). Imo this is also a somewhat sweeping statement, because the truth of the matter is that disabilities do define you in one way or another because they define the way you exist in this world and relate to your surroundings. I sometimes think that to truly accept your difference you have to let it define you in the sense that you call it openly by its name and accept that it’s a big part of who you are. And this is what I want for my son, too. But, I am sure that this attitude varies from person to person, and ultimately we all choose what makes us the most comfortable.
I think he has ADHD, he said it himself and he shows many symptoms. So he is not all neurotypical.
What happened between his pics with Dan Stevens and TIFF?! The hat doesn’t do him any favors.
nor the facial hair… sort of OT but if you are a Dan Stevens fan see the Guest…
Dying to see The Guest when it comes out here on side of the pond…How did you enjoy it?
I’ve seen the GMB #greatbritishbeatoff clip an embarrassing amount of times.
I saw The Guest , not that familiar with Dan Stevens, who reminded me of a less pretty Paul Walker RIP, it was daft but good fun in a gory way, much suspension of disbelief required, especially at the end….
The hat does him no good. The rest of his look is great though.
I’m revoking his right to dress himself. He looks awful. There are also recent pics with Eddie Redmayne where he is wearing some maroon polka dot thing.
His secret girlfriend is failing at the make-over portion of her job. Someone get ip to Toronto and fix this!!
Eddie is colour blind you know!
He is wearing a LL Cool J style Kangol hat!
Hahahaha! Why would he think this looks good?
Dude….all you need is a well tailored suit and some tousled hair and your all set.
That boyband circa 1997 hat has to go.
i’m looking forward to this movie. turing’s story is so fascinating, and so sad. (i’ve never seen cumberbatch in anything, so maybe i’ll get to see why he’s such a big thing?)
Ben – LOSE THE CAP!!!
ps girls – Richard III didn’t have a beard:
http://static.bbc.co.uk/history/img/ic/640/images/resources/people/king_richard_iii.jpg
(most well known painting)
http://www.yorkmix.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/richard-III-head.jpg
(facial reconstruction made from his skull)
If you want a laugh, just Google “Richard III jokes”
Aaargh. A lot of people seem to think that the skull reconstruction is The Last Word on what Richard looked like. Most of the time those facial reconstructions bear very little similarity to the person’s actual appearance. I’d go by the portraits before going by the skull reconstruction.
I really can’t stand reading actor’s political views. Even if I agree with them in spirit, the actors never fully sound like they grasp te issues, which sounds like it here. He doesn’t sound any different than any other actor. How is he considered super smart again?
He is very well educated. Which works against him as everything he says smacks of privilege. Don’t get me wrong, I love Benny – but his disconnect is showing.
That’s exactly what I was trying to say upthread lol. I have no doubt he is passionate about the causes he discusses but he has a very jarring disconnect when he speaks about them.
Actors are citizens, they have a right to free speech, to voice their opinions. It is a brief interview, he’s not defending his doctoral dissertation.
I wonder where people here get their expertise on the geopolitical dynamics of economic, social, state and military change?
He babbles too much and sort of came off holier than thou. Not a good look.
In that bottom picture he looks like Richard Thompson, which genius, but not a great look for a man under the age of 60.
Aiiee!! You are so right. The look registered with me too but I’d have taken til Xmas to identify it. Much obliged!
If I were to write an article entitled “50 Signs That You’re Over 50”, Benedict Cumberbatch would be on that list. Why? Because I have no earthly clue who he is. It seems like everyday, I see a picture or a name of someone supposedly super-famous – the current “it” person – and I have absolutely no idea who they are, what they do or where they came from. It’s like there is a big celebrity factory somewhere – in the corn fields of Iowa or the fens in England – just popping out new celebrities like a Pez dispenser. Do we really need these many celebrities? I it because we have the collective attention span of a gnat? I can’t keep up anymore. And that, my friends, is why God made tequila.
LOL @ LaurieH… You know, when you don’t recognize most of the people in People magazine, you have to stop buying it. I did. All those reality people. You can’t keep up with them all. You also just stop caring so much. My mom has never read gossip magazines. I think it is because they were invented after she turned 50…
umm, i wouldn’t really call him a superfamous celebrity. dude, at the end of the day he’s an actor, not kim kardashian. he’s been working steadily for some 15 years and is well-respected for his work. so he hardly just popped up from nowhere a year ago. he’s got buzz now, but regardless of that he’s still just an actor. a very good one, in my opinion, as i’ve seen a few of his films. so watch a film sometime lol and you’ll maybe know a few more actors.
i know next to nothing about celebrities, and i’m 25… i watch films and go to theatre when it’s affordable, so that’s why i know about BC.
I am over 50 and am well aware who Benny is and am somewhat ashamed to say I am far too familiar with a number of much less eminent celebs. Not sure how you could read papers / go to the cinema / watch TV/ listen to radio/ go online without being aware of him, he has a fairly “memorable” name and (ahem) face. Can’t be doing with the reality show people and never watch any of them but it does seep in …
No actor has the balls to make statements like these especially knowing they are in contention or award season. So kudos to him for showing he isn’t some dummy who’ll only give dimplinatic answers i.e not give any answers just so he can be in everyone’s good books.
agree!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry I do not understand. Nothing he says in the interview is controversial or new and it serves his purpose to talk up the homo sexuality issues. Personally I think it would have been more interesting if he had discussed how he came up with the characterisation and subtleties in the performance if there are any.
Several reviews have already commented on the comparisons with his Sherlock although not necessarily in a negative way. so I was quite pleased that he at least tried to differentiate the two roles through personality characteristics. The whole autistic spectrum stuff just seemed to muddy the waters. And surely people realise that a fictionalised Sherlock Homes really does not correlate to any one who is autistic or has Asperger’s.
Numerous actors, far too many to count, have made far more controversial statements while in the midst of award campaigns. Vanessa Redgrave immediately springs to mind. She and Marlon Brando are the reason Oscar nominees are given instructions that they are not to make political statements during acceptance speeches. Ben Affleck has been making political statements for over a decade and considered a Senate run just two years ago AND won another Oscar. Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, George Clooney, Alec Baldwin, Kelsey Grammar, Jon Voight, Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, and on and on and on, all make controversial statements all the time.
You guys seem to be pretty resentful towards people who are privileged or come from a family background with money. I can tell because the majority of the negativity towards Benedict is associated with him coming from a middle-upper class background. I personally don’t care as long as you’re working hard and doing something constructive/respectable/artistic with your life and not taking your privilege for granted. Ben seems to be doing fine with that swimmingly. I’ve never seen him come off as snobbish or uptight (albeit pretty cheeky) and if he has I don’t think it’s intentional.
Well said Elyse!
Americans in particular want to divide themselves amongst class/racial lines. When I went to college in the southeast after having been to catholic school my entire life in the northeast, I was ridiculed constantly about it, even from my friends as being privileged etc. I wasn’t shoving it into people’s faces, I wanted to fit in, but I felt I just couldn’t once people knew the truth about me. Hiding my true self from others and not using higher vocabulary(i’ve actually had people make fun of me for using vocabulary they did not know; I don’t use them to sound uppity, I have been using said vocabulary since I was small and some people always think I am trying to show off; I hate the fact that people in general want me to dumb down my vocabulary) that came naturally to me was the only way I felt at ease with a lot of the general population. I am not crying oh poor rich kid here, but trust me when I say a lot of people are highly jealous/greedy in nature in general in American society. Several people told me that they wouldn’t have cared how abusive verbally and physically my mother was to me, as long as I had money that that was all that mattered.
@Andrea,
And who told your new friends about your eastern Catholic upbringing? You? And based on your post, you’re still doing it. i.e. the humble brag.
delorb, I gather from her comments that it was her vocabulary that tipped them off as to her upbringing. I don’t think she was doing a humble brag at all…she was just sharing her experience.
Thank you. 🙂
I don’t have a problem with his background at all. My point was only that as he received a top notch education – his manner of expressing himself is eloquent and elevated. Which many people who have not had the same opportunities may see as offputting.
This isn’t a judgment from me – just an observation. I think a commodious vocabulary is sexy!
I’ve taken my speech down a bit. I’ve been instructed before to mark something as “OK or Not OK?” Because people were confused by “Approve or Not Approve.”
People are quick to label Cumby and Hiddles as lofty or posh – yet have no problem with Russel Brand because they know his history.
I live in Canada now and don’t have these issues I spoke of above anymore(knock on wood).
People are quick to judge and quick to label people (Americans in particular from my experience). It just disgusts me. Celebrities are all pretty wealthy and they have a platform to discuss social issues that we do not. I say they can do it, coming from a privileged background or not.
@ Andrea love how you just stereotype all Americans because of YOUR experience. See, this happened to me at a particular place and time and therefore, “Americans are quick to judge and label people.” UGH.
I said from my own experience, I didn’t say as a whole. And from what I have seen, small town America is what I am describing not large suburban areas or cities. I am sure small town Canada is just the same with judging and labeling, why I feel everyone needs to expose themselves to different cultures etc, even on a small way to not be so insular.
If I have told him once, I have told him a thousand times-DO NOT cover THE CURLS. Sigh.
None of these interviews do him any favors, I think. Yes, he’s intelligent. Yes, he’s charming. He has a very expensive and extensive vocabulary and he does obviously keep abreast of current events and such but sweeping over-generalizations and some quite misinformed perceptions run rampant with this guy. My Cumby Lady Boner (MCLB) is really not engorged today.
Just turn the sound down and I’m sure she’ll bounce back to her usual self.
There’s pics on the day after whitecapgate and he looks SO much better. Mostly tweets from interviews.
Think they were on the londonphile tumblr.
Oh FFS! Benny looks like Pepé Le Pew in that cap/face fringe ensemble. You’re killing me, Otter. Stop it. I meant it, just stop it!
If they’re truly having trouble casting Ophelia in the play, like it seems from the articles recently, why not have a world wide audition? Maybe a little competition?
Actually,ma competition may not be a good idea in second thought.
As a working actress (on and off) you know how it goes, I would be up for being a Shakespeare play, plus, I really enjoy Shakespeare. I’m not a big Cumberbatch fan though. He’s a good actor, but the Cumbercollective/bitches scare me. But, I wouldn’t back down if I ever got the opportunity to work with him.
I’m not a JChan fan at all. I think she’s a good actress, just not a fan, no reason. I’ve only seen a movie or two, that’s probably why.
I’m not a huge fan of hers, either. She always comes across as quite wooden to me, and I always think “Well, if that’s what a Julliard education gets you…” I’m sure she’s fantastic in some roles, but I just haven’t found one of hers that makes me a fan.
TIFF reviews for Miss Julie are somewhat mixed, but most reviewers praise Chastain a lot. One of them even said that Miss Julie is the performance of her career. I really am looking forward to watching it, I absolutely love this kind of films that only have a handful of actors on screen and provide you with the luxury of closely following their development.
I wonder if they’re having a hard time finding anyone who can commit a year in advance? A LOT can happen in 12 months, and while this is a prestigious production, I can see where someone might not want to be committed to a project so far in advance.
And yeah, having to deal with the Cumberbitches showing up to see the play is not my cup of tea. I’m sure the vast majority will be perfectly polite and respectful of the play, the cast and the other patrons, but it only takes one or two people to ruin it.
I don’t think they’ll be having any trouble at all casting this play . I’m sure there are plenty of talented actresses in London who could do a fantastic job and would want to join the production.
The Chastain comment was simply an interviewer trying to stir something up and BC responding pretty much the only way he could. He couldn’t say “no, we don’t want her” , that would be unprofessional, he couldn’t say “not my division” since that would make him seem out of the loop, he couldn’t be non-committal since people would take that to me “we don’t want her” which would be seen as unprofessional. So he was positive about the prospect.
On the same token, if it was already cast then it’d be just as rude for him to say it. Since he seems like a polite guy in all his interviews, I’d say the role is uncast or the person who was originally going to play it backed out due to rescheduling.
I wonder why they are having trouble casting. There are many good actresses on the UK who could play Ophelia they may not be well known but does that matter. They would probably welcome the chance to play in something which would get them attention. And why would well known actresses not want to play in Hamlet.
Have they cast Gertrude yet.
What makes you think they are having trouble casting? Just because they don’t have an Ophelia yet, the production is almost a year away.
The way interview about it make it seem like it is having trouble being cast. They already have most the cast, or at least that’s the impression I’ve been given. Wouldn’t it be stupid to not at least being looking for the characters if you already have Hamlet? Like someone said early, a lot can happen in a year, so, they should, at the very least, have people in mind. The director could also begin having a hard time deciding on whom they want to play Ophelia.
There’s no need to get defensive @From North of Boston. People are just drawing conclusions from interviews. What makes you think it’s not having troubles being cast? Just curious.
“There’s no need to get defensive @From North of Boston. ”
@Rose, I’m not being defensive…I just didn’t read the post as indicating they were having trouble casting the play. (drawing conclusions based on the interviews, just like others) That’s why I was asking why icerose thought they were having trouble casting. Maybe she read some other article that gave more info?
I’d suspect they ARE probably working on casting and have people in mind. (no reason to think they’re not) But I’m not surprised that things haven’t been announced since it’s still a ways off. Then again, I’ve got no experience in stage production…what’s the usual timetable for casting, and announcing the cast for, a production like this?
Benedict is not only an actor, he is a citizen and as a citizen he can express opinions, including political opinions.
Actors can share them or not, it’s their choice and both attitudes are totally legit but expressing an opinion isn’t an holier than you attitude, just something normal in democracy.
Let’s be real, his opinions may hurt his chances at the awards and obviously he doesn’t care. I respect that.
As I respect actors and people who stand for their opinion and have the b–ls to share them.
Some people prefer actors gave glossy, non-political answers to every question they are asked. And I get that. Reading an interview given by an actor is entertainment and not everyone wants to know what they think all the time. If you don’t agree, it might ruin the crush.
But I think I would rather know up front who I’m a fan of, so I don’t get disappointed 10 years from now a la Gary Oldman.
It can kill a crush but who cares? Not him obviously. This interview won’t hurt his fandom, at worst his chance to get an Oscar nom.
I understand that people are not interested in actor’s political views but they have the right to express them anyway.
Don’t like it, don’t read it.
As issue-y as I find how he phrases some things, I appreciate and respect the fact he doesn’t give PR answers or smile and nod and give a “popular” answer. I may not agree or like his replies regarding some things, but good on him for not being afraid to state them.
He rambles a lot, it can be off putting in written interviews and confusing in real life. That’s just him.
Very true. I know some folks like that IRL and I sometimes need to just take a break from the conversation, lol, and regroup before jumping back in with ’em.
LOL true, Benedict must be exhausting in real life.
Yeah, while I don’t agree with everything he says, I like the fact that he speaks his mind and doesn’t feel like he needs to gloss over what he thinks. The only time he seems to dance around anything is when it relates to his projects – beans he’s contractually obligated not to spill, plans that haven’t been announced or finalized, that sort of thing.
I only wish we’d get a video, or at least the audio from an interview like this. Because often with Cumberbatch, things come to life or take on different meanings when you can actually hear what he’s saying.
@ North of Boston
I would love to see a video of this interview as well. He has such an expressive face that it does give new meaning to what he says.
I like that he is outspoken enough to give his views on sensitive and political issues and of course many of the characters he has played feed into these sorts of discussions. Assange, 12 Years a Slave, Amazing Grace, Turing and even Khan with all the secrecy the role demanded. It is a good thing that he does have strong opinions and is able to talk about these issues.
I am probably going to be crucified for what I’m saying, but I don’t believe for a second that this interview is going to hurt his Oscar chances – or that he’ll say anything that will truly hurt his chances. Or that any of his interviews from now until the end of awards season will not be part of his Oscar campaign. And yes, I think that after the glowing reception his performance in TIG received both at Telluride and TIFF, the Oscar campaign has begun for him. We’re talking about a Weinstein film here.
This interview is part of TIG promotion, and it touches on all the right issues, except perhaps the political stuff, but that’s not something that is going to be of any particular consequence for Ben imo. I also think that there’s nothing wrong with Oscar campaigns, and I think it’s short-sighted to think that an actor who’s hopeful to get an Oscar (nom) would drastically change his public persona and start spouting rainbows. It’s never that straightforward. Each campaign is created in such a way as to suit the respective film and actor’s personality, and this interview does exactly that, albeit perhaps in a slightly heavy-handed way (which can be corrected in further interviews). Tl;dr, sorry, so basically my bottom line is that I think that it’s naive to take this interview as a proof of the fact that Ben doesn’t give a damn about his Oscar chances – or that anything he’s said can hurt them.
He said “you can’t kill an idea,” heh
Kaiser I am right there with you on the facial hair. Benny, there is no shame in admitting you are one person who cannot pull off a moustache or facial hair in general. Some people just can’t. Maybe my opinion will change once it grows out more.
Look at his Van Gogh, I think the beard was fake but it’s as close as a beard Benedict can be.
Moreover, his performance as Van Gogh is his best for me.
edit:link isn’t working for whatever reason but just google Benedict Van Gogh.
Here’s Benedict’s Van Gogh beard. Real as far as I know. I’m pretty fond of this look, oddly enough. Love that film too. Documentary I suppose.
So… you want him to be smart but not too smart. You want him to have opinions but not important ones. You want him to be deep but not too deep.
Yup, he can totally win with this. Totally.
It seems like that. I am at least happy, that he is able to think for himself and is able to express himself in an more than adequately. I am also happy that he is caring about other things than his hear and his work out routine. I do not have to read about the amount of weight he lost to play this role or what kind of prosthetics he had to wear.
If only people who are directly affected by the issues are allowed to talk about them, form an opinion or are allowed to direct attention to those issues, the world would be even more depressing place and very excluding.
*more than adequately manner..oops seems like I can not express myself adequately
@Mazza,
I’m stealing this, totally. LOL
Go forth, @delorb. Think of him as a semi-shallow pond.
Listen, if your name is not LL Cool J or Samuel L. Jackson I’m going to need you to not wear a Kangol hat. Thanks.
LOL When I saw the Kangol, I thought, well at least it’s not his mini-hat.
I jus have one thing to say and I haven’t read the comments yet… Gotta love this guy, he says everything I think… We think alike,…. 😀
It is a mistake for him to discuss politics. I like knowing what he thinks, but politics can be very divisive. People just want him to entertain them. He also does not have control over how the article is written, so it is easy to be miss-quoted. Or quoted out of context.
I think a statement like this will possibly offend some people. “Well, he’s probably gay. They’re always the biggest homophobes.”. ———- He really needs to elaborate a little. Perhaps his context was left out. It is a tough subject to discuss and easy to make bad sound bites..
That said, he looks yummy. I could do without the beard though.
Imo his political stance covered in this article is rather inconsequential – he first calls for trying to understand the ISIL, their ideology and organisational structure better, but then goes on to say that if there were a conscription, he would go (really, Ben?) because the Islamic State’s ethics is genocidal in nature and goes against all the values of normal society.
I can actually more or less forgive him these inconsistencies because I find myself conflicted on a number of political issues. However, maybe he’d be better off if he sounded less forceful and rambling.
He didn’t come off as privileged to me, just rambley.
But I think he dropped two hints: about the SGF and his next project. He mentioned X-Men. Therefore, he is going to be in the next Marvel movie AND his SGF is indeed Mystique.
I’m loving the bit of facial hair to be honest. I even like the hat, but I wish he’d let us see the hair more often these days.
I like a scruffy Benedict and have always liked his silly hats but the hair is best left free and unrestrained.
I agree. I usually love me some facial hair, but this is not working. I am a pretty bad CumberB*#@$!, but apparently I have limits as he looks smarmy and yucky to me like this! Please shave Cumby!
In random Benedict news–he just won best actor at the TV Choice Awards in London. His parents accepted for him and it was cute as all get-out. Pics are up on Londonphile’s tumblr, among others.
Not even going to pretend I’ve read EVERY comment because at this point it’s kind of a tennis match of opinions. I will say that I do agree with the general consensus that he’s knowledgeable, but obviously only to a point.
I don’t hold it against him since there’s no way he could know anything more…in depth without lying. So there’s that. He does come from a privileged position, though. Some people just do. His idea of upper middle class as he calls it, is SO different than what I think most of us know. But, that’s from a dude who probably thought he was compared to the circles his family and friends run with. Perspective can be a bitch.
I don’t think he’s a dick about it, which is nice. He’s just definitely limited in what he can say without wandering into territory he doesn’t know. I’d bet money this interview is edited too. He’s quite the talker, so I’m curious what the full version looks like. He might have explained a bit better? Seems like he left some comments a bit vague here and that can read wrong depending on how you interpret it. Anyone else? Some things sound like his words and others don’t. It reminds me of the manning interview. That one was SO poorly edited he actually had to send them a message telling the interviewer to release the rest of his comments.
This isn’t on that level but parts are off, I think. Maybe that’s on him. I have no idea. I can see how it’s reading poorly, but I don’t at all think he was going for that.
Outfit wise (why not?) I like his red polkadot shirt more. I think it’s from earlier today? You’ll see it in another post I’m sure. I do like the scruff, personally.
I agree with regards to possible editing. I realize he’s usually quite rambling, but even for him this seemed to jump around with some glaring lack of transition.
Yeah, he rambles like it’s an Olympic sport but he still managed to swing it back around to his original point. This doesn’t read like that. It seems like swaths of conversation are just missing.
Dear lordy… I barely noticed that Cumby was in that vid. Eddie and Idris and Michelle? It suddenly got very hot in here. And I love that they all got involved.
Oh, shit oh shit oh shit!!! “Taken” is the word! Uh oh…..Explosion is imminent! Take cover, all!!
so he confirms he is taken y’all. i had a feeling he would confirm a gf at tiff somehow
If you watch the ‘taken’ video – you clearly can see he is joking. He is clearly pointing between him and Keira when he says it.
He may still have a secret GF but that was not him confirming it.
There’s a video floating around of the Q&A. A weird fan asks if she can taste his yumminess, and he says “Alan Turing is yummy” then Keira laughs and he gestures between the two of them and says “sorry, I’m already taken”. The whole crowd laughs and it’s obvious that it’s a joke, probably playing off the Alan/Joan relationship.