Benedict Cumberbatch meets @MadameTussauds Benedict Cumber-wax – and he looks a bit bemused… http://t.co/A7MXaBX6ks pic.twitter.com/vOSSrVNbJr
— Standard Showbiz (@standardshowbiz) October 24, 2014
Benedict Cumberbatch appears on The Graham Norton Show this weekend… in the UK. BBC America won’t air the episode until next weekend, although most of the clips will probably be online over the next few days. Benedict appears on the show with Adam Levine (EW), Miranda Hart and Timothy Spall. It should be a good episode. They’ve already filmed it too, which is where the above photo comes in. Apparently, Norton arranged for the surprisingly life-like Cumberbatch wax figure to come to the taping and Benedict posed with it. Which is the real Cumby?! The one with the terrible haircut. During the taping, Benedict mentioned something that I’m sure will make all of the fan-boys crazy:
He might have previously denied having any involvement in Star Wars Episode VII – but that doesn’t mean Benedict Cumberbatch has steered clear of the film altogether. In fact, the actor revealed during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show – ahead of the release of his new movie The Imitation Game – that he’s been closer to the project than everybody might think.
‘I went to the set,’ he admitted. ‘It was incredible’ – before hastily telling the talk show host: ‘I probably shouldn’t be saying these things.’
Wow. Could he have just accidentally given away a hint of an actual appearance in the film? Looks like we may have to wait a while to find out, since Norton’s questions about a possible appearance were met with a simple ‘no comment’.
As well as discussing the role of Alan Turing in The Imitation Game – describing him as ‘a national hero and icon who should be on the back of bank notes’, Benedict also shared his thoughts on his newly unveiled Madame Tussauds waxwork.
‘It’s peculiar but a big honour,’ he said of the figure, which made its debut at the London attraction earlier this week. ‘It’s really weird.’
Benedict was mentioned heavily back in the day for a possible part in Star Wars. Given his existing relationship with JJ Abrams from Star Trek Into Darkness, it’s not insane to think that JJ would have given Bendy a part and then try to keep the whole thing a secret. But Bendy’s language here is interesting – I actually think he did just “went to” the set. To see his friend JJ. And maybe he visited the set because he’s a nerd? That too.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
Hoho, Cumberwax.
That wax otter is posing for his life!
I had a feeling he was going to do some sort of cameo in Star Wars. He might be completely unrecognizable, but I bet he’s in the film. Even just for a second. JJ would let him do that 🙂
He could be a stormtrooper. Full costume and no one will ever know.
I’m hoping he wears that full body spandex suit like in the LoTR behind the scenes footage. He looked like a toe trying to peek out of a hole in a sock.
Yeah, I think it’d be something like that. So he can say he was in Star Wars (look kids, there’s dad- stormtrooper number 47!), but his appearance in it won’t be a distraction to the story or audience. If he is in it, he’ll say something after the movie’s out 🙂
My sister told me that some Alist celebrities have dressed as zombies and gone unnoticed on Walking Dead. I don’t know if that’s true, my sister is a shady character anyway. Maybe there will be secret celebrity cameos in Star Wars?
“Aren’t you a little [tall] for a stormtrooper?”
Seriously, he’d be gargantuan.
@Jaderu, I was potato-shanked once, unprovoked, by your sister. I totally get where you’re coming from. I didn’t recognize her because she was dressed like Sherlock Holmes. True story.
@Kiddo
I wouldn’t doubt it. She’s a monster really. She used to tell me that our parents found me on the porch with a paper bag over my face.
Added bonus: He already has his own life-sized *’action’ figure. Toys R us will have it promptly removed due to urine stainage from the femalebatchers’ territory-markers.
*the action part scares me with the batchladies.
That femalebatchers’ urine technique also wards off violent crime on public transportation. #AbbottTips
@TQB Maybe he could be a Wookie? Is his facial hair game on point?
I can totally buy that he has the part of an extra, too. Seriously, he’s said before how much he loves Star Wars, and I’m sure JJ Abrams would let him have some sort of walk-on role. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is an extra, just to be on the set and to say he was part of the film.
Yup, same goes for Simon Pegg. You know he wants in on this, even if it’s just his foot that gets on screen. Haha.
My favourite Cumberbatch moment on Graham Norton was when he spoke about teabagging his ex-girlfriend’s mother. Good times.
Hahaha, whaaat? Explain, pls.
It’s the episode he did with Chris Pine and Kim Cattrall (Season 13, episode 5). It’s about 22-24 minutes in to the episode. He is talking about how his ex Olivia and her mother got front row seats to see him in “Frankenstein”, that play in which he has to “flop out naked.” Super funny.
•Clucky•
Yes! That was priceless!!!
And you have to see it to appreciate it! O.M.G. is it funny.
If i could visit Star Wars set, i so would. So maybe he is not in it but he really wanted to see how it is going or maybe he has a cameo. That would be fun.
He’d make a brilliant Jar Jar Binks =P
Why or why is the Cumberwax not in full Sherlock regalia?? Floppy curls, coat? I guess I can cancel that trip to London now.
I like the wax figure and think they did a marvelous job, but seeing him stand next to it smiling, I kind of wish they had made the figure have a smile as well.
I kind of think Cumberwax is cuter than Cumberbatch.
Me too. It looks very real, but like it had more rest than the real life counterpart.
I think his statue looks kind of bored, actually, so I agree that even a hint of a smile would have been better. It’s still an uncanny resemblance, though. I saw some pictures on the Daily Mail’s site, and it looks like he was kind of circling around the statue and checking it out. If *he* thinks it’s spot-on, then that’s pretty high praise!
Graham Norton was on one of the chat shows this morning and apparently Timothy Spall tells a story that was so interesting that fascinated Graham so much he just let him continue and that says a lot.
Also curious as to why Benny was not nominated foe an AWARD IN THE Gollum INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS UNLESS the film does not qualify because it has not had an official USA release,
Nice! I hope the full convo is shown
What exactly does it say? Norton always lets his guest finish their stories so this isn’t something new.
He was asked if he ever let people talk about serious issues on his show -thus was followed by a conversation about how he saw his show as a fun show but he then said that Timothy Small told a story which was so interesting that they just went with it for as long as it took.
To be honest I wish heBenny was not on it with Spall because I just find it gets to abit fannish and silly when he is when he is on it.They needed someone like Eddie Izzard who is genuinely funny.
Gollum Awards? Someone’s been watching too much LoTR 😉
Wouldn’t Imitation Game be too English for the Gotham Awards? They used to be American-only. They broadened it a bit, but you still have to have an American director/producer. Does Imitation Game qualify on that count?
The Imitation Game did not qualify for The Gotham Awards or the Gollum Awards apparently. So that would be why Benedict was not nominated for an award.
To true I meant to say gotham but I had a brain swap as the Gotham article was on a page with another article saying how bad the Hobbit is/was.
@Maggie why did it not qualify
lol, Gollum Award. Made me laugh 🙂
(Was the article saying the Battle of the Five Armies Hobbit is bad? or the first one?)
@ Icerose
Rules for The Gotham Awards state:
that it must be an American feature and it should be directed by a U.S.-born or based filmmaker. They also state that it had to be made with an economy of means.
So TIG doesn’t qualify for a few reasons.
OTTERS CAN SMIZE. I know-caps. But I love me a hot batch.
A bit OT, but I cannot be the only one thinking I should be bowing just now…. Or wishing I could be a royal concubine….or something….OMG….
http://londonphile.tumblr.com/post/100843424806/riiiset-its-not-everyday-you-see-benedict
I first read your comment as ‘bowling’ instead of ‘bowing’ and ‘porcupine’ instead of ‘concubine’ and was very intrigued as to what I was going to see in the link. Lol. Just a tad disappointed 😉
I’m still surprised he doesn’t have the wig anymore. Looks better w/o it.
Hellooooooooooooooo, your highness… *ahem*
Seeing him mounted on a black horse in royal regalia caused me to have a bleep in sanity. I will need to watch this lying down–in the ward.
I know I have said I wish he’d step away from the historical stuff for a while, but uh I think I’ve changed my mind a bit?
he looks HAWT on graham norton, if a bit thin. he said that the cumberwax looks just as tired as he feels, lol. makes me think he must know the fandom are commenting on how exhausted he seems.
Well, between doing all these parties, filming Richard III, filming whatever the secret BBC project is (I’m going to bet it’s some sort of interstitial commercial thing and not as big a deal as some in fandom want it to be), and who knows what else to prep for Lost City of Z and Sherlock, I’m sure he’s seeing the tired in the mirror himself, too. And probably, yes, hearing it from “well meaning” fans, lol. I *know* there’s people who meet him and go “you look so tired lately!”
Still just wish he’d be my hero and tell Weinstein to **** off.
The BBC said it was for BBC1 and 2…could be for Children In Need telethon
Geez, he looks better at his most tired than I do when I’m well rested. Lol. He never seems to have bags under his eyes, I’m envious.
WHere did this secret project talk come from?
The Beeb itself! They posted a pic and a comment that he was filming a “secret project” for them. And word on the tiredness–but I guess it helps to have access to make up artists, fancy unguents and creams, etc (and good genes–his parents are aging well!)
Oh cool, so it is actually something. A commercial sounds likely. Something that wouldn’t take up too much time. Maybe a Christmas thing.
His parents are aging well.
it might be linked to the dvd extras interviews which they had on the first series
Heard that they’ve finished filming in Wells.Anyone any idea where they’re off to next?…
And any BC sightings today?Has he eloped with SH?Or Miranda??????
Depends on if they’re filming in order or not but they may be back to Wales or have some days off while the next place is made good to go. No BC sightings (not even fake ones on twitter, but I won’t swear to it since I avoid that like the plague)… I’m sure he hasn’t eloped with SH or Miranda but is waiting for his one true love, the Tiny Hat, to come back from being cleaned and re-blocked.
Watched GN show….I totally ship MH and BC!!
OMG they were so funny!
*gasp* You ship him with someone? Lol. Who is MH? She must be rad. :p
Miranda Hart. There’s some fairly funny clips from the show up online now, showing her getting BC to do a Beyonce strut, lol.
@Tara….yep.I ship him with several ladies.Just not pretentious, stick up their arse posh totties!Enough of SH and KB…..
Let’s move onto BCand MH.Absolutely hysterical!Love to see them do a comedy together.
Oh, her. She is funny!
My homepage has a gif up of him doing the Beyonce strut. I thought he was going to trip himself with those bendy legs! Lol.
Did Timothy spall do it too? I’d love to see that!
Timothy Spall declined politely lol.
As I was watching BC I couldn’t help but think of John Cleese!
THAT’S who he reminded me of, lol! Yes!
Yup, that first kick is straight up Ministry of Silly Walks.
I worship Mike Leigh and would love to see Benedict work with him….talk about stepping out of his comfort zone! Not sure Mike Leigh would buy it, although it sounds like BC also likes to do a lot of improvisation and collaboration on set.
BC must wear out suit jacket button holes. Sit down, unbutton. Get up, button. Over and over….He is always fiddling with his buttons! Yeah, well….fiddle with this button! Oh, dear….I believe he has me entranced after all this GN marvelous silliness.
I thought I was the only one who notice that, and it isn’t just benedict. I guess it probably isn’t comfortable to sit with your suit jacket buttoned up.
I have to wait until the 1st to watch the whole episode, but watched the gn youtube clips. Hilarious and adorable:)!!!
Timothy Spall was amazing -so honest and down to earth. I loved his sleep walking story and listening to him discuss his near miss with death was very real and poignant, I loved his ” I no longer have the tome for bullshit and I am more open.”so true.
When he said he spent two years learning to paint and that he actually paints the pictures in the film himself just put me in awe of his dedication. You could see the look of wonder on Benedict’ face, I seriously doubt Benny e would do a Leigh film a and his comment about 3 masters felt pre rehearsed and more for show. I just think his improvising skills would be too self conscious for something like that,
Miranda was great as well, I could have dome with more of them and less of Ben answering the silly fan questions which were so very repetitious. I do wish they had let the student from Harrow continue his story about one of the stores passed down about Ben at Harrow just to see more of Ben’s look of horror for a bit longer ,He must have things he does not want revealed,But in the end Graham had to cut him because if je had not it might have stopped other guests from appearing on his show. As Graham said he was watching his back.
Wow, I knew he spent 2 years learning to paint, but didn’t know he actually did the ones in the film. Impressive!
What was the story the Harrow boy told? Was he just a kid in the audience, or did they have him on the show?
Did BC announce some super secret thing as he was rumored to do?
Of course not! He wouldn’t even comment on Star Wars or Star Trek, he certainly didn’t make any big announcements about his love life (if that is what you mean). Or anything else for that matter. He was charming as all get out but it was very standard interview.
Harrow boy was part of the Red Chair segment, which is a bit that Graham does and is something like the Gong Show. He got booted off immediately!
Cynical me says the Harrow boy was a set up (as in BC knew beforehand lol) but who knows–I still lol’d esp at his “I’d have gotten it” remark and kicking at the lever. i really don’t think he has any part in Star Wars Ep VII (for all I think he’d make a good Thrawn–I’m a SW fangirl from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back lol). He’s friends with JJ and others involved, it’s filming in London, why not visit the set. He’s just stirring the pot.
No, I knew he wouldn’t comment on his personal life, but I heard that he was maybe going to announce something. I thought it may have been an upcoming project.
Oh yeah, the red chair. Those are funny.
Just saw a clip of that, MissMary and I agree with you about Star Wars. He actually did deny having a part in it after his initial ‘no comment’. I believe him. Graham was funny with his stormtrooper photobomb pose. Lol.
I’m still undecided about his involvement in Star Trek 3, though. He may pop up in some shape or form.
The “special announcement” thing came because of a combo of Elle’s teasing the article coming up and some slavering fans who are sure he’s going to “make a debut” of his “SGF” (just like they were sure he’d “debut” Kinvara at TIFF, etc) and building a gossipy rumor into a “NO this is going to happen!” (Sidebar: I’m sure the super big Elle article is rehashed stuff).
I am always a bit amazed and a bit skeeved (a lot skeeved) by the level of conspiracy some people think is going on: that he was unable to make a relationship announcement because xyz, or he’s quashed media presence at events because he said so… If the royal family can’t get rid of the media, what makes people think an actor two steps up from jobbing can?
Oh, right. It was the Elle magazine that said it had a secret announcement. Lordy, when is that issue coming out so we don’t have to hear about it anymore? It’s probably not even that special. Haha.
Is Kinvrara even still a rumor with him? Haven’t heard her mentioned/seen in a while.
Elle does “breathless announcement” headers well, lol, but the articles are either all rehashed and repackaged info, or second-hand embarrassment fodder. Re Kinvara: Even though she was the runaway favorite f or SGF and even fiance up until late August, not a word about her since (though there’s some blips like the mystery blonde/sandy brunette at the theatre, etc). Poor KB–people have forgotten about her in their thirst to force the SH thing to stick and be a Princess Bride story lol.
Yeah, seems like she just disappeared. Lol. Which, of course, only adds to the SH as a gf thing.
It’s funny (in a ha ha way, lol) how she was “THE ONE OMG WAKE UP PEOPLE LOLOLOLOL IN DENIAL FANGIRL STANS” for so many folks on EB and twitter, then all of a sudden, they’re signing a different tune without even a tear shed for poor Kinvara, lol.
No kidding. Where’s the loyalty these days? Tossed out like yesterday’s trash, sheesh!
I do not think that Benedict new just from the look of shock on his face.Also after Graham booted the guy Benny indicated he would have done it himself if Graham had not stopped him and he would not have done that if he had known in advance -he would have set there looking very cool not panicked enough to boot the guy himself,
I’m wondering where the “theatre insiders” skittered off to who were swearing it was truluv 5evah. Maybe it was a rumble like in West Side Story and the KB supporters had to leave the internet forever lol.
I still think he was with KB. I just think they broke it off. Just because there was never a formal announcement doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
I think the thing with KB was more casual than some folks on tumblr wanted to believe. I don’t doubt they hooked up and did some outings together but I sincerely doubt every “omg theatre insider” that posted on twitter and tumblr claiming they were a super serious couple and “about to take the next step for real”.
No, I’d be willing to put money on there being nothing going on with KB.
@icerose
I’m going to stop you right there with the “three masters comment”. So according to you, Cumberbatch sits around during his free time thinking up and rehearsing compliments that he can throw out to curry favor.
Let’s just say that Benedict truly appreciates Mike Leigh’s work as a director; thought Mr. Spall was brilliant in the film; considers Turner to be a true artistic master and was gracious enough to articulate that into a succinct phrase worthy of those three men.
Yes I think actors do think up quips and interesting things to say before they go on and if the moment comes up they use them and Graham gave him the perfect chance to do. He even cut across Graham to get it It is the oldest trick in the book when being interviews. It makes you look charming and clever at the same time, If he had waited until their was a pause in the conversation to say how much he liked Leigh’s film and timothy’s acting then I would have been more likely to believe in his sincerity.
Knowing what you want to say and finding a way to drop it into the interview is standard training if you are going for a job and being interviewed on media is not that different. There were two moments where I actually thought he let go of his public face and one was the ex Harrow moment and the other when timothy was talking about his preparation for Turner and you could see the respect in his face, I always look at people’s reactions to what is being said not at the person speaking -it is far more interesting,
I haven’t seen this part of the show, so I can’t comment on it, but I’m like you icerose, I sometimes like to look at the listeners while someone else is talking or doing something.
For instance, on the show when everyone was going down to see BC’s wax sculpture and the focus was on BC and Graham in front, closest to the camera. In the back Spall and Miranda were getting off the couch, and I was paying attention to them and Spall got off the couch and stood aside and gestured for Miranda to go ahead of him. I thought that was very sweet. I like to watch what’s happening in the background or how people behave when they’re not ‘on’ 🙂
Firstly, I disagree that BC’s comment to Tim was rehearsed. Maybe he planned to say it but that certainly doesn’t mean he wasn’t sincere.
Talking of noticing the little things, when everyone was walking back to the sofa after the waxwork, BC put a supportive hand on Tim’s back going back up the step. Was very sweet.
I agree with Nic that I don’t think Benedict’s comment was rehearsed or in any way insincere. He has always openly praised other actors and their work and is a very generous actor.
I too watch reactions and saw that Benedict was very impressed by Timothy when he talked about Mr Turner and when he was talking about his illness. Benedict was listening very intently.
I also saw him giving Timothy a bit of support up the step after the photobombing. I have noticed that sort of innate good manners before when Benedict has put out a hand to help people up steps or offered an arm and I have also noted that he always pushes chairs in after group Q & As.
I loved all three main guests on the GN couch and thought the chemistry and the mix of humour and anecdote was just right. Benedict did get the most attention but he was the main guest and he has been in the other positions on the couch before, but it was his turn to be the centre of attention.
I think, Icerose, that your dislike (might be too strong a word) of Benedict is colouring your perception of the show.
I also think the Harrow incident was scripted/planned as red chair people have to submit their stories prior to the show. Graham makes it look spontaneous but… I think it was just a bit of a riff on the Out interview and no one was ever going to hear the story and there probably wasn’t one at all. Just some fun!
It was pretty obvious Cumberbatch was sincere, often is, which sometimes gets him into trouble.
He can’t remember what studios he’s working for, pretty unlikely he’s trying to memorize extra things to say outside of his lines. 😀
@ An
I agree he was sincere.
Apparently he was not wrong when he mentioned Disney. Dreamworks Animation is owned by Disney, I think, since about 2009.
@Maggie, Dreamworks Animation is partnered with 20th Century Fox, not Disney. Katzenberg’s departure from Disney was not amicable and Dreamworks was established for direct competition.
@ Icerose
you said
“I seriously doubt Benny e would do a Leigh film a and his comment about 3 masters felt pre rehearsed and more for show. I just think his improvising skills would be too self conscious for something like that,”
Please take a look at this video and tell me he would be too self conscious for improvisation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru4_iuu8pes
What he does here is way beyond self consciousness, it is just out there.
How could that ex harrow guy hinting at something be regarded as a fun moment. It seemed quite sinister to me.
I imagine everything that guy says sounds sinister. He had that unctuous Tory Boy air about him.
@ Betsy
In the interview Benedict had with OUT magazine he said that there was sexual experimentation when he was at school. He didn’t specifically say he was involved but that it went on. I think they just included the guy from Harrow (he may or may not have been genuinely from Harrow) to touch on that interview rather than bringing it up on the actual show. I have no idea if Benedict knew it was going to happen but I assume it was always intended that Graham would kick him off the chair before he revealed the “secret rumours”.
I am sure there was nothing sinister intended.
this happens often in the red chair. if someone mentions they know some behind the scenes story of a celeb on the couch, they get the flip.
No idea if it was staged, but as Nic said, him being from Harrow was definitely believable. 😉