Ah, there’s nothing better than waking up on a lazy Thursday and looking up the Wiki page for Orders of the British Empire. There’s a wonderful rumor this morning… Benedict Cumberbatch might be receiving a CBE, which is Commander of the British Empire. It’s not a knighthood, in case you’re wondering (like I was). IF Bendy gets a CBE, no one will be calling him Sir Bendy or Sir Cumby (and thankfully, no one will be referring to his wife as Lady Sophie). A CBE is one rung lower than a knighthood (KBE) and one rung higher an Officer of the British Empire (OBE). Apparently, some are second-guessing this rumored award because Benedict is much younger (at the age of 38) than most CBE and KBE recipients.
Could Benedict Cumberbatch be among the famous faces on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list? The Sherlock actor is reportedly set to become a Commander of the Order of the British Empire – one rank below a knighthood – when the nominations are announced on June 12th, according to The Sun.
A “source” has commented to the newspaper that Cumberbatch’s CBE – for services to drama – comes surprisingly early in his film career which hit a high note earlier this year when the 38-year-old was nominated for a leading actor Oscar for his portrayal of Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.
“Benedict is clearly very talented but a CBE is normally for those coming towards the end of their careers,” commented the source.
Another “insider” added: “It’s not as though he’s a veteran actor such as John Hurt, who didn’t get the CBE until he was 64.”
Cumberbatch – who is expecting his first child with wife Sophie Hunter – won international recognition for his portrayal of the eponymous detective in BBC1’s Sherlock which first aired in 2010. He has gone on to star in a string of high profiles films, including Star Trek Into Darkness, The Fifth Estate, 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County and last year’s Imitation Game, with an upcoming role in Black Mass (opposite Johnny Depp) and a 13-week run playing the lead in Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Barbican later this year.
When Benedict was so extra during the awards season, some theorized that he was not only campaigning for an Oscar, but a knighthood as well. Benedict has always been somewhat cozy with the royal family in some respects. He’s been a long-time ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, which is Prince Charles’ charity/grant scheme for young people needing scholarships and that sort of thing. Benedict has also done a number of royal and royal-adjacent events in the past year in particular, like a fundraiser with Prince William and a party at Buckingham Palace, etc. He probably was campaigning for this. And hey, at least it’s not a knighthood.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
They give out CBEs for being am English stereotype now!
So many actors deserve before him
Ahem, Hugh Laurie, Alan Cumming, Ewan McGregor. All have OBEs but not CBEs.
yes -and everyone on the Radio Times said similar until the comments were taken down.
I think the best are those that are award to ordinary people.I was thrilled when a friend of mine got one of the smaller awards for her contribution to dance because you knew it was deserved where as the CBE is publicity motivated but Benedict it was of the weakest contenders in many years.
Why are you reading comments on articles about someone you don’t like I just really wanna know at this point lol
This guy’s got so many obsessive people negative and positive floating about I’m glad I’m not him or his security
What has really done to receive a CBE?
F-all.
I had the same question. How puzzling!
Well, he’s put in some legwork for the Prince’s Trust. Actors usually need to either get international awards (Cannes, Oscars, etc) as well as domestic ones before they get an honour. But sometimes, they get honours for domestic achievements when they’re paired with charity work, particularly with charities like the Prince’s Trust. But that sort of honour wouldn’t usually go straight to CBE. You’d be looking at OBE.
You’ve got to remember, these awards are given for representing/embodying the best of Britain IN YOUR FIELD. So being a good actor and enhancing the reputation of British acting is a good enough reason to get one.
(Not that I don’t think the honours systems defaults to a nepotistic backslapping nonsense. Because often, it does).
I can name five actors who have done all of these and still haven’t received an award. Alan Rickman being one of them.
It would seem that there has been a great deal of backslapping nonsense for him to skip straight to CBE (I know they don’t have to follow the order but they usually do) while the likes of Alan Cumming and Ewan McGregor and Charles Dance are still at OBE.
I know Rickman and Fiennes turned down OBEs. What about Daniel Day Lewis?
@ Lilacflowers, they’ve given DDL a knighthood last November for services to acting, I think that’s a bit further upscale than an OBE or a CBE – although I am by no means and expert of the British Honours system! He’s now Sir Daniel Day Lewis. I normally object to these honours that are usually handed out to lickspittles and ner-do- wells with the right connections, but DDL’s is deserved and just occasionally they do get it right.
@lilac – yes; and it is probably a Wanda rumour, as Fanty mocks below, for that reason.
@frisbeejada – DDL is KBE, the one above CBE. Knighthood (or damehood/DBE) is top of that order.
Sixer, thanks for the explanation…
@Sara, Rickman turned down an OBE.
@Frisbejada, thanks.
@Sixer, Wanda strikes me as quite the climber who would gladly push her son into heights she can’t reach herself so she could bask in the reflected radiance.
Kissing Royal Azz (see pics), that’s what Lord Otter has done!
His missus must be over the moon!! Does she become a Lady with this one?
No he needs to get a knighthood before she becomes a lady.
To be fair they gave Jolie a damehood she didn’t deserve so the bar’s set pretty low anyways.
to true -never really understood that one either -especially as she was not even UK citizen. She doesa some good charity work but so do other non UK residents so why single her out
True but as she’s not a British citizen she can’t actually use the title ‘Dame…’ and it was in recognition for her substantial work for womens rights in 3rd/war torn worlds – something that she has been involved in for many years. So i can’t shade her for that.
She was put forward for that award because the charitable work she was doing was in conjunction with UK government activities. The nomination came from government and the scrutinising committee passed it.
stilkl never been convinced that there were others just as hard working who just did not have the hight profile.
Nope, this is obviously a rumour. A tedious rumour, brought on by the fact that no one seems to be talking about him anymore (thank god).
Ughhhh. I really hope this is just a rumour. There are other people far more deserving who get a lot less press than him as it is.
Thanks for the pic with the CumbyCurls.
A rumor started by Wanda.
That wouldn’t surprise me at all.
HAHAHA
Please stop talking about his baby, what’s that over there?!
*points to a CBE!
Didn’t someone say something similar not too long ago?
They’re keeping the “expectant” narrative going when in all likelihood she’s already given birth and they’re planning their first pap walk, I mean, public outing.
I’m beyond caring at this point. I just hope he goes back to work and stops with the obvious pap stuff and pissy attitude.
I’d think he’s working, Hamlet prep? He’s been out of the news for awhile now.
I don’t think they’re obligated to announce the birth of the baby, though. It will come out on its own eventually, you can’t hide something like that forever.
@T.Fanty, Lilac Flowers, and Sixer-I must have missed something about Wanda. She strikes me as not caring about titles. She even dissed her mother in law for having airs and looking down on her and Tim for acting. Also-check out how her and Tim were dressed for the wedding. Certainly no couture like the rest of the crowd. Very down to earth.
yeah, she’s never come off as interested in that stuff. totally rolled her eyes at tim’s mother for being uppity
no idea where people are getting that from
It’s just a running CB comment-come-mini-fan-fiction joke, my dearies. Nothing to be annoyed over.
The mirror said it was because he did not get his oscar-I wonder how many actors would qualify under that category
Wasn’t there a similar rumor earlier this year?
Yeah, I think that was also The Sun.
And where’s Eddie Redmayne’s CBE rumors?… Oh wait, Bendy is very cozy with the Sun…
Was it around Christmas or New Year’s? Is that the other day when they give out honors. I think both Eddie Redmayne and Cumberbatch were rumored to be getting OBE’s but it all turned out to be PR or probably tied in with their respective Oscar campaigns.
For what exactly? If true it makes a mockery as he hasn’t done ANYTHING to deserve it.
Is he an MBE or an OBE already? CBE is usually an “upgrade” award. Few people go straight to CBE.
BTW: KBE is your “bog standard” knighthood. There are other orders, which are up the scale in order of precedence, such as the one Harry got t’other day.
I don’t think he has an OBE or an MBE.
Just because they worked here, when I think of CBE, I think Christopher Hogwood and Harry Christophers. I would never put Cumberbatch on a level with Hogwood, although he’s probably much better known and Hogwood’s fame stayed within the music community.
I do believe Chrisophers deserves every honor out there simply because of how his back looks wearing a frock coat when he’s conducting in front of me.
Snigger!
as far as I know know of. I had a quick look at Wiki and no mention
I feel like his poor wife has been pregnant for 5 years. Posh babies must take longer to cook than regular ones.
And Sir Christopher Lee has died. I’m going to spend the day ordering orcs about in his honor.
And quoting Star Wars. Christopher Lee was an incredible actor. Bendy…we’ll see how he is at 93.
Yeah I will be watching The Wicker Man tonight. Cheers to Lord Summerisle for so much entertainment over the years.
I was only watching the Wickerman last night. So sad that he’s passed.
I trying hard not to think of his role in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but I have a dentist appointment today.
Noooooo! He’s supposed to live forever!
That gives me the sads.
Oh No! RIP Sir Christopher.
A genuine loss. This calls for much in memoriam movie watching over the weekend.
OBE sure. Well deserved.
CBE? Yikes I hope not. Not yet. Too young, too new.
Well, why not if he an afford it?
Kate Winslet was directly ( aka without having already a MBE or OBE) made CBE a few years ago and she was even younger that Cumberbatch. But it was Kate Winslet .And yeah they are definitely more people out there that would be more deservin: Emma thompson, Hugh Laurie for example.
Speaking of Emma Thompson, how fabulous is this story about the upcoming Brideshead Revisited?
Hayley Atwell has reported that she was asked by the film company to lose weight
for her role as Julia Flyte. It was only when co-star Emma Thompson
(who will play Lady Marchmain) heard the news that things got resolved:
Says Atwell: “I went
round to Emma’s one night and she was getting very angry that I wasn’t
eating all the food she was giving me. I told her why and she hit the
roof.” The no-nonsense Thompson was so outraged that she called
the producers the next day and threatened to resign from the film if
they forced Atwell to lose weight. Faced with Thompson — a two-time
Oscar winner — on the warpath, Miramax Films swiftly relented.’
I love her.
love Emma -she can be mad as a hatter but her heart is in the right place
LOVE Emma – mad but an amazing actress and wonderful person.
Have you guys seen her recent Graham Norton interview where Lenny Kravitz pretended to flashed her. LOLZ
Emma is amazing.
So many bitter comments, like what has he done? Well, part of it is right there in the article. He is always hustling for something or somebody. I think he deserves it because he is not only an actor he is doing a lot of other things.
If you don’t agree, oh well, at the end of the day he’ll have the award and that is that. The nay-sayers will remain nay-sayers and it will all be water under the bridge.
And some see that as famewhoring, especially when his talent as an actor doesn’t put him at the top of his class.
As posters have claimed above, there are actors who deserve it more who aren’t as internet-popular as Bendy is.
It’s not about who is the most talented. I think these awards are pointless, but being a decent actor and doing decent charity work and raising visibility or awareness of your field qualifies.
if his talents don’t put him near the top of the heap, then the logical thing to keep working & survive is to hustle lol
Haha honey, it is simply a rumour. You will see tomorrow when he doesn’t get it. The dude doesn’t deserve it lets be honest, so many talented people out there deserve it before him. Also the award is for DRAMA I don’t think they care about his extra activities which were simply attention seeking from his point.
and there are other actors like Bill Nighy who work for charitable quietly in the back ground and have are more talented
He does a lot of charity stuff, I have to say. Some of it is the non-glamorous kind, so I give him credit.
Because if it’s about accomplishments he’s nowhere near scads of other people who deserve it more. I have a friend who is an OBE, and they have been in the business for eons and the driving force of some major british screen gems, and it took them….oh, about 30 years to get their due?
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good actor, but not CBE material yet.
I feel like Bendy’s pr is putting out whatever crap they could find to prolong any baby arrival news/rumors.
Well said lily. I was thinking the exact same thing. This guy is so thirsty to stay in the news in any way possible. What happened to him?
Agreed. First the birdcage story and now this. She totally gave birth and they are keeping the “expecting” narrative going. Why? I know not. Futile effort.
He is decent clickbait thanks to his crappy fans and weird haters or dislikers or whatever
So sometimes stuff is just going to pop up because there’s nothing else out there for the press to run. This just looks like the press recycled an old rumor.
Or it could be just a tabloid being a tabloid. They don’t vet sources.
There’s zero point in delaying a birth announcement other than they don’t want to make a birth announcement and wish to keep it to themselves for as long as they can, which is their right.
It’s just amazing how much negativity there is towards Benedict these days. It’s like he’s gone from being the internet’s boyfriend to fame whore extraordinaire. I don’t know about OBE vs CBE but I know Benedict has certainly worked hard in his field. Because of him, there is a monster interest in Sherlock Holmes. There is also renewed interest in Alan Turing-someone I never even heard of. He worked really hard to make Letters Live a success. And he basically works his butt off on untold projects, including for charity. So if he does get the CBE, then I say congrats. Now on to the real question-will Sophie be there and just what will that belly look like? (I’m currently in the here camp)
Meh, he has spent a lot of time complaining about being stereotyped as “posh” all the while imo being hungry to be in those circles. When was the last time a truly working class actor was honoured this young with a CBE or OBE, his connections and access to the “right” type of people gets him this type of push media and career wise. He can’t have it both ways.
We will know tomorrow evening if this is even true or not.
I also think its unfair to credit him with the interest in Sherlock Holmes as Holmes has been knocking about a long time with sustained interest.
i agree he was lucky enough to get a but Sherlock Holmes has always been popular in the UK and his support of Turing had shaded of self motivation and his Oscar campaign -why do you think that his constant calls for his recognition on dollar bills and stamps were ignored.And events like the letters evening are not uncommon in the UK as it gives actors a chance to widen what they like to do -that’s why a lot of them do radio works as well
Regular people tried getting Turing on banknotes a few years ago and were ignored.
The guy does work, anon121 is right on that.
yes maybe some fans and Stephen Fry gave it some attention but the post office and government just ignored it and have now put our alternatives and that tells you more
That just tells me the government has no interest in recognizing Turing, regardless of whom it comes from, as I just told you regular people launched a good campaign for it a few years back and were also ignored.
I’m part of the uninterested crowd. I used to find him interesting, then annoying, but got bored over time. Now I’m indifferent. If he gets the CBE, good on him.
I thought you weren’t supposed to say that you were being considered for these types of honors. Like if you bragged to the press ahead of time, the offer may be rescinded.
I wonder how long this has been in the works. Like do the people who put these names forward as candidates know how unpopular he is right now or are they still thinking he’s at the initial Sherlock level? There’s been very little positive response but overall people seem to be unimpressed, even antagonistic towards the rumor.
And what has he done to deserve it, jumping straight to CBE like that. It seems to me to lower the value of such awards, if indeed they ever had any. As was said elsewhere, “They’ll give anyone an award these days!”
Meh, color me underwhelmed.
that may be what he wants
if you dont want and decline, you get labeled ungrateful. it’s a no-win. best thing to do is make it go away
That Sherlock hair does wonders for him.
I cannot believe the bitter comments on here. Benedict surely deserves a CBE for Outstanding Services to Drama after his impeccable PR Oscar campaign, shotgun wedding and pregnancy, personality bypass and moneymoon pap pics. Such a rare talent. xoxo
😀
@ Beth…that made me giggle out loud. Totes on point. You should get the award too👍
Beth deserves a CBE for that post. And a place in Poet’s Corner.
I’d assume nothing better to do?
@Napierst and Lilacflowers
Thank you ladies! I am even younger than Benedict but no less shameless, so I will accept the CBE gladly. And when I finally weasel my way to a DBE, can I choose which member of the royal family I get “knighted” by? I choose Prince Harry, so that I can be touched by his royal sword! *wink wink*
yes an impeccable campaign worthy of the nations highest award
Wow what a great life he have. A family, new house, a sold out high profile theatre gig, upcoming blockbuster franchise movie. And now a CBE.
He is so not miserable. 🙂