Benedict Cumberbatch | Success Story of the Phenomenal Actor

Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the most iconic actors in the entertainment industry. He gained worldwide recognition for his portrayal of Stephen Strange in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Doctor Strange. Time has included Benedict on its 100 most influential people in the world list. He has been a part of the entertainment world for over two decades. In his exemplary career, he has starred in blockbuster movies like Star Trek Into Darkness, 12 Years a Slave, The Hobbit, The Imitation Game, The Jungle Book, and The Power of the Dog.

About

Benedict Cumberbatch is an English actor who rose to fame in 2010 after playing the role of Sherlock Holmes in BBC’s crime-drama series Sherlock. Regarded as a British cultural icon, Benedict started his acting career in 1998 with Rat in the Skull, an Irish play. He has received several prestigious accolades for his outstanding performances. Moreover, Benedict was appointed a CBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to the performing arts and charity organizations. 

Early Life

On the 19th of July 1976, Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born in Hammersmith, London, England. His parents, Timothy Carlton and Wanda Venthem, were actors. For schooling, his parents sent him to a boarding school in Sussex when he turned eight. After studying at Brambletye school, Benedict attended the Harrow school in London, England. During his school years, he was inclined to art. At Harrow, he received an arts scholarship and often painted magnificently large oil paintings. Simultaneously, Benedict was engaged in the school’s Shakespeare works. Consequently, he joined the school’s dramatic arts club and began acting. In his debut play, he portrayed Titania, the fairy queen in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Benedict was just twelve years old at the time. 

During his school years, he participated in several plays and earned appreciation from his mentors. Young Benedict impressed everyone with his acting skills in the school’s theatre club. After completing his studies at Harrow, he decided to take a one-year leave. Benedict went to Darjeeling, India, to volunteer as an English teacher. He lived an ordinary life at a Tibetan monastery and worked hard to learn the culture’s core values. Upon returning, he joined the University of Manchester to study drama. Later, Benedict attended the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. While pursuing higher education, he continued to train as an actor. By the time Benedict graduated with a Master’s degree in classical acting, he already had an agent. 

Beginning of Career

After completing his education, Benedict began his acting career as a theatre artist. He made his debut with the role of Roche in Ron Hutchinson’s play Rat in the Skull. Benedict performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival globally. Between 1998-2001, he appeared in several plays and gained considerable recognition in the theatre world. Benedict made his small screen and big screen debut in 2002. BBC cast him in a TV drama called Tipping the Velvet. The same year, he appeared in a short film called Hills Like White Elephants. Following that, he played minor roles in the television and film industry. But it was in 2004 when he started gaining recognition as a lead actor. 

Pathway To Success

In 2004, Benedict starred in three television shows. Dunkirk, Heartbeat, and Hawking. However, the portrayal of Stephen Hawking in the BBC TV film earned him recognition. It was his first role that garnered him several award nominations. Later, in 2006, Benedict starred in Amazing Grace, a British-American drama film. The movie was a critical and commercial success. Following the success of Hawking and Amazing Grace, Benedict appeared on various television shows and movies. The roles earned him considerable industry recognition, and in 2010, BBC finally cast him in the mystery crime drama, Sherlock. There was no looking back for Benedict after the release of Sherlock. It became one of the biggest hits in UK television history. The show won several accolades making Benedict a renowned star. 

Worldwide Recognition 

After Sherlock’s success, Tomas Alfredson cast Benedict in the spy-thriller film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The movie featured big stars like Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy. The film was a huge box office hit. After that, Benedict starred in acclaimed movies like Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit film series, J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek Into The  Darkness, and Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game. The films garnered him nominations for the prestigious Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA. However, the movie that made him a global icon was MCU’s 2016 superhero film, Doctor Strange. Later, he appeared in Avenger: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Through these blockbuster movies and memorable roleplays, Benedict Cumberbatch became one of the most iconic stars of the era.

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