Benedict Cumberbatch on acting

Actor talks about his various roles in films out in 2013

Benedict Cumberbatch, star of The Fifth Estate and supporting actor in 12 Years a Slave, talks about finding challenging film roles.

Rising star Benedict Cumberbatch was a force at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Cumberbatch appeared in three films — The Fifth Estate, 12 Years a Slave and August: Osage Country — and the performances are as strong as they are diverse. His roles range from an empathetic slave owner to Julian Assange.

“As an actor approaching a role you have to find a level of empathy and understanding with your character, and I think to try and carve out anything that’s two-dimensional, to go into this realm of . . . you know, thumbs up, thumbs down — I just find that so limiting.”

Both The Fifth Estate and 12 Years a Slave open in theatres this week.

August: Osage County hits theatres in the new year.

Read more about Cumberbatch:

Benedict Cumberbatch on officiating a gay wedding

Controversy abounds over Julian Assange biopic, The Fifth Estate

Keep Reading

U.S. Supreme Court rules against Colorado conversion therapy ban

The landmark 8-1 decision could have sweeping repercussions on LGBTQ2S+ rights and health care regulation across America
Two photographs of trans organizer Alison Laing for Trans Day of Visibility

What trans visibility looked like in the 1950s

Photos of beloved organizer Alison Laing show how trans visibility has persisted for decades

There’s no excuse for ‘The Last of Us’ casting a cis actor to play trans

Putting the care into casting a young trans actor might be a challenge. It’s also an opportunity
A nonbinary person injects hormones with a syringe

What HRT Cafe’s shutdown means for DIY care

HRT Cafe was the largest access point for DIY transition care in the U.K. before it suddenly vanished
Advertisement