Acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch has candidly shared the private emotional challenges he faces as a father, revealing how his personal life deeply influenced his latest film role.
A Father's Emotional Journey
The Sherlock and Dr Strange star, who is father to three sons aged ten, eight, and six with his wife Sophie Hunter, explained that becoming a parent has left him with "paper thin" emotions. He confessed that even watching the film Barbie brought him to tears, and his sons consider him more of a pushover than their mother.
Speaking to The Times about his new independent film The Thing With Feathers, where he portrays a grieving father, Cumberbatch described the filming process as intensely emotional. "My costume was covered in tears," he revealed. "There were so many costume changes. It’s the unexpected things which make you cry, which is so true to grief."
Reflections on Education and Gender
The actor also reflected on how his upbringing at the all-boys school Harrow continues to affect him. He admitted he is "still struggling in ways I wouldn’t if I’d had sisters my age or been in a co-ed school," criticising the focus on exam results over broader emotional development.
The Thing With Feathers marks a departure from Cumberbatch's usual big-budget projects. The film follows a father and his two sons as they navigate the sudden loss of their wife and mother, with their grief depicted as a large crow. The actor directly channeled his own paternal experiences into this powerful role.
Professional Challenges and Moving Forward
This isn't the first time Cumberbatch has encountered emotional difficulty in his work. Earlier this year, he admitted that things "got nasty" between him and his The Roses co-star Olivia Colman due to the toxic nature of their characters, requiring a personal check-in to maintain their friendship.
Through these revelations, Benedict Cumberbatch continues to demonstrate a remarkable willingness to discuss the intersection of his professional achievements and personal vulnerabilities, offering a rare glimpse into the realities of balancing Hollywood stardom with family life.
