4 minute read
Benedict Cumberbatch
Distinctive as His Name
On screen, on stage or on the red carpet, striking actor Benedict Cumberbatch makes a surefire impression.
You know that British star with the crazy name and the narrow, vaguely surprised-looking face? Well, have a heart. You’d look startled too if you were born a Cumberbatch and someone named you Benedict. His marquee-busting, six-syllable moniker has all the silken grace of an overloaded dump truck on a rustic country bridge—yet he wears it triumphantly. (He wears clothes pretty well too.) This versatile performer is an original, and one thing he needn’t fear is that we’ll get him mixed up with all the other Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatches.
Cumberbatch has been called an unexpected sex symbol. But didn’t we all learn long ago that unexpectedness itself can be sexy? He’s not the only quirky male star who’s been dubbed “the thinking woman’s crumpet,” just the one whose bevy of female fans call themselves Cumberbabes—or, for the snarkier among them, Cumberbitches.
B.C.—Ben to his inner circle—was born and raised in London in what he’s called a “privileged” life. His parents were both actors and his grandfather a member of London’s high society, which means his family could afford the luxury of boarding school. Primary school, followed by drama courses at Victoria University of Manchester, is where Cumberbatch really delved into acting, leading to early roles on stage. By 2011 he was a bona fide thespian, having won the “triple crown” of London Theatre when he received the Olivier Award, the Evening Standard Award and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for his work playing—on alternating nights—both Dr. Frankenstein and his creature in a stage rendition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
The 46-year-old’s star power rose exponentially in the States after a breakout role in 2014’s The Imitation Game, where he played real-life mathematician Alan Turing, who led the effort that cracked the Nazis’ codes during World War II. From 2010 to 2017, he also portrayed Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock, a role that snagged him an Emmy in 2014.
For red carpets, press interviews or a simple stroll around town, the dress code is irrelevant when Cumberbatch is on the guest list. He wears formal attire (or business casual, at the very least) almost everywhere, probably because he’s got sense—well-tailored suits are what best suit him. A lanky 6 feet tall, Cumberbatch has a collection of suits in dark, neutral colors like navy, black and gray, tailored to perfection and flattering to no end. He gravitates toward traditional designers such as Tom Ford and Burberry. He often accessorizes suits and slim-fit chinos with skinny ties and narrow lapels, the occasional pocket square, as well as scarves, thick glasses and hats, regardless of the season. And as a true Brit, Cumberbatch loves a good outerwear moment, whether it’s with a trench, a leather jacket, a waxed cotton overcoat or a simple blazer.
When the occasion calls for a dressier ensemble, Cumberbatch pulls out all the stops. One of the most iconic looks he’s sported is the white suit he wore to the 2019 Met Gala. He accessorized his three-piece bespoke Labassa Woolfe fit with a Panama hat and a walking cane, for a total impression that encapsulates his style—and solidifies his spot as one of Hollywood’s best-dressed men. “I’ve been quite a late developer on the clothes front,” he once said, “but I’ve suddenly realized it is one of life’s joys.”
Other than being a father to his three sons with his wife, Sophie Hunter, Cumberbatch’s greatest joy is undeniably acting. He’s had a diverse body of work some actors could only dream of, playing spies, bad guys, historical figures and more. He’s starred in a slew of critically acclaimed films, such as Atonement, War Horse, The Hobbit, Star Trek into Darkness and, of course, The Avengers franchise, in which he plays Doctor Strange. He was also nominated for an Academy Award during the 2022 awards season for his role as a cowboy in The Power of the Dog, considered one of his best performances to date.
Like many actors of this caliber, Cumberbatch doesn’t care much about the accolades, be they about his clothes or about his talent. But he’s won an Emmy, a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award and a few Critics’ Choice Awards for his diverse body of work, and has even earned the coveted three-letter suffix C.B.E., or Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which was awarded to him by the late Queen Elizabeth II herself. (Fellow Brit talents like Ed Sheeran and Eddie Redmayne have received this honor too.)
This guy’s authentic, and there’s power in that. With decades ahead to turn in more performances that convey sincerity, vulnerability and conviction, Cumberbatch seems destined for continuing sartorial greatness too. And we’ll be watching.
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has earned accolades for his on-screen and stage performances—he’s won an Emmy, Critics’ Choice and Critics’ Circle Theatre awards, among others—but he truly turns heads with his striking good looks and classic fashion choices like waxed cotton overcoats and dark tailored suits.
