With his public school tones, quite preposterous name, and sheer breadth of ability, Benedict Cumberbatch has become one of the world’s most famous actors. Following an award-winning breakthrough on stage as Frankenstein, he’s taken on everything from period dramas (Parade’s End, The Imitation Game) to Shakespeare (Hamlet, Richard III) and thrillers (Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy, Black Mass); he’s worked with Steven Spielberg and Steve McQueen, and played characters as varied as Stephen Hawking, Vincent Van Gogh and Julien Assange.
As well as his wonderfully eccentric take on Sherlock Holmes, there’s also been a sideline in motion-capture, playing the dragon Smaug in the Hobbit movies and Shere Khan in The Jungle Book. He hasn’t shied from effects-rich blockbusters either, like Star Trek: Into Darkness, and the forthcoming Doctor Strange, where he joins the Marvel stable to play the titular neurosurgeon-turned-mystic. He also is a vociferous campaigner, raising awareness for gay rights, cancer research and the Syrian refugee crisis amongst other issues.
With the movie out on October 25 in the UK, Benedict joins us to answer your questions in a live webchat on Monday 24 October. Post them in the comments below, and he’ll answer as many as possible.
