Benedict Cumberbatch: 'I still get completely starstruck. I mean, really starstruck'

The Sherlock star talks being star struck, adjusting to fame, and why Hamlet selling out as fast as Beyonce and Jay-Z was "thrilling"
At the top: the Sherlock star says he still stuggles to adjust to the fame (Picture: David McNew/AFP/Getty Images)
Emma Powell25 November 2014
The Weekender

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Benedict Cumberbatch has performed alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names, picked up an Emmy Award and is tipped for an Oscar for his performance in The Imitation Game, but despite this, the Sherlock star says he still gets “completely starstruck”.

In an interview with Square Mile magazine the 38-year-old – who recently announced his engagement to theatre director Sophie Hunter - said that he had a “meltdown” when he met Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad.

Speaking of the meeting he said: “I still get completely starstruck. I mean, really starstruck. I bumped into Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston and I had a complete meltdown, you know. Love them.”

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The actor – who rose to fame after starring in hit series Sherlock – says he still hasn’t fully adjusted to the oddity of his new lifestyle.

He said: “Erm well the fact that I’m thinking about it means I still haven’t adjusted. It’s a constant process of negotiation and understanding and, yeah, it’s very odd but fun and I think I’m alright with it. It’s a learning curve; it’s a constant thing.”

His fame was confirmed when tickets to see him take on the role of Hamlet at the Barbican next year sold out in hours, beating the demand for musical power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z’s On The Run tour.

Cover star: being tipped for an Oscar and selling out the Barbican for Hamlet, Benedict is at the top of his game (Picture: Yu Tsai/Contour)

“I’m a bit embarrassed about that," he says. "But at the same time the fact that Hamlet has sold as fast as the king and queen of popular music on tour is just so thrilling.”

Despite his growing fame and legions of fans, or Cumberbitches, the fiercely private actor likes to keep his personal life far from the spotlight.

When asked what he does in his private time, he replied: “None of your business. And I certainly don’t talk about it to journalists. Sorry I didn’t mean that as aggressively as it came out. That was supposed to be a joke! But yeah, it’s private – and I enjoy that, you know.”

The full interview can be read in the December issue of Square Mile, out now. It can also be read online by visiting www.squaremile.com

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