BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

AN ACTING WIZARD

By Lee Parham

As he dons the Cloak of Levitation once again as Doctor Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home, let's take a look back on the illustrious career of British thespian Benedict Cumberbatch.

Before he became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Benedict Cumberbatch was born in London, England, in 1976. Both of his parents were actors.

He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, gaining a Masters in Classical Acting as he transitioned to performing Shakespeare on stage throughout England.

Similar to many young performers, Cumberbatch bounced around various stage productions, TV shows, and minor roles in films for years before breaking through to the mainstream.

Like many other British actors, Cumberbatch's big break came when he played the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes in the BBC drama Sherlock, a modern interpretation of the character.

Cumberbatch was paired exceptionally well with his onscreen Dr. John Watson, played by Martin Freeman. The duo reunited on screen together in 2013's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Freeman was the titular Hobbit Bilbo Baggins as Cumberbatch provided the menacing voice and impressive motion capture work for the iconic Smaug, a humongous dragon with an affinity for treasure.

As Cumberbatch began his breakthrough into mainstream Hollywood, he quickly got typecast as a villain, including a role in Star Trek Into Darkness as the beloved antagonist Khan.

The actor then tried to shift his career, picking roles in awards-contending pictures such as 12 Years a Slave, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Fifth Estate, and August Osage Country.

Perhaps the film that established Cumberbatch as a viable leading man was 2014's The Imitation Game featuring Benedict as behind the lines WWII hero Alan Turing.

This performance resulted in the actor earning his first Oscar nomination, just as his most significant career role was right around the corner.

In 2016 the Marvel Cinematic Universe would change forever with the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Doctor Strange, joining the fold with Cumberbatch in the leading role.

The surgeon-turned-sorcerer shined in his first solo film, subsequently appearing in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame, and now helping Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

In his time away from the MCU, Cumberbatch has lent his vocal talents to several films, including The Penguins of Madagascar, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, and a turn as The Grinch.

Additionally, he's aimed for awards contention again with films like The Courier, The Mauritian, and most recently The Power of the Dog, an awards-hopeful flick this season.

Finally, Cumberbatch will appear in back-to-back Marvel flicks, with the highly anticipated sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness set to hit theaters in May 2022.

From larger-than-life dragons to famous sorcerers, iconic detectives, historical dramas, and more, Benedict Cumberbatch has cemented himself as one of the most prolific talents in the industry today.