In cinema and television, Benedict Cumberbatch shines in roles such as Doctor Strange or Sherlock Holmes. But in his private life, a shocking scenario took place in 2004 that is like a thriller. In an interview with “Variety” he now spoke about the trauma that has happened to him while filming in South Africa. There he was robbed and kidnapped – an experience that had shaped him sustainably.
A burst tire and six kidnappers
The events took place during the filming of the BBC series “To the Ends of the Earth” in Santa Lucia in South Africa. After a diving trip, Cumberbatch and his colleagues burst a tire on the way back to the hotel. While they were waiting for help on the roadside, they were attacked by six armed men.
The attackers searched for drugs, money and weapons and forced the group in a vehicle. Cumberbatch describes the ordeal as a “hourly trip”, in which he and his friends were tied up. Finally, the kidnappers left them behind on the roadside – in a traumatizing “execution position”. Fortunately, the perpetrators escaped, the victims got away with the horror.
Benedict Cumberbatch: An experience that has changed his life
The traumatic experience left Benedict Cumberbatch. In conversation with “Variety”, he said: “It changed my perception of time, but not necessarily in a positive sense. It made me impatient to live an extraordinary life. ”The actor developed a preference for extreme sports such as skydiving in order to feel the adrenaline and process what they had experienced.
“I thought: ‘Oh yes, I could die at any moment’,” he continued. This awareness initially drove him to take risks and reinforced his search for intensive experiences.
Family is now in focus
Benedict Cumberbatch is vulnerable and open in the interview as rarely before. His experiences not only shaped him as a person, but also changed his view of life sustainably. With his wife Sophie Hunter and the birth of his three sons, Cumberbatch’s perspective had changed. “The priorities have shifted enormously,” said the actor. “I think much more about mortality – not only my own, but also that of my family.” This responsibility also brings a burden with it, he admits.