Benedict Cumberbatch Reveals How a Near-Death Experience Shaped His Perspective on Life
Benedict Cumberbatch, known for playing superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shared a life-threatening experience from his past that profoundly changed his outlook on life. In a recent interview with Variety, the Doctor Strange star opened up about a terrifying incident that occurred in 2004 while he was filming the BBC miniseries To the Ends of the Earth in South Africa.
Cumberbatch, along with friends, was caught in a dangerous situation when their tire blew out on the side of the road. Six men robbed and abducted them, eventually tying them up and forcing them to sit execution-style before fleeing. Reflecting on the experience, Cumberbatch said, “It gave me a sense of time, but not necessarily a good one. It made me impatient to live a life less ordinary, and I’m still dealing with that impatience.”
The harrowing ordeal also led him to seek extreme activities to feed his adrenaline, such as skydiving and taking other risks. “The near-death stuff turbo-fueled all that,” he admitted. “It made me go, ‘Oh, right, yeah, I could die at any moment.’”
However, the actor noted that as his life has changed, especially with the responsibility of a wife and three children, his perspective has evolved. “Apart from my parents, I didn’t have any real dependents at that point. Now that’s changed, and that sobers you,” he explained. “I’ve looked over the edge; it’s made me comfortable with what lies beneath it. And I’ve accepted that that’s the end of all our stories.”
In the interview, Cumberbatch also discussed his acting process and how personal experiences have influenced his ability to portray emotion. He responded to Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, who credited him with teaching him how to cry on command, and discussed the importance of connecting to one’s personal life to tap into emotions.
“There is that method, but it’s a mistake to think you can force it. That’s a dead end,” Cumberbatch said, referencing Holland’s technique of breathing through the diaphragm. He emphasized the importance of being in the moment and using life experiences, imagination, or both to elicit a true emotional response. “I’ve experienced loss, I’ve experienced pain, I’ve experienced some of the very worst, as well as the best,” he added.
Now 48, Cumberbatch feels that his life experiences have shaped his emotional range as an actor and continue to influence his work today.