Street roots
9
Jan. 31, 2014
CUMBERBATCH, from page 8
there be romance? No, no, no - romance is
a foreign concept to him. There might be
something in the arena of proximity. But
there is no romance.
A. L.: How do you keep him fresh?
B. C.: That is one of the biggest
challenges. We throw him into these <
situations in the 21st century and see how
he copes, which is always amusing or
revealing. But I think it is even more '
interesting to understand how he came to
be like this, in the 21st centüry.
A. L.: How much of a thrill is it to finally
reveal how he survived?
B. C.: Despite what it might look like, .
being bungeed is a lot of fun, falling onto an
airbag is a lot of fun. People have their, own
theories, so I’m sure they will be going:
“That’s good, that’s bad, that’s
disappointing, that’s amazing.” If I was on
the receiving end, watching it, j would be
really excited to find out what was going on.
But as the people presenting it, it is
different^ I feel we have done a
very interesting thing with it. Do I enjoy the
cat-and-mouse element of it? It ju st happens
without me, so it is not something I really
take part in, to be honest. The only thing I
am protective of is not wanting it to be
spoilt for people who want to enjoy it on a
Sunday night with their families. But it is
great that we have such an ardent fanship,
and that is testament to us doing something,
right.
A. L.: So you’ve got, what, five big movies
out at the end of 2013 and early this year...
B. C.: {A rare pause] What was the fifth
one? The Hobbit? Oh yeah! No, I’m joking
forgetting about The Hobbit Should I be
worried about over-exposure? No, here is all
the work I’ve been doing, I guess. I had a
really busy year last year and the beginning
of this year, and all of them are coming
home to roost at about th e same time,
which is extraorrdinary. With Star Trek in
thé summer, then The Fifth Estate — which
I was thrilled with, very excited. When I saw
it in the States, it was terrifying. I cannot
watch myself in, something for the first time,
especially something so removed from me,
because everything about him is different.
But I was thrilled. Bill [Condon, the
director] made a beautiful film. It is
incredibly balanced and intriguing, and what
the film should do is ignite the debate. That
is what should happen.
A. L.: Your co-star, Peter Capaldi— Alan
Rusbridger to your Julian Assange - h a s a
big new role.
B. Ç.: Oh yes, that’s great news. I’m very
excited to see him in Doctor Who. He is a
class act, Peter, and a great actor.
A P P H O T O /F O X S E A R C H L IG H T F IL M S , J A A P
Cumberbatch, left, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in a scene from “12 Years a Slave.” The film, by director Steve McQueen, is being hailed a masterpiece
and a certain Oscar heavyweight.
A. L.: Are you using your; profile to stir
debate on issues that matter to you (recently
Cumberbatch held up cards carrying slogans
dealing with issues of privacy and
governmental snooping when he knew he’d be
papped)
B. C.: I know how lucky I am to be paid to
be in a position to have a voice, do my work
and also just the fact that it’s really good
fun. You owe society a little bit for that —
your fans for giving you a good life, but also
yourself , just to pay back. I feel very
strongly about the little work I do when I
have the time. I try to be principled. Of
course there is a part of me (that is) a bit of
a do-gooder — keeping the moral slate
cleaner. But it is really enjoyable and Tget a
kick from i t It is not a sense of duty, it
actually makes me feel good to do things for
other people, where it can make a
difference to talk to people who wouldn’t
normally have access tqyou, the kind of
world you live in or the work you do.
A. L.: Does your background come into
play?
B. C.: I have always been very grateful for
the opportunities I have, because I wasn’t
born into them. My mum and dad worked
really hard to afford them. Mum made
commercial choices — and dad as well — to
keep me in school uniforms and keep the
fees paid. I was like a walking mortgage! I
was a very expensive child because of the
way they tried to educate me. That was
completely off their own bat. Dad had a
pretty nasty experience at public school and
was ready to pull me out at any moment if I
didn’t enjoy myself. I didn’t have a great
tim ^— E
some aspects, but I was far happier at the
first school I went to. So I was of that world,
but not because I was born into it. Not that
that gives me any right to talk about how
the other half live, or any other half — but it
means, I guess, that I have a perspective on
i t I’m not just what the label makes m e look
like, having been to a public school.
yourself?
B.C.: What, now I ’m a movie star? No,
I’m joking. I want to be known as an actor —
not as a film star, or theatre actor, or
television actor, or Sherlock, or for just one
role, I want to be known as an actor and do
a bit of everything. You don’t have time to
There is this idea that filming movies is
luxurious whereas television is all work and
nothing else. They are both pretty
demanding.
A. L.: After all this book learning, could
you imagine a future as a writer?
B. C,: Working with Steve McQueen and a
fantastic cast was so special. I have scenes
with Michael Fassbender and Chiwetel
Ejiofor, who is brilliant, and Michael
Kenneth Williams from The Wire. I’m still
trying to really get into The Wire — my box-
sets were in storage for a while when my
flat was being redecorated, but I loved the
first season.
B. C.: Writing? Oh God no. Well, maybe in
the future some time, but not at the
moment I would prefer to direct than write.
Behind the camera is where my future
might be, I think. I would love to oversee a
project from conception to completion. I
would love to go on that full journey,
because that is so much more than the
actor gets — things stay in development for
years, let alone the production and then the
post-production, which goes on for at least
as long as the production. I think that would
be incredible.
A.L.: Does making movies change the way
you’re perceived, or the way you perceive
Street Newsservice:. Reprinted from The Big
Issue, UK
A. L.: “12 Years a Slave” is hotly tipped for
Oscar glory. And what a great cast...
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