Benedict Cumberbatch has opened up about the emotional toll of fatherhood, describing his feelings as 'paper thin' in a candid interview. The actor, who has three sons aged ten, eight and six with wife Sophie Hunter, admitted that his experience as a parent heavily influenced his role in the upcoming independent film The Thing With Feathers.
The film, which follows a father and his two sons coping with the sudden loss of their wife and mother, required Cumberbatch to tap into deep emotions. Speaking to The Times, he revealed: 'My costume was covered in tears. There were so many costume changes. It’s the unexpected things which make you cry, which is so true to grief.'
Cumberbatch also reflected on his boarding school education at all-boys Harrow, stating he is 'still struggling in ways I wouldn’t if I’d had sisters my age or been in a co-ed school.' He criticised the focus on exam results, saying: 'Who gives a f*** what GCSEs and A-levels you get, unless it’s somehow important for your pupillage or whatever.'
The Sherlock star confessed that his sons view him as more of a pushover than their mother, and that even the film Barbie brought him to tears. Earlier this year, he also revealed tensions on the set of The Roses with co-star Olivia Colman, describing a moment when things 'got a bit toxic' due to the nature of their characters.
