Award-winning actor Benedict Cumberbatch has offered a rare and candid glimpse into his family life, revealing that becoming a father has left his emotions feeling 'paper thin'. The Sherlock star, 49, admitted that this profound personal change has reshaped his perspective on life and even influenced his onscreen performances.
A Family Man's Emotional Transformation
Benedict Cumberbatch married actress and director Sophie Hunter, 47, in 2015. The couple are parents to three sons: Christopher, aged ten, Hal, eight, and Finn, six. In a recent interview with The Times, the actor explained how fatherhood has fundamentally altered his emotional resilience, making him more prone to tears during films like Barbie or feelings of anger.
'[Fatherhood made my] emotions paper thin,' Cumberbatch stated. 'That's what changes how you act, when you become a father. It isn't necessarily crossovers between your experience and the character's, it's that you become an unfettered channel to stuff that you weren't before.'
Public Weeping and Private Disguises
The actor went on to describe a particularly emotional public moment he experienced over the summer. He attended an Oasis reunion performance at London's Wembley Stadium, where he found it 'extraordinary' to witness 90,000 men of all generations, including children and grandparents, sharing an emotional singalong. He noted the powerful sight of strangers embracing and 'weeping' together during sets by Richard Ashcroft and Oasis.
Given his high profile, Cumberbatch is fiercely protective of his family's privacy. He revealed that he actively tries to 'disguise' himself when out in public with his wife and children. 'I do not want the attention drawn on them,' he explained on an episode of Dish from Waitrose. 'I want them to have the right to their privacy and their time.'
Halloween and the Freedom of a Costume
This desire for anonymity makes Halloween his favourite time of year. Last year, he attended a celebration dressed as Chewbacca, a costume complete with a prominent mask that successfully concealed his identity. 'It was just great,' he recalled, sharing an amusing anecdote about dancing near a Michael Jackson impersonator who grew frustrated with the unknowing Star Wars character.
Beyond the fun of costumes, Cumberbatch's reflections on fatherhood carry a deeper weight. In a January interview with Variety, he spoke about the heightened awareness of mortality and the passage of time that comes with parenting. 'My youngest is turning six tomorrow, and I'm like, "I will be in my 60s when he's 21," you know? It's crazy. It's gone so fast,' he said. 'So there's a huge shift in priorities, and it makes you value what you do with your life in a very different way.'
