
Benedict Cumberbatch recently opened up about his status as a sex symbol, reflecting on how he differs from other Hollywood stars like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. In an interview with Variety about his new film The Thing with Feathers, Cumberbatch rejected the idea of being a “typical movie star,” noting that his fame stemmed from his role in Sherlock and that it was puzzling to him why people found him attractive.
He explained, “I’m not Brad; I’m not Leonardo; I’m not a typical movie star. People were scrambling for ‘Why is he at all attractive to us?’” The actor emphasized that he doesn’t spend time pondering why people find him sexy, likening it to a form of self-obsession. While discussing his appearance in People’s Sexiest Man Alive issue, he shared his dislike for the term “celebrity,” feeling it diminishes what it means to be publicly recognized and lumps all famous people together without distinguishing the reason behind their fame.
Cumberbatch expressed his discomfort with the idea of being celebrated for arbitrary reasons, such as being an actor, reality star, or for selling products, calling it “derogatory.” He added that he worries about aging, like most people, but doesn’t obsess over his appearance or why others find him attractive.
As for his future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cumberbatch confirmed that Doctor Strange will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), but will be featured in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Meanwhile, his new film The Thing with Feathers premiered on January 25 during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, marking an exciting new chapter in his career.