Benedict Cumberbatch Says He Is Not Like Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio While Discussing Sex Symbol Status: 'Weirdly Navel-Gazing'

Mar. 15, 2025

From Left: Benedict Cumberbatch; Leonard DiCaprio; and Brad Pitt.Photo:Daniele Venturelli/Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty; Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Daniele Venturelli/Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty; Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Benedict Cumberbatchis refuting the idea that he is a “typical movie star.”

Cumberbatch, 48, referred toBrad PittandLeonardo DiCaprioas examples of the kind of actors — and celebrities — he does not consider himself similar to while speaking withVarietyabout his new movie,The Thing with Feathers,in an interview published Wednesday, Jan. 22.

“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?’ " he said, when asked about how he was viewed as a sex symbol after his star rose for his role in the BBC’sSherlockseries. “But for me to guess and try to understand that is so f—— weirdly navel-gazing. I’m not sitting around thinking, ‘Why am I sexy?’ I worry about myself in the mirror as I age, like every other f—– does.”

Benedict Cumberbatch on Dec. 10, 2024.Tristan Fewings/Getty

Tristan Fewings/Getty

TheDoctor Strangestar — who has beenfeatured in more than oneofPEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive issuesover the years — is also not a fan of the notion that he is a “celebrity.” Though, the outlet noted that his fame is the reason his indie new drama was produced in the first place.

“It’s so derogatory, and just lumps anyone famous together,” he said of the term “celebrity.” The actor added, “Am I a ‘celebrated’ person? Well, for what? For selling cheese? For being on a reality show? For doing something outrageous? For being an actor?”

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Cumberbatch also teasedVarietyabout Doctor Strange’s future in the MCU, confirming that the character will actually not appear in 2026’sAvengers: Doomsdaydue to changes made after MarveldroppedactorJonathan Majorsand his character, Kang the Conqueror, from its story plans in 2023.

Doctor Strange, however, will return in 2027’sAvengers: Secret Warsand for a potential third solo film, Cumberbatch said. “He’s quite central to where things might go,” he noted.

source: people.com