By Ashley Burnett

After declaring himself “edgy,” dallying with future 50 Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson, and wowing Anna Wintour at the Met Ball, Benedict Cumberbatch has taken time out of his busy schedule to bring his mom to the Chelsea Flower Show.

Described as looking “suitably dapper” in his sun hat and white suit jacket, the Huffington Post reports that the pair “browsed the blooms” before posing for pictures. Wanda Ventham, the Cumberbatchian mother, was noted for her cameo performance in the latest season of Sherlock—mentions of her previous acting experience as a young starlet went unmentioned. As I noted in my last post, Cumberbatch’s family connections are typically downplayed.

The Chelsea Flower Show appearance seems to be an attempt to help Cumberbatch cultivate a “bad boy with a heart of gold” image—he can be edgy, but not afraid to be seen with his mother out in public. The appearance thus works in the same vein as Cumberbatch helping the young cancer patient. Hanging out with his mom also helps counteract some of the “poshness” that seems to surround Cumberbatch—spending the day with your mom is a good counterpoint to attending the Met Ball, after all.

By Alexandria Viernes

He’s a mum’s boy, everyone!

This week, Benedict Cumberbatch was spotted at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a much older looking woman. But don’t fret, Cumberbatch Fans, this woman is no mysterious woman but in fact, Benedict Cumberbatch’s very own mum.

The mother and son duet were featured in the UK’s Huffington Post entertainment section with some lovely high quality images of the pair looking at some lovely flowers. For thosse who don’t know, The Chelsea Flower Show is a 5 day garden show held in Chelsea, London, by the Royal Horticultural Society. It is considered one of the most famous garden shows in the world. How delightful and thoughtful of Benedict Cumberbatch to take his own mum as a date to the garden show!

At this rate, it seems like there’s no such thing as bad publicity for this actor.

So far, the only form of “bad” publicity I’ve seen on Cumberbatch is the fact that he looks like Butt-head from Beavis and Butt-head (Leave it up to Buzzfeed to notice these things), and that’s not even that terrible….

….except for the fact that I now can’t look at Cumberbatch the same way ever again because all I see is Butt-head. Thanks, Buzzfeed.

There’s also the “mysterious woman” that the Internet has been trying to hype for the past couple weeks — I suppose that that could be referred to as “bad” publicity.

Cumberbatch’s PR manager is doing a fantastic job — there seems to be nothing bad to say about the Sherlock actor.

This article is a slight juxtaposition from the latest articles that have been posted about him lately. Most of the recent articles about Cumberbatch cover all of his upcoming projects and fancy events he goes to, where they highlight his fashion, or what celebrity he’s seen talking to. This article definitely did not fail to recognize all of the events that Cumberbatch was a VIP guest at, including the MET Gala and Windsor Castle charity event. It did however, mention the lack of his appearance at the annual BAFTAs. But of course, the actor was probably too busy being a VIP guest at other important events.

However, with news like this, it showcases the man in yet another great, humble light. Perhaps it’s the media trying to argue that at the end of the day, despite all the fancy parties and famous lifestyle, the actor doesn’t let the glitz and glamor of the celebrity life come in the way of spending time with his very own mum.

By Jila Hamrang

Sean Fagan, a BuzzFeed Contributor, has compiled a list called “7 Literary Characters Benedict Cumberbatch was Born to Play” (BuzzFeed). His list brings up the idea of typecasting. Is it fair to typecast Cumberbatch, or any actor for that matter? Is it not part of their jobs as actors to be able to act like something they are not?

Well, it is not that easy. The media industry is, news to all, I know, obsessed with looks. Cumberbatch’s face is not one associated with “conventional beauty,” but he has transcended this barrier by creating his own brand of beauty. He is the poster face for intelligence, the Englishman, and thanks to his role as Khan in Star Trek, the ultimate villain.

So it is easy to see where Fagan is coming from when he suggests that Cumberbatch play Charles Ryder because of his “certain stuffy sexiness,” or Querry because of his “special brand of smoldering anger.”

I mean, are they really going to cast Cumberbatch in a role made for say, Ryan Reynolds? No, because their types are different.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. As Fagan’s exercise shows, an actor can come to mind with certain characters, and this is how actors get casted. It only becomes a truly negative thing when an actor is dissatisfied with his roles and wishes to break away from his typecast. However, that is not always successful.

Rex Harrison playing Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964).

Really, the most shocking thing about Fagan’s list is that he did not include Henry Higgins from Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.

Cumberbtch would be the PERFECT Henry Higgins! I have been saying it for years. Am I right? Do I sense a My Fair Lady remake?

Benedict Cumberbatch rockin’ that Henry Higgins bookcase-style.

Let me also put out there that I am willing to write the script. #futuregraduate2014.

By Elnaz Hamedani

Benedict Cumberbatch has decided to take a break from the whirlwind of rumors surrounding him and Dakota Johnson’s possible love life. The actor appeared at the BBC’s Chelsea Flower Show with Wanda Ventham, his mother, on May 19th, 2014.

Cumberbatch enjoying the Chelsea Flower Show

Cumberbatch and his mother conducted a casual interview while strolling through gardens, and Cumberbatch commented on his personal connection with nature, since both “[his] grandparents had gardens.”

Cumberbatch and Mum pose for the cameras

While fans everywhere are obsessing over recent pictures of Cumberbatch and Johnson, the actor decides to maintain his classy persona by attending the show with his mother. It is interesting that despite all the rumors and speculation, Cumberbatch is still very secretive about his personal life.

By Benjamin Lee

Huffington Post UK presented the question: Is Danny Dyer the next Benedict Cumberbatch? They ask this not because he is a British heartthrob or because of his acting skills. It is because Dyer stated that he thinks he has what it takes to portray Sherlock Holmes.

See the article right here.

The majority of viewers, fans, and critics will agree that Benedict’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is fantastic. But if Dyer stated that he wants to play Sherlock Holmes, why only compare himself to Benedict Cumberbatch? In the interview, Huffington Post and Dyer only observe Benedict’s acting in the hit BBC show; they make no allusion to anyone else. There are other actors who portrayed the famous fictional detective. Johnny Lee Miller plays Sherlock in the American show “Elementary.” Robert Downey Jr. played him in the 2009 film “Sherlock Holmes” and returned in the 2011 film “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” And let’s not forget the bedrock Sherlock of the 1940s, Basil Rathbone. These actors are well known. Yet, Dyer only compares himself to Benedict.

This gives an indication to just how popular Benedict is. He arrived and brought a fresh new take on the Sherlock Holmes character. We seem to love it so much that we no longer talk about any other interpretation or portrayal. We even forget to talk about the actual books written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Apparently, Benedict Cumberbatch’s name is starting to overshadow the Sherlock character. Suddenly, we expect every Sherlock Holmes to resemble Benedict, to act like Benedict, and to sound like Benedict. In a way, Dyer is not saying that he wants to play Sherlock but that he wants to play Benedict’s Sherlock.

When the portrayal of a character by a specific actor becomes popular, people start to associate that actor with that role and that role with that actor.

Be honest. When you hear Sherlock Holmes you will immediately think of the photo on the far left

Which Sherlock is on your mind?

After hearing a certain actor’s name, people will immediately associate the name with a popular character he has played and vice versa. Fans will be outraged when a new actor takes on the role. If “Sherlock” finally ended and a new Sherlock Holmes TV show or movie was announced with a new actor playing the lead, the Internet would immediately be in frenzy.

I can imagine all the posts and comments saying, “This actor is no Benedict Cumberbatch,” or “They should just bring back Benedict to play him.” Fans will tell you that Benedict was born to play this role and that no one else can play him.

Is it Benedict’s fault that the Sherlock name is now linked with his name? I personally think no. As an actor, Benedict will take any role and bring his own flare to it. It is the actor’s and director’s interpretation of it. If the fans become obsessed with the performance to a point where they will not accept any other, than that is their loss. The point of rehashing a character, story, and idea is to bring them into a new light and interpretation different than its previous ones. As great as Benedict’s performance is, Danny Dyer should not want to imitate it if he were to become Sherlock. He can bring his own flare to the character.

One day, when BBC’s Sherlock ends, people will not be open to a new actor portraying Sherlock because they still admire Benedict. I feel that they will get over it eventually. Robert Downey Jr. was Sherlock. Yet I did not hear anyone complain when Benedict became the next Sherlock Holmes.

By Olga Murillo

Although Benedict Cumberbatch’s birthday isn’t until July 19^th his Cumberbitches and hardcore fans are already getting ready to mail close-to-absurd trinkets and cards telling the gentleman how much they care and wish him a happy birthday.

As fans, we feel a connection to our celebrity and feel the need to tell him/her that we care, that we know them and we are right here waiting. We want to be their friends, we want to BELIEVE we ARE their friends. Hence, the need for so much media to buzz around Cumberbatch.

We want to be in the bedroom with them. On the receiving end, the celebrities just get words, wishes, and heartfelt feelings from a faceless adoring pile of letters (that might end up in the dustbin, anyway).

Although fans refuse to believe our friends, our celebrities, would ever treat our affectionate letters that way. Birthdays become crucial for the hardcore fan.

We want to believe that Cumberbatch, being a caring and and honest person, takes the time to read and store all of our lovely letters. Cumberbatch’s hardcore fans take him and his down-to-earth, sweet character into mind during the brainstorm for creative birthday gifts.

Long time fan and creator of the UK’s mega Cumberbatch fan site, Naomi Roper has an alternative for this confusing birthday card/gift process. For the past couple of years Roper and John Grant, Cumberbatch’s agent, and Cumberbatch himself have collaborated to make the fans money more useful than to give gifts to Cumberbatch who already has millions of dollars and no doubt everything he needs.

Every year Roper contacts Cumberbatch’s people and they tell her which charity Cumberbatch would be delighted to help. The first year Roper participated, in 2012, her website and its fans donated to The Teenage Cancer Trust (which is the same fund to which Cumberbatch suggested people contribute to help Stephen SUtton, the young cancer patient who recently died).

So this way the fans get to express their love by donating money to a charity that Cumberbatch loves, instead of mailing him some sweater he won’t receive, let alone wear. Naomi Roper knows too well about sending Benedict Cumberbatch fanmail. In her Contact page, she straightforwardly states,

“If you wish to send fanmail to Benedict please contact: Benedict Cumberbatch, c/o Conway Van Gelder Grant, 3rd Floor, 8-12 Broadwick Street, London W1F 8HW

Please note that due to the volume of mail he receives Benedict is unfortunately unable to respond personally to fanmail but is hugely appreciative of everyone who takes the time to write.”

Roper knows the sad feeling of discovering that Cumberbatch is not really our friend, so she lets the fans down very gently by ambiguously stating that Benedict Cumberbatch appreciates the people who take the time to write.

We can’t face the fact that he does not wear our sweaters or read our letters or even open them. However, our hard dying love won’t stop there. We will raise the money and comment beautifully on the charity website along with our donation and Cumberbatch will get the media coverage.

A sly move from John Grant, or as the media will say a resourceful tip off. Or he himself will post a picture holding a proactive sign saying something along the lines of “Help the youth” or “Look around you UK! Your future is in need.”

This year, for Cumberbatch’s 38^th birthday, fans will be able to donate to… drum roll please… The Prince’s Trust, a youth charity.
 The Prince’s Trust is a program in the United Kingdom that was started by Prince Charles in 1976. It was created to help the “disadvantage” youth that are either unemployed, struggling in school, are in care, homeless, struggle with mental issues, or need financial support. The program offers jobs, help in education, and it has special training classes along with many other programs to help improve the youths’ situation.

A great cause for someone like Cumberbatch who is for the people – or at least the media says so. Be ready to see massive media coverage this summer of Cumberbatch shaking hands with the disadvantaged.

And of course he would want Prince’s Trust to be the charity of his choice this year since he recently became an ambassador for the program. Maybe as an ambassador he will continue to donate to the program past his 38th birthday. But one thing we know for sure, as an ambassador, we will see massive media on the trust and on Cumberbatch in action with disadvantaged kids.

By Olga Murillo

I agree with Lexie when she say that Benedict Cumberbatch jumped on the bandwagon to help Stephen Sutton, the young cancer patient whose case was recently taken up by a bunch of celebrities, in order to improve or advance his own image.

Although, as Lexie writes, Cumberbatch does not need that extra press, his support for the kid does perhaps help make him seem more respectable. There were already a handful of celebrities offering funds to help out young Sutton, who unfortunately passed away in the early hours of yesterday.

I ask myself, where are these people now? Coldplay, Jason Manford, Simon Pegg, and Russell Brand? I am sorry to sound harsh – but when the money is spent and the article about Cumberbatch (and the other celebrities) helping Sutton has been published, where does the support go?

Does the viewer/reader/CumberWatcher move on and count it as one of his good deeds or do we brush it off as spotlight press that is no longer meaningful.

Will these stars continue to give money to the Sutton family and their charity? So far they haven’t published any statement.

I always thought that when several celebrities joined one cause, in this case the plight of one boy, it was like a competition to see how much attention each celebrity can get for  the cause).

Benedict Cumberbatch coming in late in the game for Stephen Sutton, did help the young man rack up some press. And also, why not fund a different kid, instead of one who is already getting funding and support from others?

There are many children out there who cannot afford the medical assistance they need. Why not brighten someone else’s life?

Maybe this doesn’t happen because no one else has picked out another suffering child to focus on. A celebrity might worry: Would his choice of a different child be considered  worthy of the attention of other celebrities?

Did John Grant (Cumberbatch’s agent) make the assumption that the Sutton child was a good bet for suport from Benedict because there was already a critical mass of respected media covering that one child?

Really, just find another child – make your own damn story. Try doing it because you want to, Benedict, not because John Grant thinks it was a good idea for your image!

John Grant, one of the 9 agents for Conway van Gelder Grant, manages Cumberbatch from the shadows. Cumberbatch’s name is so well known that Grant’s name is unnecessary. It’s not like Tom Cruise and Pat Kingsley where her name is attached to Cruise. John Grant, managing great upcoming British actors, allows Cumberbatch to float around and be his own person.

It looks as if Cumberbatch owns his own life and that is because Grant knows how to do his job. Grant knows not to get involved in pushing a celebrity’s  “personal life.” Still, articles like “Cumberbatch uses public transportation and buys his own soup” manage to leak into the media.

Grant plays it safe with Cumberbatch and allows him to publicly live a “normal life.” His celebrity image is one that seems down to earth and common.

Except for the fact that he is a celebrity and well-known actor, to his fans he seems almost human.

So Grant has done a good job. Nothing but good and respected press. Which brings me back to Stephen. Grant, flawlessly executing his job made it look like Cumberbatch cared at the moment when he too joined up with the other stars on behalf of Sutton.

And we ate it up. We believed he truly cared for Stephen Sutton and people in his situation.

By Jila Hamrang

Spotted: Dakota Johnson of the anticipated adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey and Benedict Cumberbatch were seen having lunch together. Apparently, when a star goes to lunch with an unexpected friend, like the 24-year old Johnson, it is breaking news and creates the suspicion that they are dating.

Naturally, most of the articles rope fans in by using images of the two of them, and barely mentioning, if at all, that there was a third person with them. Of course, since she is not famous, she is irrelevant, and only a nuisance to the reporters’ angle of the lunch outing being a date rather than just a lunch.

To spice up their lunch, Cumberbatch put napkins on his face which caused his lunch buddies to laugh. For example, this article from Daily Mail stated: “He provided ample lunchtime entertainment for 24-year-old Dakota and another female friend as he smothered his face with the white napkin” (Link). It is as if the paparazzi and the celebrity news articles are oblivious to the possibility that Cumberbatch’s joke was a way to cover his face from the imposing photographers, with the added bonus that it entertained his friends. This is especially suggested by when a napkin has fallen off and he looks to the side, towards the paparazzi. 

His look indicates that he knows they are watching.

The paparazzi taking a photograph of a star while he is enjoying brunch with his friends is not the most heinous thing they have ever done, but Cumberbatch’s reaction, although small and humorous, says a lot. It says:”You want a picture? Here, here is my face covered with napkins. Is this not hilarious? Is this what you wanted? Is this better than what you wanted?” He gives them something nonsensical because that is what they are: nonsensical.

Just leave the stars alone and let them eat their lunches, with napkins or without. Also, it would be great if the paparazzi stopped being that hyper girl from 3rd grade who thought every time a boy and a girl spoke it meant they were in love with each other.

By Silvia Jiang According to Entertainment Wise, Benedict Cumberbatch and Dakota Johnson had lunch together on Tuesday, the day after the Met Ball. It has been weeks since we first heard the rumor that the British actor is seeing someone romantically. Almost everyone is dying to know who might be this mysterious “someone.” Well, here we probably have the answer! Despite the photo of showing them together, Dakota Johnson and Benedict Cumberbatch have never confirmed their relationship. In fact, Dakota Johnson is said to be dating another actor, Jordan Masterson. However, neither Cumberbatch nor Johnson denied the romance between them. The last time Johnson was seen with Masterson was in Spain on April 7th. A lot of things could have happened in a month. The journalist Emily Cole from OK magazine reported the lunch, which was in East Village, New York. During the lunch, Cumberbatch put a napkin on his face and added a pair of black sunglasses on it. The hilarious look made his two female companions giggled. Yes indeed, there was another woman present at lunch with them on Tuesday. Nevertheless,  almost no journalist mentions that in the articles. It is then hard to say if it was still a date between the stars. The celebrities’ relationship status is always a hot topic for the press. From the perspectives of the media, it is obviously way more attractive to create the illusion for readers that the lunch was for the two actors only. Regardless the credibility of the news, the line that “Benedict Cumberbatch dates Dakota Johnson” is now everywhere on the internet. Even though making groundless claims are what the paparazzi and the press that bolsters them do all the time, ironically, they are actually right in most cases. So to reiterate the most important question once more, who is Cumberbatch’s mystery woman? Dakota Johnson might possibly be the answer to all of the questions that Cumberbatch’s fans are burning to have answered, but until there are more obvious evidences linking the two stars, we just must wait patiently for now.