Brit of the Week

Benedict Cumberbatch (July 19, 1976) was born in London to actors Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton. He attended Brambletye School and then Harrow School. Before studying drama at the University of Manchester, he took a year off to teach English in a Tibetan monastery. After graduating from U of M, he trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Benedict began his career on the stage, even being nominated for an Olivier Award. From there he did a lot of television ("Heartbeat", "Tipping the Velvet", and "The Ends of the Earth") and several films ("Amazing Grace", "Atonement", "The Other Boleyn Girl", and "Creation"). In 2010, it was his performance in the mini-series "Sherlock" that really put him on the map. Up next: Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" (with Emily Watson and David Thewlis), "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (with Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong), and the highly anticipated "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (with Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, and his "Sherlock" costar Martin Freeman).