Benedict Cumberbatch: Fatherhood Has Made His Emotions ‘Paper Thin’

Benedict Cumberbatch’s has opened up about family life and revealed his emotions have become ‘paper thin’ since he became a father.

The Sherlock star, 49, married his wife actress Sophie Hunter, 47, in 2015 and the couple have sons Christopher, 10, Hal, eight, and Finn, six, together. 

The award-winning actor admitted having children changed his perspective on life, the way he acts onscreen and has made him more likely to cry at films or get ‘angry’.

He told The Times: ‘[Fatherhood made my] emotions paper thin. 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.

‘Barbie makes you cry and other things make you angry.’

Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed his emotions have become ‘paper thin’ since he became a father (pictured last month)

The Sherlock star, 49, married his wife actress Sophie Hunter, 47, (left) in 2015 and the couple have three sons; Christopher, 10, Hal, eight, and Finn, six (pictured together in May)

The actor went on to reveal one of the most emotional points of the year came when he went to see Oasis perform at London’s Wembley Stadium over the summer – admitting it was a joy to see so many men ‘weeping’ together.

He said: ‘It was extraordinary. To see 90,000 men of every generation – children, grandparents, a lot of late-40-year-olds – having this emotional singalong, strangers putting their arms around each other, weeping through Richard Ashcroft’s set and then Oasis.’

Benedict’s insight into his family is rare as the children are hardly pictured, though he previously opened up about fatherhood in a January interview with Variety.

He said: ‘The minute you have kids this sense of time sinks in far more profoundly.

‘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. So there’s a huge shift in priorities, and it makes you value what you do with your life in a very different way.

‘It does weigh on me. When you become a parent, your thoughts turn more towards mortality.’

The Emmy-winner has also admitted he likes to ‘disguise’ himself when he’s out in public with his family so they can have their privacy.

Last month, on an episode of Dish from Waitrose he said: ‘With my family, I try to [disguise myself] because I do not want the attention drawn on them.

Benedict’s insight into his family is rare as the children are hardly pictured, though he has previously opened up about fatherhood (pictured with Sophie at Wimbledon in July)

‘I want them to have the right to their privacy and their time. But apart from that, I just have to own it. It takes an effort though.

‘It’s very weird walking into a room and everyone – well, a lot of people might recognise you, you don’t know anyone.’

The actor has also said Halloween is his favourite time of year because he can wear a costume and not be recognised.

He said: ‘I went as Chewbacca last year and it was just great.’

Benedict recalled that his mask for the character was so prominent that no one could tell who he was, so he was really able to let loose and enjoy himself.   

‘I was dancing along to the music that a Michael Jackson impersonator was playing, but I couldn’t really see where I was,’ he said.

‘The Michael Jackson impersonator was getting really angry ’cause I was sort of coming towards his cardboard, and people were turning from focusing on him to dancing Chewbacca there.

‘When it comes to this sort of thing, or a premiere or just, you know, being in a theatre or something, you’re in a theatre, that’s the natural habitat of an actor, even if you’re the other side of it-and in the audience, and I don’t bother disguising myself.’