It is better in context 
. He comes across as quite playful, but also passionate (about his work) at times, as in this bit:
And then Hamlet, who Benedict will tackle on stage next summer. Another rather sexless man, I suggest. ‘My God, he’s got a depth of soul that, if he turned it on you, you’d be the happiest woman in the world,’ Benedict responds, shocked. I say I find Hamlet a navel-gazing, self-obsessed bore and he tears a strip off me. ‘Whose Hamlet have you seen?’ When I admit my opinion is based on just reading the text, he rants for 11 whole minutes. ‘Yeah, great,’ he snaps. ‘OK, so you’re projecting your interpretation of a character off the printed word. You have to see an interpretation beyond your own reading. You have to. You can’t say that you hate Hamlet. Hamlet doesn’t just exist in a book, he exists in performance!’
He later apologises on the phone: ‘Sorry, I got a bit defensive, didn’t I?’ But in fact, it was rather nice being the object of Benedict’s derision, because: 1) he was completely right; 2) his rant involved an impromptu rendition of Hamlet’s ‘drown the stage with tears’ speech, and it was spectacular; and 3) he was so unguarded. Benedict is funny and smart – he’s great company – but he’s struggling to walk a line between being genuine and people-pleasing, so it’s rather nice when he forgets to care.
I'd love to have read more about this, and to have heard the speech!
Benedict is on the phone to his best friend Adam, who is joining us at the Chiltern Firehouse for drinks. ‘I’m going to tell you what drink to order,’ he is whispering into the handset. ‘But I don’t want to say it out loud because I want to order one for her [that’s me] and I don’t want her to hear the name because it’s so funny.’
We are ensconced in the snug, curtained off from the prying eyes, with a window directly on to the bar. He ends his call, and leans forwards. ‘Would you like aquick one before dinner?’ he asks me. Then he calls through the hatch: ‘Two Quick Ones Before Dinner,’ he tells the barman.
I don't think he'd really have been too bothered by Amanda's Star Trek jokes .
And a bit more about intrusive fans:
When discussing fans who furtively try to take his photo, for example, you can hear his longing to embrace a robust approach. ‘People asking is nice. But when people just go [he imitates someone sneakily holding up a camera phone, dropping his jaw to the side], and they do generally do that mouth, [he does it again] then I’m guns-blazing. I cross-question them. They’re like: “What, what are you talking about? I haven’t taken your picture.” And I’m: “Then let me see your phone.” And they’re like, “No, I’m not showing you my phone,” and I’m [his voice rises in indignation], “Well don’t f*cking take a photograph of me then.”’
Except he doesn’t actually say that last bit out loud. ‘No, not so much,’ he says ruefully. ‘But in my head, in my head… There are times when I’m completely fine with it, and other times I’m: “Actually I’m with someone you’re totally ignoring and standing on while trying to get a photo of me, and this is not the right time.” Then they walk away and I think: “God, am I an arsehole? Should I be accessible all the time?” But I think: “Not really.”’
"People asking is nice" - he really doesn't ask for much - just to be asked and a little bit of consideration/acknowledgment of whoever he's with.
I also was amused by the interviewer looking up his love scenes (she was sadly disappointed) on Youtube to prepare for the interview (well, you would, wouldn't you?), and her being prim and awkward on the back of the motorbike .
Last edited by Liberty (October 30, 2014 12:15 am)
