BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Daily Mail: I'm Not A Posh Kid, says Benedict

**Posted by Sherlock Holmes** May 1, 2013 4:12 pm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2315853/Im-posh-kid-insists-toffee-named-Benedict-Cumberbatch.html

**Posted by SusiGo** May 1, 2013 4:35 pm

Not again that class thing. Sorry, but for (at least some) non-British people it's quite difficult to understand why all this has to be brought up again and again. I think in many other countries (including mine) no one's interested in the education/upbringing an actor/actress has had as long as they're good at what they're doing. I don't know if the paper started this again or Benedict himself but it's a bit sad that such things have to be discussed when it should be mainly about his work.
This is not meant to sound dismissive in any way but it's really difficult to understand. Years ago I did some research about Kenneth Branagh who was then condemned by some people (including literary scholars) because of his having "betrayed" his working class roots by rubbing shoulders with Prince Charles.

**Posted by Tantalus** May 1, 2013 5:05 pm

Until I read this article, I never even had a passing thought about BC being "uppity" and such. I do think it's an American thing--class/rank are just not part of our daily life.

The BBC is sponsoring a contest where you can win a five-day, four-night trip to England, and visit the castle where Downton Abbey is filmed, having tea with "Lord and Lady Such-and-such". I'd love to come to England, but I'd rather have tea with one of the Sherlock film crew backstage of the 221B set.

Yesterday, my family spent the day at Biltmore House, the largest private residence in the United States. At over 175,000 square feet, it has Highclere Castle beat by about 50,000 square feet, yet no one thinks of the Vanderbilts as in a different class. Yes, they traveled in different circles than most of us, but the division was one of wealth, not class (i.e., the Vanderbilts weren't royalty and used no peerage titles and such). Thus, anyone able to get together the funds (through work, inheritance, theft I suppose, etc.) and willing to do the work, could replicate what they did.

I don't know about others, but for me, my praise for BC is because he's a fabulous actor, with great presence and nuance in his performances. I couldn't care less what his family background is.

**Posted by Tantalus** May 1, 2013 5:06 pm

Looks like I cross-posted with Susi.

Read what she said. That's what I was trying to say; she just said it better!

: )

**Posted by Harriet** May 1, 2013 5:12 pm

Uhm, have a look at what happened to his black shirt

**Posted by Tantalus** May 1, 2013 5:15 pm

Yeah, I thought he was playing "The Joker" at first...

**Posted by Mary Me** May 1, 2013 5:18 pm

Harriet wrote:
Uhm, have a look at what happened to his black shirt

Haha! I was wondering about the same thing!

Whatever, I think that 'class thing' is getting dull. I fully agree with Susi, so there's nothing to add...

**Posted by SusiGo** May 1, 2013 5:19 pm

Is it now the Blue Shirt of Seduction/Sexiness? Poor Harriet. Your favourite pic.

**Posted by Harriet** May 1, 2013 5:24 pm

Yes, you do understand, right? It looks like the Blue Shirt of Ineptitude

**Posted by SusiGo** May 1, 2013 5:25 pm

Poor girl. Just have a look at my avatar and everything's fine.

**Posted by Harriet** May 1, 2013 5:31 pm

Maybe it is The curious case of the changing colours

**Posted by Davina** May 1, 2013 6:37 pm

As far as I can ascertain from this article is is a lazy rehash of stuff they churned out last year. Also Benedict never threatened to leave the UK. All I can assume is that because he is about to appear in the new Star Trek movie some lazy, lazy editor thought he'd save his poor overworked journalists some time by actually not bothering them in trying to find anything new out. To call this 'news' is a mis-nomer.

Finally I'd like to point out that as far as I am aware Benedict has not been branded one of Britain's poshest actors. Most people have no idea as to his background, nor do they care, if anything they just think of him as being 'that actor with the funny name'. The only reason they might become aware of his background is through rags like The Daily Mail printing such drivel!

Rant over!

**Posted by SusiGo** May 1, 2013 6:40 pm

Good to hear, Davina, so it's the media all over again. I suspected something like this.

**Posted by Schmiezi** May 1, 2013 6:46 pm

There is a novel by Terry Pratchett called "The Truth". It's about establishing a newspaper on the Discworld. The editor calls articles like that one not "news", but "olds". Very precise.