Benedict Cumberbatch recently reflected on his most controversial movie role to date, revealing that he has apologized profusely to audiences and fans for what many described as a transphobic performance. Alongside his acclaimed portrayals of Sherlock Holmes in the series Sherlock and Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cumberbatch has occasionally made questionable project choices. Easily the worst of these was taking on a small but significant role in the critically panned 2016 sequel, Zoolander 2, which saw Ben Stiller return as Derek Zoolander and Owen Wilson reprise the role of Hansel. Cumberbatch played a non-binary model named All, a character that faced significant backlash from audiences.
During a recent interview with Variety, Cumberbatch recounted the controversy surrounding his role in Zoolander 2 and the profound regret he feels. He mentioned that he frequently finds himself apologizing to audiences whenever the topic arises, stating firmly he will never take on another character like that again. “I’ve had to apologize for that quite a lot,” Cumberbatch said. “It’s a difficult one to talk about.” The actor explained that his initial decision to take the role stemmed from a deep admiration for Stiller and the original Zoolander movie. Cumberbatch expressed, “I love that group of people, and it was the chance to sort of be part of something that the first time around was iconic and I was a huge fan of. But it got complicated and it got misunderstood, and I upset people.”
The reaction to his character was severe. LGBTQ+ activists heavily campaigned against the film, urging a boycott of Zoolander 2 when the first trailer unveiled Cumberbatch’s transphobic portrayal. Opposition was swift and organized, with one petition stating, “Cumberbatch’s character is clearly portrayed as an over-the-top, cartoonish mockery of androgyne/trans/non-binary individuals.” The campaign gained momentum across social media, and the above petition amassed 25,000 signatures in protest of the film’s themes.
In light of this backlash, Cumberbatch has maintained that he has gleaned essential lessons from the experience and would never undertake such a role again. “I respect that, so I probably wouldn’t do that again now,” he concluded. The fallout from Zoolander 2 went beyond Cumberbatch’s performance, ultimately branding the film itself as a major box office disappointment, grossing only $28 million domestically. While Ben Stiller has described the film as misunderstood, the controversy surrounding it continues to haunt Cumberbatch’s reputation.
The role has also impacted Cumberbatch’s future projects. In an interview in 2022, he suggested that if he were to consider returning to the role of Sherlock Holmes, significant changes would need to occur. “I think in this era, my role would never be performed by anybody other than a trans actor,” he stated alongside his former Zoolander 2 castmate, Penélope Cruz. Cumberbatch reflected on his mindset at the time of filming, acknowledging that he did not fully grasp the implications of the role, which he considered merely a depiction of heteronormative clichés grappling with a new, diverse world.
Zoolander 2 is currently available for streaming on Prime Video, should anyone wish to witness the performance that sparked such intense reflection from Benedict Cumberbatch.