Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Benedict Cumberbatch talks about gay sex scenes (or lack of) in The Imitation Game

The Sherlock star plays homosexual genius Alan Turing in the wartime biopic

Jess Denham
Thursday 09 October 2014 01:54 EDT
Comments
Benedict Cumberbatch plays genius codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game
Benedict Cumberbatch plays genius codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Benedict Cumberbatch has defended the decision not to include overt gay sex scenes in his latest movie, The Imitation Game.

The British actor plays genius codebreaker Alan Turing who helps the Allies defeat the German Nazis in World War II, only to be criminally prosecuted for being a homosexual when he is caught with a 19-year-old man in 1952.

Some critics have asked why sex does not feature in the film but according to Cumberbatch, it is "not an exploration of someone's sex life".

"He's chemically castrated because he admits to being a homosexual; he talks about entreating a young man to touch his penis. I mean, it's pretty explicit," he told The Wrap last month.

"If you need to see that to understand that he's gay, then all is lost for any kind of subtle storytelling. The conversations are so naked in themselves that the idea of having to see two naked men wasn't something I ever thought was missing in the script."

Director Morten Tyldum also commented on the lack of gay sex, adding that it was a "very conscious choice" as Turing's sexuality was "just one part of the character that [he] wanted to reveal".

Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Matthew Goode and Rory Kinnear also star alongside Cumberbatch in the film, which is already being tipped for an Oscar.

It is due for release in UK cinemas on 14 November.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in