Benedict Cumberbatch on the 'incredible homophobia' suffered by boys at his school
The actor told students that they should "learn acceptance"
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 tried to change the homophobic views of his fellow students while he was at school.
The actor attended Harrow, where he claims to have witnessed entrenched prejudice against gay pupils.
“In an all-male boarding school, in the olden days, it was seen as being something that ‘just happened’ since there were no girls, so you had a bit of an experience,” said Cumberbatch. “But there was incredible homophobia at my school, to the point where two boys who were caught doing something were literally chased down the street.”
He was 18 when he came across one particularly strong display of homophobia, after two boys “were just discovered in bed together doing something”.
“I was just finishing an essay in the school dining hall at breakfast, and I looked out the window and heard a commotion, a pair of feet scampering by, and then a horde just charging after shouting, ‘W**kers! Faggots!’ and I thought, ‘What the f**k is going on?’” he recalled.
Cumberbatch decided to make a bid to sway the mindset of his peers.
“I asked these kids coming back from the house who were breathless from the hunt, ‘What are you doing, you insane idiots? What the f**k?’" he told The Daily Beast.
“They explained it, and I said, ‘And you’re a Sikh, you’re Jewish, and you’re from Kenya. Do you want to just sit down and talk about the strife that your people have suffered because of your religion, race, creed, or colour? I mean, f**k me! You’ve really got to wake up to the fact that the world is full of disgusting prejudice because we are all different from one another.
“’You have to learn acceptance at this school, and you have to go into the world as a better person, and you have to try and embrace the fact that people are different rather than defining yourself by not being like them. Who cares that they’re gay? You have to coexist.’”
In July 2013, Cumberbatch officiated the gay marriage of his friends, Seth Cummings and Rob Rinder, in Ibiza.
He is thought to tipped for an Oscar for his current role in The Imitation Game, in which he plays Alan Turing, the Second World War code-breaker who in 1951 was convicted for gross indecency over a homosexual act.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments