Benedict Cumberbatch talks about near-death experiences in Africa

Benedict Cumberbatch talks about the horrific experience he had in 2004 when he was kidnapped and robbed while traveling through South Africa.

This revelation comes less than two years after another horrific ordeal in May 2023, when a knife-wielding intruder broke into his London home.

Benedict Cumberbatch looks back on the harrowing encounter 20 years ago and reveals how it fundamentally changed his outlook on life.

The actor revealed that he was kidnapped and robbed by six men in South Africa in 2004 while filming the BBC mini-series To the Ends of the Earth. The incident reportedly occurred after a diving trip with friends when a burst tire left their car stranded on the side of the road.

Cumberbatch and his companions were reportedly ambushed, forced into a vehicle and driven around for hours. The 48-year-old claimed that they were then tied up and executed before the attackers fled. In an interview with diversityReflecting on the ordeal, Cumberbatch stated:

“It gave me a sense of time, but not necessarily a good one. It made me impatient to live a less ordinary life.”

This impatience fueled his addiction to adrenaline, from skydiving to extreme sports. However, his perspective changed after he married Sophie Hunter and became a father to three sons.

“Now that has changed, and that is sobering. I looked over the edge; it helped me familiarize myself with what lies beneath. And I have accepted that this is the end of all our stories,” he shared.

Cumberbatch’s life was anything but boring, but an incident in May 2023 brought terror to his doorstep. Before revealing his experience in South Africa, the actor and his family experienced a frightening invasion of their £3.5 million London home.

The explosion reported that Jack Bissell, a former chef at a prestigious Mayfair hotel, violently broke through the establishment’s iron gate and then began a destructive rampage armed with a fish knife.

The report described Bissell kicking, stomping and tearing plants in the garden and throwing them against the walls while shouting menacing threats such as “I hope it burns down.”

Bissell didn’t stop there – he reportedly spat on the intercom and ripped it out before fleeing the scene. Authorities later arrested the chef thanks to the DNA left behind.

Luckily, Cumberbatch and his family narrowly avoided direct contact with the intruder during the home invasion. Although the family remained safe within the walls of their home, they could hear the chaos unfolding outside.

A source close to the family shared their shock: “Of course the whole family was scared and thought this guy was going to get in and hurt them.” The insider revealed that the incident had left the Cumberbatchs deeply unsettled. In her words:

“Since then, Benedict and Sophie have had many sleepless nights, worried that they might be targeted again. The fact that it was a targeted break-in makes it even more frightening.”

In a satisfying moment of justice, the man responsible for the attack on Cumberbatch’s London home has been held accountable for his actions. The former luxury hotel employee pleaded guilty to assault at Wood Green Crown Court and was fined £250 and given a three-year restraining order.

The injunction prohibits Bissell from approaching the Cumberbatch family or their area of ​​residence. Despite the disturbing nature of his actions, prosecutors determined that the incident appeared to be premeditated.

On the day of the attack, Bissell reportedly stopped at a nearby store to purchase two packages of pita bread. There he is said to have told the shop owner of his intention to break into the star’s house and set it on fire.

Cumberbatch is no stranger to going the extra mile for his craft, but his commitment to authenticity came at a price when filming The Power of the Dog.

In a 2021 interview with Esquire Magazine, Cumberbatch revealed that he suffered nicotine poisoning not once, but three times while portraying Phil Burbank, a chain-smoking rancher.

The explosion reported that Cumberbatch smoked countless unfiltered rollies for the role, which had a negative impact on his health. “That was really difficult. Filterless rollies, just take one at a time. I got nicotine poisoning three times,” he admitted, calling the experience “terrible.”

To make matters worse, he was embarrassed about his body odor, especially on social outings. For the actor, who reportedly quit smoking in 2014, it must have been particularly difficult to start the habit again.