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Benedict Cumberbatch reveals why Sherlock Holmes is asexual


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http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/benedict-cumberbatch-reveals-why-sherlock-holmes-is-asexual/

Benedict Cumberbatch reveals why Sherlock Holmes is asexual
Editorial Team Oct 29, 2014 at 03:55 pm
Benedict-Cumberbatch.jpg

He left us in awe with his skilled acting and portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the TV series and now actor Benedict Cumberbatch reveals why his character is asexual. He says the detective avoids sex because he is more interested in crime. The actor attained global fame playing a modern version of the fictional detective in the BBC series ‘Sherlock’ and his portrayal has left fans speculating as to whether the sleuth is ‘asexual’.

Speaking to the Elle UK magazine, Benedict insists his alter ego has to avoid erotic acts because relationships would get in the way of his investigations, reports femalefirst.co.uk. ‘He’s asexual for a purpose. Not because he doesn’t have a sex drive, but because it’s suppressed to do his work. Cold showers, looking at a lot of dead bodies … that’ll do it for you,’ the 38-year-old said when asked whether Sherlock would be good in bed.

Benedict, also known for his role in the movie ‘The Fifth Estate’, is currently in a relationship with Sophie Hunter, but he admits the dating has become more complicated since he became famous. ‘It’s a really double-edged sword, you know. You discover why people find you attractive, in a relationship or a tryst, and if it’s just to have a go on you or try you out, then I can smell that a mile off,’ said the actor.

With his career at an all-time high with roles in films such as ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, ‘The Imitation Game’ and ’12 Years a Slave’ as well as ‘Sherlock’, Benedict has started to turn his attention to having a family. He said: ‘I can imagine I’ll look back at this point in my life and think: ‘Wow that was really extraordinary,’ but at the same time I hope I’m looking back and going, ‘Oh, that was the moment I got on with life and realised things beyond myself.’ ‘Without using words like ‘marriage’, ‘children’ and ‘family’ – although I have just used those words – put it this way, I hope I’ve got other people to look back with me at that point. I hope I’m surrounded by family.’ (Read: ’1% of the world’s population is asexual’)

How are asexual people different?

You have to realise that there is nothing wrong with asexual people, in the same way that there is nothing wrong with bisexuals or gay people. They are just different. They might fall in love, they may be romantics at heart, they may even masturbate but they simply don’t like to have sex with other people. Why people are asexual is still not clear and there’s a tendency to look down upon them in our current overtly sexed up times. For all we know, asexuality could be an evolutionary characteristic to cut down on the world’s exponential population growth, we could sure use something to halt the population explosion. Like asexuality, there was a similar taboo to other sexual issues in the past – pre-marital sex and homosexuality to name a few – but as a whole, we’ve progressed to learn to not force the will of the majority on others. Read more about Asexuality (not being interested in sex) is completely normal

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

Edited by Heart
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Interesting insight, I also like the positive tone that article was written with in regards to asexuality.

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" ‘He’s asexual for a purpose. Not because he doesn’t have a sex drive, but because it’s suppressed to do his work. Cold showers, looking at a lot of dead bodies … that’ll do it for you,’ "

Urgh.

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Yeah, I have to say that this does not provide any kind of solid information for Sherlock being asexual. He is saying Sherlock avoids sex for a reason, because it would get in the way of his work... not because he does not experience sexual attraction or desire. So, Sherlock does not appear to be asexual.

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Very interesting, however it sounds like Benedict Cumberbatch is saying Sherlock chooses not to have sex or get into sexual relationships because it will effect his work, which would imply he isn't asexual. If Sherlock were truly asexual, it wouldn't be a choice, he just wouldn't feel any attraction. Being asexual has to do with feeling sexual attraction towards other people, not having a sex drive or actually having sex, and I feel like this article didn't do the best job of explaining that. :/

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verily-forsooth-egads

I agree. Not to mention that whole "maybe this is evolution's way of slowing population growth" bullcrap that gets repeated by people who don't understand how evolution works.

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This pretty much makes asexuality look like a choice, and, frankly I don't think it is, I certainly didn't choose to be asexual, I don't have any scientific evidence that asexuality is not a choice, but I don't think anyone has scientific evidence that it is a choice either.

Also, as someone already mentioned, there is no mention of a all k of sexual attraction in the description of asexuality, and that immediately makes it misleading in my opinion.

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It's great that asexuality is being talked about, but what Cumberbatch describes isn't asexuality. With asexuality, you don't *choose* to be suppressed, you just don't experience sexual attraction :/

(Yes I know this has already been said, and I'm sure everyone reading this knows that, but it bugs me, sorry) xx

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There will never be any pleasing this community. -_-

Doesn't matter - it's not as if anyone is actually trying to please this community.

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Sherlock is one thing. I would like to speak to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about this. I mean, what would he have said about Holmes if asked such a question?

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This article seemed promising since I've heard people say that Sherlock may be asexual, but like everyone else is saying, I wish they didn't make it seem like this was just a choice.

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Sherlock is one thing. I would like to speak to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about this. I mean, what would he have said about Holmes if asked such a question?

Me too....let's get a ouija board.

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There will never be any pleasing this community. -_-

Doesn't matter - it's not as if anyone is actually trying to please this community.

I heard a badumtish sound effect... behehehehe....context.

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Quintus Crinis

Was hopeful when I saw the phrase "he is more interested in crime" - however the rest of it does sound like they're suggesting it's a choice. :(

I can sort of see the logic behind it being an evolution to keep down population growth, but even so do we need to put an explanation on it.

Also unhelpful that the links around it are about tips to deal with sexual disorders. :(

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Also unhelpful that the links around it are about tips to deal with sexual disorders. :(

Especially since that makes it seem like this is something that should be fixed... It actually verifies for a lot of people that there might be something wrong with them, which is kind of the opposite of what this community is trying to do.

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Nightmare-Cat

I'm in a war on whether to laugh at this or knock my head against a wall.

"Why people are asexual is still not clear"

How about instead of trying to figure out why we exist you just accept us and let us exist

"and there’s a tendency to look down upon them in our current overtly sexed up times."

It goes both ways we sometimes look down at you because you are a slave in these, "Overtly sexed up times."

"asexuality could be an evolutionary characteristic"

I'm not even sure where to start with that quote... makes me feel like we could be X-Men

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Sherlock is one thing. I would like to speak to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about this. I mean, what would he have said about Holmes if asked such a question?

I think Doyle would say that his character's sexuality was not an appropriate conversation to be having. Victorian morals and all.

But even though I identify as sexual (and highly attracted to Mr. Cumberbach) I do think he is is not doing the asexual community a favor by making asexuality look as though it is a choice. I don't think he meant to cast the wrong light on the subject, it just maybe something he does not have a lot of experience with.

In my opinion I think the character of Sherlock, both the original and the modern BBC's version is most likely asexual (and not by choice).

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FinallyReadyToBeHere

When I saw this on my tumblr, I sighed. No, Mr. Cumberbatch, that is not right...

There will never be any pleasing this community. -_-

Uh... okay, rude much? Try reading the article he said this in, what he is basically describing is celibacy. People already assume that asexuality=celibacy so he's basically kind of reinforcing that notion. It's not intentional, I think, he just doesn't understand it very well. A lot of non-asexual people don't. I feel that, for asexuals, this is more of a roll the eyes and sigh kind of moment because, once again, people are not grasping what it means to be "asexual".

Reading his description about "Sherlock" in bed, though, seemed kind of telling-- I felt that he was perhaps revealing more about HIS sexual prowess rather than the character's. Or, he probably took on the mindset of that character for a moment and used first person in expression. What do you guys think?

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littlepersonparadox

He means well, I don't think any of his incorrect statements about us intentional. he just makes a lot of mistakes a lot of people make when finding out about asexuality. Heck it being a choice is something that some ace's get confused about.

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It would be best if actors would simply act their characters, instead of trying to explain them.

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It would be best if actors would simply act their characters, instead of trying to explain them.

From what I've heard, at least with TV actors, that's simply not how it works nowadays... they're usually given a lot of leeway in coming up with the motivation/emotional background behind the lines they're given.

Unlike cinematic movies, where one director and one team of writers is there for the whole production, TV shows very often deal with multiple directors and writers over the run of a show, so the actors of starring roles will often be the only solid constant in the portrayal of their characters.

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With the cumberbatch Sherlock series, there are only two writers who came up with the purpose of the series and the scenes and who talk with each other a lot. You're probably right on most series.

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With the cumberbatch Sherlock series, there are only two writers who came up with the purpose of the series and the scenes and who talk with each other a lot. You're probably right on most series.

Hmm, okay. I didn't know the specifics of the Sherlock production... so consider my point moot in this case. :blush:

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To me he described sherlock to be celibate. Not asexual. But used the wrong word. Which sucks.

I fear that he think that he knows what asexual means, but as he clearly says "asexual for a purpose" he does not. I wish there was a way to tell him that celibacy and asexuality is not the same thing. Then this could have been easily avoided.
I guess what he heard is that asexuality means "doesn't want to have Sex" which leaves two interpretations a) "I don't even have an urge to have sex" b) "I have more important things to do than having sex".
I'm disappointed that he doesn't know the difference ...

Being in the sherlock fandom I have read that Ben C has also shown in the past that he doesn't really know what asexuality is.

(Maybe a bit off topic but my final words:) he's an actor. He is paid to do a job. He makes up little neat ideas to help him play the role. What he says about a character is not the word of God. The writers know how they wrote their characters where they leave room for interpretation.
An actor is often not a bit smarter than we [edit: people who watch the show] are. So I wouldn't take them too seriously.

Edited by Knitting Ace
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Deleted Person

I think that it's nice that they tried, and at least they have linked to some better information, and the overall tone is positive...but it would have been nice if he had actually read up on it before having an interview because it's very clear that he has no idea what he's talking about.

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To me he described sherlock to be celibate. Not asexual. But used the wrong word. Which sucks.

I fear that he think that he knows what asexual means, but as he clearly says "asexual for a purpose" he does not. I wish there was a way to tell him that celibacy and asexuality is not the same thing. Then this could have been easily avoided.

I guess what he heard is that asexuality means "doesn't want to have Sex" which leaves two interpretations a) "I don't even have an urge to have sex" b) "I have more important things to do than having sex".

I'm disappointed that he doesn't know the difference ...

Being in the sherlock fanden i have read that Ben C has also shown in the past that he doesn't really know what asexuality is.

(Maybe a bit off topic but my final words:) he's an actor. He is paid to do a job. He makes up little neat ideas to help him play the role. What he says about a character is not the word of God. The writers know how they wrote their characters where they leave room for interpretation.

An actor is often not a bit smarter than we are. So I wouldn't take them too seriously.

Who's "we"?

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Who's "we"?

Everyone who watches the show, and thinks a little about it.

(Sorry, I only realized just now, how that 'we' could be confusing.)

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