Benedict Cumberbatch has built an impressive career with iconic roles, but there’s one performance he wishes he could take back.
During an interview with Variety, the Doctor Strange star, 48, admitted that if given the choice today, he would not reprise his role as "All", a non-binary fashion model in Ben Stiller’s 2016 comedy Zoolander 2.
“It’s a difficult one to talk about. I’ve had to apologize for that quite a lot.”
Cumberbatch explained that at the time, he was excited to be part of a franchise he admired, but acknowledged that the role was misunderstood and sparked backlash.
"I love that group of people. It was the chance to be part of something that, the first time around, was iconic, and I was a huge fan of."
However, he admitted that the role became "complicated" and ultimately upset many people.
“It got complicated, and it got misunderstood, and I upset people. And I respect that, so I probably wouldn’t do that again now.”
The Sherlock actor further addressed how casting norms have evolved, noting that in today’s era, a role like "All" would likely be portrayed by a trans or non-binary actor.
“There was a lot of contention around the role... in this era, my role would never be performed by anybody other than a trans actor.”
While Zoolander 2 remains a part of his filmography, Cumberbatch has made it clear that he has learned from the experience and acknowledges the importance of inclusive casting in modern Hollywood.