Benedict Cumberbatch was one of ten famous actors to feature on W Magazine’s Best Performances issue.
Each given their own front cover, the magazine honoured an array of A-listers including: Kristen Stewart, Adam Driver, Gemma Chan, Lady Gaga, Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Hudson, and Tilda and Honor Swinton.
Introducing W's Best Performances 2022 cover stars: #KristenStewart, #AdamDriver, @LadyGaga, @Gemma_Chan, #DenzelWashington, @jes_chastain, @IAMJHUD, #BenedictCumberbatch, #CateBlanchett, #TildaSwinton and #HonorSwinton. View them all here:https://t.co/7BM56w6Pqf pic.twitter.com/EXOc61xscF
— W Magazine (@wmag) January 11, 2022
Cumberbatch has had a remarkable year which saw him play a leading role in Netflix’s new flick Power of the Dog, which swept up numerous Golden Globe awards.
But it wasn’t Cumberbatch’s on-screen prowess that had chins wagging after the W Magazine cover was unveiled.
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Clad in a floral Hermès shirt, a yellow bucket hat, and tinted Ray-Ban sunglasses - some likened the actor to Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G.
Looking forward to Benedict Cumberbatch's gritty reboot of Ali G. pic.twitter.com/tjmj1O7oxE
— the Joe Griffin (@theJoeGriffin) January 11, 2022
Benedict Cumberbatch playing Ali G in future reboot confirmed (source: me) pic.twitter.com/HDSiRQyqwb
— api lasso (@bluemaevor) January 11, 2022
this is ali g in the multiverse of madness init https://t.co/x9M7mY31jg
— stinkz🇲🇦 (@adamXcross) January 11, 2022
Why does Benedict Cumberbatch look like Ali G? 😂 https://t.co/wFvoYNXZOA
— Christian Cortave (@CCortave24) January 11, 2022
He was also compared to Raoul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas thanks to the hat and glasses combination.
Some compared his get-up to festival attire:
okay leeds fest outfit https://t.co/Xa9EaiwEX8
— char ❤️🩹 (@fluctuatecore) January 11, 2022
Looks like a lad who would order a craft beer at EP https://t.co/UWynOIObGs
— andrewboylan (@boykinboylan) January 11, 2022
Others said the picture showed the “Wes Anderfication” of Cumberbatch, or that he was “manic-pixie-dream-girlified”.
Either way, people enjoyed sharing their thoughts on the outfit:
the wes anderfication of benedict cumberbatch https://t.co/JbwZoSU0mG
— al (@cartwheeldodie) January 12, 2022
they manic-pixie-dream-girlified him https://t.co/FUC9HwgmuD
— kirsten dunst nation (@kdantoinette) January 11, 2022
me in my 2017 art hoe phase https://t.co/UPA4Eg5CUW
— melia • 6MORE INCOMING (@deadearbuds) January 11, 2022
Cumberbatch The Creator https://t.co/zn8huMxL2o
— 🐖Fitz de Lux🐖 (@_LucyFitzgerald) January 11, 2022
they dodie-ified him https://t.co/dLEKflRrkA
— toby☭ (@rosesinitaly) January 11, 2022
has he been watching euphoria? https://t.co/9qDI5d1hhe
— gray (@wesmachers) January 11, 2022
it’s giving soft indie rock boy https://t.co/Hr4ltsizxK
— $adgalriri (@EM0VISION) January 11, 2022
In the W Magazine interview, Cumberbatch spoke about his latest film, and revealed that his parents - who are both actors - discouraged his “ridiculous choice of occupation”.
But after playing Antonio Salieri in Amadeus when he was in his early twenties and at university, his father told him he’s better than he ever was or ever would be, and he’s now delighted to share the profession with his parents.
Alongside his acting career, it looks like Cumberbatch will now be also be hailed as a fashion icon…
