--- description: The star of "The Imitation Game" talks about the challenges of his various roles while on the set of TIME's cover shoot title: Benedict Cumberbatch Talks About Playing the Role of the Genius image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbbb9e1f4d5f13db9/698769cc55a8592030a8435a/benedict_cumberbatch_2_1280.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Benedict Cumberbatch Talks About Playing the Role of the Genius  by [Diane Tsai](/author/diane-tsai/)  ## Diane Tsai Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 20, 2014 12:00 PM CUT  TIME  by [Diane Tsai](/author/diane-tsai/)  ## Diane Tsai Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 20, 2014 12:00 PM CUT Geniuses, no matter how smart or intimidating, still have some things in common with the rest of us. Benedict Cumberbatch says of portraying them, “It’s also, actually, the great gift I suppose — is to realize that they’re bound by the human condition. They’re blood and flesh like us. They live in the same worlds as us.” Cumberbatch is no stranger to portraying individuals of remarkable intelligence, having taken on roles ranging from _Star Trek_‘s super-human Khan to Alan Turing in the upcoming film _The Imitation Game_. “I suppose being remarkably stupid in comparison to any of these people’s abilities is difficult sometimes, but that only really manifests when you’re actually asked to do something that they can do,” says Cumberbatch. For example? Playing the violin as Sherlock Holmes. Above, watch Cumberbatch reflect on his past roles and what he relishes about the experiences. ### Benedict Cumberbatch Roles You Didn’t Know About  Van Gogh: Painted with Words This 2010 docu-drama by the BBC starred Cumberbatch as the tormented Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. BBC  The Other Boleyn Girl Cumberbatch plays William Carey, a courtier and husband to Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson) in this 2008 historical drama pic. Columbia  Amazing Grace Cumberbatch played William Pitt the Younger, the youngest ever Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in this 2006 drama about banning the slave trade in the British Empire. Samuel Goldwyn  Creation Cumberbatch (right) played Joseph Dalton Hooker, an esteemed British botanist and close friend of Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany), in this 2009 British film about Darwin. Newmarket  Stuart: A Life Backwards This 2007 television drama co-produced by the BBC and HBO starred Tom Hardy as the titular character Stuart Shorter, a homeless activist, with Cumberbatch as Alexander Masters, an author and friend of Stuart. HBO  Parade's End The BBC and HBO teamed up for another Cumberbatch series in 2012 with Parade’s End which saw the actor play Christopher Tietjens, an English aristocrat and statistician for the British government. BBC  War Horse Cumberbatch (left) takes on the role of Major Jamie Stewart, the leader of a cavalry company in World War I in this 2011 war drama by Spielberg. Disney  Atonement Marking one of his creepier roles, Cumberbatch played a rapist named Paul Marshall in this 2007 British drama that starred James McAvoy and Keira Knightley. Universal  Fortysomething Cumberbatch plays Rory, the son of Paul Slippery (Hugh Laurie), in this six episode 2003 British comedy television series. ITV  Starter for 10 This 2006 British comedy had Cumberbatch (second from right) take on the role of Patrick Watts, the smug team captain for a British game show called University Challenge. 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