Benedict Cumberbatch raised several headlines after delivering a memorable performance as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. The movie received immense appreciation for portraying the life of the cryptanalyst, the father of theoretical computer science. He played a crucial role in World War II. However, he faced a very tragic end due to that time’s anti-homosexuality laws.
For everything that happened to Alan Turing in his last days, he received a posthumous royal pardon from Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. While several people were happy with the pardon, Benedict Cumberbatch despised it and spoke strongly against it.
Benedict Cumberbatch was against the royal pardon of Alan Turing
Alan Turing decrypted the German intelligence messages for Britain and played a crucial role in the Second World War. But life wasn’t fair to him as he faced the wrath of the anti-homosexuality laws of the Government. He was arrested by the Government for having a sexual relationship with a young man and was found guilty of gross indecency.
Before taking his own life in 1954, Alan Turing accepted chemical castration instead of the prison sentence. However, Turing was given an official Government apology and a posthumous pardon by the Queen in 2013.
Even though, many people rejoiced at the pardon given to Alan Turing, Benedict Cumberbatch who played him in his biopic called it out. According to the Doctor Strange fame (via Out magazine), the only person who should have been doing the forgiving was the WWII hero who was killed by the merciless and unfair laws of the government.
“It’s an insult for anybody of authority or standing to sign off on him with their approval and say, ‘Oh, he’s forgiven’. The only person who should be [doing the] forgiving is Turing, and he can’t because we killed him. And it makes me really angry. It makes me very angry.”
Benedict Cumberbatch was of the notion that The Imitation Game should be taken as a warning that something similar can happen again. The actor has also been vocal about homosexuality in Hollywood and how it’s still a huge obstacle in becoming a leading man.
Also Read: The Crown’s Claire Foy Decimates Benedict Cumberbatch’s Reputation After Seeing His Viral Smaug Clip
Is Homosexuality an obstacle in Hollywood?
Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed an incident about how he supported a student at his boarding school. The boy who recently outed was being chased by some other boys who had a weak level of tolerance for his homosexuality. The actor has also been an advocate for homosexuality and representation in Hollywood.
The Avengers: Endgame actor said that even Hollywood is not a very welcoming place for gay actors. He added in the interview with Out magazine:
“We all know actors who are [gay] who don’t want to talk about it or bring it up, or who deny it. I don’t really know what they do to deal with it.”
According to Benedict Cumberbatch, homosexuality poses a huge obstacle for actors in Hollywood. Even though the scenario has faced a lot of change and the human and gay rights movements have progressed a lot in the last 40 years, there’s still more scope for improvement.
