Benedict Cumberbatch Reflects on Controversial Zoolander 2 Role

Benedict Cumberbatch, famous for his role in Sherlock, has recently shared his regrets over playing a non-binary fashion model in the 2016 comedy Zoolander 2.

The actor confessed that he’s had to apologize for this role many times, as it became a source of backlash after the film’s release.

The Controversy Around the Role

Cumberbatch played a character named “All,” a non-binary fashion model, in the Zoolander sequel.

The film, which was a commercial disappointment, grossed just £23 million at the box office. From the start, Cumberbatch’s casting in the film sparked controversy.

LGBTQ activists even called for a boycott of the film, criticizing the choice of a cisgender actor in a role that would now likely be filled by a transgender actor.

Reflecting on this, the actor admitted that it was a role that he wouldn’t take on today.

“It got complicated and it got misunderstood, and I upset people,” he told Variety. He acknowledged that, in hindsight, the role may not have been the best choice, given the way it was received by audiences.

He also pointed out how his understanding of the subject has evolved, adding that he now recognizes how problematic it was to approach the role as he did back then.

The Scene That Sparked the Backlash

In the film, Cumberbatch’s character, “All,” wears a fur coat and a long black wig.

The scene features a humorous exchange between Cumberbatch and Ben Stiller’s character, Derek Zoolander.

When Zoolander asks, “Are you like a male model or a female model?” Cumberbatch’s character replies, “All is not defined by binary constructs.

” The awkward back-and-forth with Owen Wilson’s character, Hansel, only added to the controversy, as it became evident that the scene was playing off misunderstandings of non-binary gender identities.

Cumberbatch’s Reflection on the Role

Looking back, Cumberbatch has expressed that he now understands the

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