Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed that he is aware of saucy Sherlock fanfiction which focuses on his character’s relationship with Martin Freeman’s John Watson. Not only has the actor seen the slash, he also finds it flattering!
Tumbly – panic!
Speaking to MTV ahead of the second series broadcast in America, the British Thespian was quizzed about fan-made fiction which often depicts Sherlock and John in a variety of compromising sexual positions. Cumberbatch revealed that he has seen several pieces of Sherlock fan fiction after being introduced to it by co-star Freeman.
“I am startlingly aware of it,” Cumberbatch said with a smile. “I don’t go seeking it, but Martin Freeman, who was an absolute luddite on the first series, suddenly came back from New Zealand having done a little radio short drama called “The Hobbit,” he came back and he had this beautiful Mac [computer] with him and said ‘Hey, look at this Tumblr.’ And I said, ‘What? Tumblr? What?’ He knows more about it than I do and he was showing me some of them. Some of it is really racy, un-viewable even on MTV. It’s cool.”
“I suppose my bodily proportions are quite flattering. I’m ripped, doing something I wouldn’t normally do with my body, or having done to it, involving Watson,” he said cheekily. “So that’s as far as I’ll hit about that one, but it’s all there on the Web if you want to find it. I was amazed at the level of artistry; people have spent hours doing it. And there’s some really weird cross breeding stuff that goes on. The news got out that I was playing Smaug in ‘Hobbit’ and suddenly there were lots of dragons with purple scarves flying around so it’s crazy, it’s crazy.”
We think it’s great that Cumberbatch has taken the material in his stride and even compliments it, as it would be perfectly understandable if he was offended or upset by the art and fiction.
What do you think of the Sherlock stars being aware of slash fan art and fan fiction?