Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch appears on the front cover of the latest Radio Times, which features an interview with Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle. In the interview, Boyle was singing Cumberbatch’s praises.

In the special Olivier Awards edition, the British magazine speaks to Boyle about his work with Cumberbatch, whom he directed in Frankenstein (the West End play that earned the actor his joint Best Actor nomination). He paid particular attention to Benedict’s audition, which came just after the first series of Sherlock had aired.

“I didn’t really know him as a stage actor,” Boyle said. “I knew what a fine screen actor he is. But there’s a physicality involved in the theatre. It’s not just about mannerisms or impersonation, which screen often is: it’s about sustaining a narrative with mind and body. When I saw him for Frankenstein, that was the only thing I wanted to know. Did he have that physical capacity? And of course he does.

“That’s why he’s now what he is: one of the leading actors in the world. He’s gone on to another division, which is movies at the moment. He’ll have a great time. He’s got experience, he’s not a young ingénue being exposed to Hollywood. He’ll make the best of it.”

High praise indeed – and the actor seems to be getting a lot of it recently. Only a few days ago, Benedict was voted the seventh most influential person of 2011.

The latest issue of Radio Times is out now.

Do you think Cumberbatch is one of the best actors in the world?