Entertainment

10 Perfect Careers for Benedict Cumberbatch if He Never Became A Famous Actor

In a far far crueler world, Benedict Cumberbatch may have never been Sherlock, heck, he may have never been famous. Impossible, I know. And yet, it actually could have happened. The arbiter of Cumbersass was weary to take the role of the masterful sleuth and had reservations about the fame that would come along with it. As Season 3 gloriously approaches our American small screens, Cumberbatch sat down with Entertainment Weekly and discussed how he almost didn't take the role that shot him into being the most famous man on Tumblr.

"My reservation was ‘Well, this is a very iconic character, there will be a lot of attention on it...This was before I had had any significant success [but] I knew there would still be a lot of focus on it. And while I had done work, it wasn’t stepping into the populist limelight like playing a character like Holmes. So I did have a pause for thought."

Thankfully for us, that pause was followed by a yes, and the world became a better, more British, and Cumbersassier place. It turns out the Sherlock crew was the tipping point for him to take the role, “I thought, If I’m going to do this, if I’m going to step into the limelight with a large leading role of iconic status, then I might as well do it with these people... I completely trust them. I felt like I was being asked to join the family and have some fun. There was nothing businessy about it. And that’s how to operate it.” Sigh, swoon, charmed.

Ah, but what IF Mr. Cumberbatch didn't take the role? Here are the few things we could actually fathom the danciest fanciest Brit in Hollywood doing other than voicing dragons, solving crimes, and stealing our hearts.

Images: Getty Images

by Rachel Semigran

Spokesperson for Tweed and Velvet - Lined suits.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but, seriously, I would buy all of the tweed and/or velvet-lined suits, bowties, and anything that requires elbow pads if his face was on the ad. Wouldn’t we all?

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Luxury Croquet Trainer

For the extra-refined Croquet player.

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Etiquitte Coach

That is how you wear a cuff-link.

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Antique Rugs Purchaser for your English manor

Because he would know. He went to Harrow.

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Test Driver for Fancy People in Monaco

Fancy people can’t do their own test driving, there’s no time! But they’d certainly trust this face, wouldn’t they?

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Paddington Bear Legacy Preserver

In the British Empire, it’s a legacy as important as the Windsors. Bless.

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Author of the 'Rustic and Dapper How-To Guide'

Dinner parties. Scarves. Layers. Manners.

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British-American Earl Grey Liason

You fools! You need two bags per pot. Earl Grey is a more delicate tea than English Breakfast. Why are you even using bags? LOOSE LEAF. These are the things the world needs to know!

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Voice of the London Underground After Hours

Come 2015, the London Underground will finally run late into the night on weekends. Who better to tell you to “Mind the gap” and “Next stop Cockfosters”? In fact, we predict Cumberbatch’s sexy, sultry voice will keep 27% fewer riders from falling asleep drunk after a night in Dalston.

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Her Royal Majesty's Official Authority on the Highest Order Dickensian Top Hats

Benedict approves.

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