Benedict Cumberbatch returns to LAMDA

Last month, we welcomed LAMDA’s President, award-winning actor and producer, Benedict Cumberbatch CBE, back to the building for a special Q&A in the Sainsbury Theatre, chaired by our Principal, Professor Mark O’Thomas.

Benedict graduated from LAMDA in 2000 with an MA in Classical Acting, and has gone on to work across film, television and theatre. In 2018, he became LAMDA’s President, succeeding Timothy West CBE.

He is internationally recognised for playing the title roles in the BBC's Sherlock and Marvel's Doctor Strange, with acclaimed screen work including The Imitation Game, Twelve Years a Slave, The Power of the Dog and The Roses. His stage credits include Hedda Gabler, Frankenstein and Hamlet.

In a candid and generous lunchtime session, students from across our courses had the opportunity to ask Benedict questions about his life, craft and career. The conversation ranged widely, from the discipline and curiosity required to sustain a long career in an unpredictable industry, to the grounding influence of drama school training, and to the importance of resilience, mental health and family.

Benedict spoke openly about the pressures that come with professional success and the value of staying connected to the fundamentals of the work: listening deeply, preparing rigorously and embracing the ensemble. 

He reflected on how his time at LAMDA shaped not only his technique but also his sense of community, emphasising that training is as much about forming relationships as it is about acquiring skills. Students were also eager to hear how he chooses projects; Benedict described being drawn to work that challenges him and offers the chance to collaborate with artists he admires.

Benedict is one of many LAMDA alumni and industry professionals who generously give their time to speak to our students through the LAMDA Lunch series. These sessions are designed to offer students access to the artistic processes and personal journeys of leading actors, directors, writers, designers and creatives. ​​​​​​

LAMDA lunches offer far more than inspirational anecdotes, they help to bridge the gap between training and professional life. Students learn first-hand how individuals navigate the industry, build careers and continue to grow creatively. They have the chance to ask questions that speak directly to their own experience, and to feel connected to a larger artistic ecosystem – one they will soon step into themselves. 

LAMDA Lunch guests in recent years have included:

• Jonno Davies – Versatile actor with notable stage and screen credits, including his motion-capture portrayal of Robbie Williams in Better Man.
• Tingying Dong – Sound designer whose innovative work has featured at venues including the National Theatre and the Young Vic.
• Rebecca Frecknall – Olivier Award-winning director acclaimed for Cabaret and A Streetcar Named Desire, and Associate Director at the Almeida Theatre.
• Leah Harvey – Rising star known for Apple TV+’s Foundation, A24’s Tuesday, and a strong background in Shakespearean performance.
• Patricia Hodge OBE – Distinguished actor with a celebrated career across television, film and theatre.
• Rory Kinnear – Acclaimed actor known for the James Bond films and numerous award-winning stage roles.
• David Oyelowo OBE – Renowned actor and producer, celebrated for Selma and for championing new talent.
• Joe Russo – Director behind global blockbusters including Avengers: Endgame and Extraction.
• Simon Stephens – Playwright known for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Sea Wall.
• Roy Williams OBE – Prolific playwright and screenwriter whose works include Death of England, Sucker Punch and Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads.
• Ruth Wilson OBE – Award-winning actor known for Luther, The Affair and Mrs. Wilson.