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Benedict Cumberbatch’s Mutual Admiration With Andy Murray, And Why He’s Not In ‘Ab Fab’ But His Mom Is

By Stacey Cole
Published on: 07:06 PST, Jul 20, 2016

Benedict Cumberbatch has had a unique chance to meet Wimbledon tennis champion Andy Murray recently, according to Time. The Sherlock star joined the just-crowned Wimbledon winner at a post-match reception and expressed his respect and admiration for his tennis talents.

But Murray couldn’t contain his excitement to meet Benedict Cumberbatch either, as he told the 39-year-old Star Trek: Into Darkness actor he is “a massive fan” of his acting. Both Murray and Cumberbatch are Brits, who have received worldwide recognition, one for his tennis skills and the other for his excellence in acting.

Murray showed that apart from being a beast on the Wimbledon court he is also a well-mannered gentleman. The tennis superstar shook Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife’s, Sophie Hunter’s, hands and told the Sherlock actor he is a huge fan of his acting.

Benedict Cumberbatch didn’t expect such admiration from the just-crowned Wimbledon champ and all he said was, “well, likewise, likewise.” The actor, who celebrated his 40th birthday yesterday, added that it was “really inspiring to watch” the Wimbledon match, in which Murray secured his win.

And it also appears that Murray is a huge fan of BBC series Sherlock, in which Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Sherlock Holmes alongside Martin Freeman’s Dr. John Watson. And when Murray found out they are currently filming new episodes for the show, he even pumped his fist.

It was previously reported that Benedict Cumberbatch’s new season of Sherlock will contain only three new episodes.

During their encounter, Cumberbatch also asked about the tennis champ’s infant daughter, expressing his honest interest and proving that he is indeed a fan of Murray. Murray was happy to hear Benedict Cumberbatch ask him about his five-month-old daughter, and said she was doing great, as she has just started sleeping through the night. Cumberbatch thought it was “great.”

“That’s great, that’s great. This is just an amazing moment.”

Many Benedict Cumberbatch and Murray fans are now hoping the two Brits have exchanged numbers and will start a friendship based on mutual admiration and respect.

In other news, Benedict Cumberbatch turned down a role in the Absolutely Fabulous movie, according to the Radio Times. As revealed by Joanna Lumley, the 39-year-old actor’s schedule was too busy to join the Ab Fab film, but his mom, Wanda Ventham, will make a cameo appearance instead.

Absolutely Fabulous creators thought they would enlist Benedict Cumberbatch to be one of the film’s star-studded cast members, but the Sherlock star was too busy to accept the invitation.

Apart from Benedict Cumberbatch’s mom, the film’s cast includes Mad Men star Jon Hamm, model Kate Moss, Pitch Perfect actress Rebel Wilson, singer Emma Bunton, One Direction member Harry Styles, Dynasty star Joan Collins, TV host Graham Norton, and many others.

In her piece for the Telegraph, Lumley admitted that the Absolutely Fabulous movie director Mandie Fletcher is “throwing out” all kinds of celebrity names, including Benedict Cumberbatch. But Lumley can’t understand why actors keep turning down the “tiny” roles, as it will take up “minuscule amounts of time.”

“We are offering tiny, tiny, tiny roles that will take up minuscule amounts of time and it’s, ‘Oh no, sorry, I’m busy doing films,’ or, ‘So sorry, I am going round the world with all my actor friends for the next two years,’ or a simple, ‘I’m dead’.”

But at least they got Benedict Cumberbatch’s mom, actress Wanda Ventham, who didn’t have a busy schedule and was cast in the upcoming film. Ventham also played Sherlock’s mother in BBC’s Sherlock.

[Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI]

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