During an event at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on December 1, Tom Holland, widely known as Spider-Man, opened up about the valuable acting advice he received from none other than Benedict Cumberbatch, renowned for his role as Dr. Strange. The revelation came as Holland discussed his struggles with conveying emotions on screen and how Cumberbatch became a mentor in navigating this aspect of acting.
Holland candidly shared his experiences, stating, “Benedict Cumberbatch is someone that I asked for advice a lot about acting. I went through a phase where I was really, really struggling to cry, in my personal life also,” underscoring the impact this difficulty had on his on-screen performances.
The Spider-Man actor then recalled a pivotal lesson he learned from Cumberbatch during the filming of “The Current War” in 2017. According to Holland, Cumberbatch shared a unique technique involving the diaphragm, akin to laughter, which proved instrumental in conveying authentic emotional expressions.
In a playful moment, Holland jokingly mentioned, “I’m probably giving away his secrets here,” acknowledging the distinctive approach that Cumberbatch employs to elicit genuine emotion in acting, even if it involves incorporating an element of humor.
The camaraderie between the two actors and the transfer of valuable insights from mentor to mentee shed light on the collaborative and supportive nature of the entertainment industry. As Holland continues to navigate his acting career, the influence of seasoned actors like Cumberbatch plays a pivotal role in shaping his craft.
