'I wasn’t confident around girls' Benedict Cumberbatch on why he used to play female roles
THERE'S no doubt he's a hit with the ladies as a Hollywood star, but things were rather different for Benedict Cumberbatch growing up.
The 38-year-old actor has admitted that he wasn't successful with girls as a teenager, and actually used to take on female roles and dress up.
Speaking about his newfound sex symbol status during an interview with Conan O'Brien, Benedict said: "It’s very recent that polls have started deeming me sexy.
"I wasn’t confident around girls when I was young. I went to an all-boys boarding school, and actually used to play women in the school plays."
He continued: "I would wear wigs and women’s clothes - my first role was Titania queen of the fairies."
I wasn’t confident around girls when I was young. I went to an all-boys boarding school, and actually used to play women in the school plays
Commenting on the fact that he is popular with both men and women, Benedict added: "I like to spread my bets."
Sadly for Benedict's fans, a naked shower scene shot for 'Star Trek Into Darkness' was cut, but Benedict made sure he was looking his best for it.
"I trained for months to look bigger than I am," he admitted. "I ate a lot of chicken and worked out a lot."
Benedict's latest role as Smaug in the Hobbit films was less physically demanding though, but he still and to focus on getting onto character.
"I studied reptiles for the role – I needed to try and humanise the mythical fire-breathing serpent a bit. I went to London Zoo and looked at Komodo dragons and serpents," he revealed.
The 'Sherlock' star then went on to try and teach Conan how to act like a dragon.
"Lean on your elbows and hyperextend your neck to the point where you’ll need physical therapy afterwards," he told him, before admitting that he had a "sinister quality" to his voice as a young child and that his "parents were terrified" of him.
UK viewers can watch Benedict’s interview on Conan at 11pm tonight, on truTV.