Benedict Cumberbatch Reflects on "Near-Death" Experience from 2004

Benedict Cumberbatch has shared a chilling story from over two decades ago, recalling a harrowing "near-death" experience while filming in South Africa.

The actor opened up in a recent interview with Variety, describing how he and his friends were abducted and robbed by six men during a trip in 2004, while working on the BBC series To the Ends of the Earth. After a diving excursion, their group’s car suffered a flat tire, leaving them stranded on the side of the road. That's when the terrifying ordeal began.

Cumberbatch explained that the group was forced into a vehicle and held captive for hours. Tied up and made to sit in an “execution-style” position, the actor recalled the intense fear he felt during the situation. Fortunately, the robbers eventually fled, leaving them behind.

The experience left a lasting impact on Cumberbatch, who admitted it ignited a thrill-seeking side of him. "The near-death stuff turbo-fueled all that," he said. "It made me go, ‘Oh, right, yeah, I could die at any moment.'"

However, his outlook on life has since shifted. After marrying his wife, Sophie Hunter, and becoming a father to three sons, Cumberbatch said his priorities have changed. "There’s a huge shift in priorities," he shared. "It makes you value what you do with your life in a very different way."