Sherlock fan? Die-hard ‘Cumberb-tch’? Have a thing for the stiff-upper-lip Brit boy pack? Yes, he’s not your typical Hollywood Hearthrob - there’s whole Tumblr sites dedicated to the actor looking like an otter - but there is something undeniably fanciable about Benedict Cumberbatch. Fact. You could hear hearts breaking across the land when news spread he was engaged to theatre director Sophie Hunter (the revelation of their impending nuptials was suitably sophisticated too – an announcement in The Times' 'Forthcoming Marriages' section). And so a red carpet power couple was born..
From her ‘secret’ talent to that Valentino wedding dress, here’s everything you need to know about Benedict Cumberbatch’s wife, Sophie Hunter…
How old is Sophie Hunter?
The London-born beauty is 39 years old, born 6th March 1978. Making her one year younger than her actor husband Benedict Cumberbatch (FYI: This is supposedly the ideal age gap in a relationship, according to one study. Congrats!)
Where did Sophie Hunter go to school?
Like Harrow-educated actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophie went to an equally posh private school. Alongside famous alumni Edie Campbell, Rachel Weisz and Jennifer Saunders, Hunter was educated at St Paul’s Girls’ School in West London, before going on to study Modern Languages at Oxford University. She also lived in Paris for a couple of years after graduating, studying avant-garde theatre at the Jacques Lecoq International School of Theatre.
How did Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch meet?
According to reports, the duo first met in 2009 on the film set of thriller Burlesque Fairytales (his future wife played one of his sidekicks Annabel Blythe-Smith). Although he was a taken man then – dating actress Olivia Poulet, before they split in 2011. He then briefly dated designer Anna Jones in 2012. Sophie and Benedict are thought to have started dating in 2013, however the couple make effort to keep their private life away from the public eye. Cumberbatch’s sister Tracey Peacock once said: 'You would have to be a pretty smart cookie to keep up with him. I think that is possibly why he has trouble with girlfriends,’ adding, ‘he is such a lot like Sherlock - he is quick-thinking like him, but not harsh. He's incredibly well read. In comparison to some he is quite an intellectual.' We have no doubt Sophie can keep up with him.
When did Sophie and Benedict get married?
You could hear the sound of a million hearts breaking when a Cumberbatch engagement announcement appeared in The Times in November 2014. 'The engagement is announced between Benedict, son of Wanda and Timothy Cumberbatch of London, and Sophie, daughter of Katharine Hunter of Edinburgh and Charles Hunter of London,' it read. 'That’s what I would have done if I wasn’t famous,' the actor later explained.
The pair then tied the knot on the most romantic day of the year, 14th February, in 2015, opting for a low-key ceremony in the 12th century church of St Peter & St Paul near Brighstone on the Isle of Wight. Showbiz guests included friend of the couple Tom Hiddleston, and Benedict's on-screen nemesis Andrew Scott (who famously played Moriarty in Sherlock).
How many children does Sophie Hunter have
The couple have two sons together: 2-year-old Christopher and Hal, who was born in March 2017.
What does Sophie Hunter do?
Sophie Hunter is an avant-garde theatre director and playwright. She made her directorial debut in 2007, co-directing the experimental play The Terrific Electric in London.
She’s also a pretty great singer too
Most surprisingly, she recorded the French-language album with Guy Chambers (aka Robbie Williams’ writing partner). Here’s a snippet below…
Who has Sophie Hunter dated in the past?
Of note, she was in a long-term relationship with famous sculptor Conrad Shawcross (a protégé of art collector Charles Saatchi) until 2010. In the mid-2000s, the pair reportedly lived together in a converted warehouse that served as Conrad’s studio.
What films has Sophie Hunter starred in?
To add to her already-impressive CV Sophie's also a talented actress herself, with 14 film and TV credits according to her IMDB page. Before focusing her efforts on theatre direction, her most prominent role was a part in 2004 drama Vanity Fair, opposite Reese Witherspoon.
Who designed her wedding dress?
Sitting FROW side at Burberry? The hottest labels from Erdem to Christian Dior lining up to dress her? After Sophie Hunter found herself propelled into the A-list world her sophisticated and elegant sartorial splendour was noted. Speaking to the Telegraph her stylist Nicholas Drake says the key to her red carpet success is simple: ‘Sophie is very discerning and decisive about what she likes and does not like. [Anything too] frilly, frou frou, or with too much surface decoration [won't work with her aesthetic].’ Her custom-made Valentino wedding dress was revealed on social media in all its glory…
Does Sophie Hunter have Instagram?
Sorry to disappoint, but Sophie eschews all forms of social media. Like wise you won’t find Benedict Cumberbatch tweeting or ‘gramming either. The Sherlock actor explained why he has yet to join the Twitter game: ‘I think if I did you’d very soon be disappointed because it really is a skill - it’s a skill I genuinely don’t have,’ he said. ‘Tweeting is about being pithy. I think tweeting would take so many hours of editing I’d be lost for doing my job.’
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