Benedict Cumberbatch criticizes Hollywood’s wastefulness, revealing the extreme eating demands for his role in Doctor Strange and calling for more sustainable practices in filmmaking.
Speaking on the Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast, the Oscar-nominated actor opened up about the massive quantities of food he was required to consume during filming.
He sometimes ate five full meals a day, along with high-protein snacks like almonds, cheese, and boiled eggs.
“It’s horrific, eating beyond your appetite,” he said. “Going back to responsibility and resourcefulness and sustainability, it’s just like, ‘What am I doing? I could feed a family with the amount I’m eating.’”
While Cumberbatch acknowledged that he enjoys the physical transformation for a role, he stressed that the industry's approach to everything from food to set production and energy use is deeply unsustainable.
It’s a grossly wasteful industry. Think about set builds that aren’t recycled, think about transport, think about food, think about housing, but also light and energy. The amount of wattage you need to create daylight and consistent light in a studio environment. It’s a lot of energy.
The Sherlock star also addressed the criticism actors often face when speaking out on sustainability, especially while participating in high-budget productions. Despite this, Cumberbatch says he actively pushes for greener practices on his sets, both as an actor and producer.
“You don’t have to give the crew plastic bottles,” he said. “If you’re in the middle of a desert and you can’t get glass bottles there, fair enough. But we’re in the 21st Century.”
Cumberbatch’s remarks come ahead of his upcoming film, The Roses, set for release on August 29.
His comments highlight a growing awareness within the industry about the need for more responsible filmmaking and the personal toll it can take behind the scenes.
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