Benedict Cumberbatch

Just like his name, he’s one of a kind
千面英雄班奈狄克?康柏拜區 -人如其名，他是如此獨一無二.

Benedict Cumberbatch is an actor - simple as that. The story of his becoming one is not amazing or inspirational but really just natural. It's the daring choices of this unique individual that make him someone worth watching.

Choosing range, not renown
Cumberbatch challenges himself at every turn, playing hero (TV's Sherlock), villain (Star Trek Into Darkness and The Hobbit) or maybe both (The Fifth Estate). In this variety of roles, he has proved himself very capable at each but finds adjusting to fame much more puzzling. Cumberbatch jumped at the chance to learn the violin as Sherlock and asserted his ability to capture the dragon Smaug's motions as well as its voice.

However, when it comes to an obsessed fan tweeting his every move in his apartment, he's at a loss. And who wouldn't be? Fame is a weird one," he says, "People see a value in you that don't see yourself." It must be all the weirder for an actor like Cumberbatch, now 37, who worked for many years without instant recognition in public. With his experience, he knows as well as anyone that success is very possible without it. 

Choosing diligence
Even before Cumberbatch became a rather long and silly-sounding houehold name, the parts he played showed that he was a quality actor. In fact his first leading character on screen, after a couple years of TV work, came with Hawking, about the world-famous physicist in his younger years. He undertook extensive preparation for the role, including meeting Stephen Hawking and others with his disease, which probably contributed to his BAFTA nomination for the part. Hard work may be the primary reason that Cumberbatch is constantly cast as highly intelligent men, including TV roles Sherbock Holmes and Vincent Van Gogh.

Choosing excitement
But Cumberbatch wants no one thinking that he's like his brilliant characters, nor does he want to be stuck playing them forever. However, his mom says he is rather like Sherlock though he thinks that's probably because of his impatience rather than his intellect. Still, Cumberbatch's abilities show he possesses some intelligence, as well as being very adventurous, using extreme sports as a way to escape. After experiencing a terrifying carjacking, he used skydiving to recover from the shock, which makes sense considering his age at the time.

Choosing focus
Cumberbatch admits to a lack of concentration during much of his schooling. "I was always performing, doing silly voices. The teachers realized I could go one of two ways: be creative  or destructive." As it ended up, Cumberbatch went both ways, being creative on stage and destructive on the rugby field. No one was surprised that he took to acting, his parents being professional actors themselves, though they wanted him of inconsistent work. Cumberbatch considered studying law, which his parents encouraged, but took a gap year and taught English in Tibet first.

Choosing fulfillment
Upon his return, he launched into university theatrical programs for drama and classical acting instead of law. His parents' full support didn't come until they saw him in a play, and his dad said, "You're better than I ever was or will be." After finishing his education at 24, he plunged directly into theater, performing Shakespeare and other classic plays. From there it was awards, TV, movies and fame, but life experience is what really satisfies Benedict Cumberbatch. "I've seen and swam and climbed and lived and driven and filmed," he lists, "I really have lived five thousand time over."

Grammar Gym:
"However, when it comes to an obsessed fan tweeting his every move in his apartment, he's at a loss."
"When it comes to " - regarding, when a situation involves.
Sunny is usually careful with her diet, but when it comes to ice cream she loss control.
When it comes to choosing between his family or his work, Henry always puts his family first.
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"a way to escape."
"escape" - find some way to be free and to run away.
"a way to escape " - a method in which a person can take a break from something that is stressful or very busy.
A lot of people like to put on headphones and listen to music as a way to escape.
Whenever Catherine has free time, she likes to read as a way to escape.
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"No one was surprised that he took to acting"
"took to" - to take to, to really like "something".
"To take to + (verb-ing) :
While Lisa was at camp, she enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities and really took to mountain biking.
" to take to + (noun) 
The new babysitter is very good, and it's no wonder the kids really took to her.


Vocabulary Tips:
villain -小说或戏剧中的恶棍，坏人，反派人物。bad guy in the movie.
*The villain in "Peter Pan" is Captain Hook.
*The actor played the villain in the film and got nominated for Oscar. 提名
assert (v) -显示，确定，确认。
*The boss asserted his authority by deducting people's salaries for tardiness.
assert -坚决申明立场。
*Derek is very shy. He needs to learn how to assert himself more. 坚持自己的立场。
extensive -广泛的，大量的，极大地。
*The team did extensive research before reaching its conclusion.
The hurricane caused extensive damage.
extensively (adv)-广泛地。
*This political issue  has been extensively discussed lately.
cast- 戏剧或电影的选角，分配角色。
*The actor was cast as a self-righteous lawyer in the film.
*The director cast the multitalented girl as the leading lady in the musical.
intellect -智力，理解力，聪明才智。
*Bob is humble even with such tremendous intellect.
intellect -拥有聪明才智的人。
*This intellect is highly respected by his colleagues.
carjacking -劫车，劫车事件。
*The driver was attacked during a carjacking.
carjacker - 劫车者。
*The carjackers were wearing masks, so nobody could identify them.
schooling - 求学期间。
destructive -具有破坏性的，有害的。 'de' -“向下“之意 'struct'-建造。
*The negative thoughts you're having are very destructive.
*The destructive power of a nuclear bomb is unimaginable.
inconsistent -不一致的，矛盾的， 反复无常的。 'in' -“否定”之意 'consistent' -一致的。
*Richard's inconsistent leadership confused his employees. 反复无常的领导方式。 
inconsistent with - 与什么。。不一样， 不符，用 “with”
*The witness's testimony was inconsistent with the other witnesses.
theatrical -戏剧性的。舞台剧的。
*This film is considered the best theatrical production of the year.
theatrical -戏剧性的，很夸张的。
*Martha is very theatrical when she gets emotional.
plunge - drop in, get deeply jump from cliff, not able to come back. 投入，掉入。
*The lifeguard plunged into the sea and swam toward the drowning child.
*Nathan plunged into the online shopping business after retirement.
jump at the chance- say "yes" when the chance it comes, take the opportunity, catch the chance.
stuck - trap, no escape from it.
possess - own, a part of you.
escape - leave the place where you are.
lock up - tied up.
contribute (idea, time, clothing, things and money etc.) - to give out something to people.
all the ...- all the weirder - how much more of people knows.
......as well as anyone - he will know because he has experienced.
diligent / diligently - work hard.
lack of something - you need it but you don't have it.
lack of knowledge, lack of money, lack of wisdom, lack of information.
admit to....- something you did, you don't want to say it but you brave to tell people that it is you did it.
to take to something or someone - talk about something or someone you really enjoy or like.
focus - keep eyes on something.
upon - talking about what happen at a certain time.
obsess - 担忧，过度看重，着迷（常用被动语态）被什么迷住了用"with".
at a loss -have no idea, not sure what to do or what to say or what to response.  "loss" -丧失，损失。
at a loss for words- speak-less.不知道该说什么才是。
*He is at a loss. 不知所措。

Language Tips:
paparazzi -狗仔队。
The paparazzi and the fans were waiting for the star outside the fancy restaurant.
paparazzi -集合名词，用作（代表）多数时，前面要加上定冠词“The”。
The paparazzi -一群，一些狗仔队。
paparazzo- 单一的一个狗仔队。
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stage name -艺名
Tom Cruise （艺名） -Thomas Mapother IV （本名）
Merrily Malone （艺名）- Norma Jean Baker （本名）
leading actor (role) / supporting actor (role, character)- 主角/配角，帮衬的。
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superlative -文法中的最高级。重音在第二音节。
such as "fastest, shortest, smartest."
superlatives -指“毕业册上同学们选出的风云人物。
superlative section -风云人物一段，一页。
superlatives such as:风云人物们如：
"the most creative" -最有创意的人。。
"most likely to succeed" -最有可能成功的人。。
"most athletic" -最具有运动员相的人。。
"most theatrical" -最有戏剧细胞的人。。
"most funniest" -最诙谐的人。




Notes taking of Studioclassroom