I keep myself amused and others confused

My massive motivation in life is to make parents proud. But even that has to stop at a point.

Looking for happiness is a sure way to sadness, I think. You have to take each moment as it comes.

My first agent dissuaded me from calling myself 'Cumberbatch.' I had six months of not very productive time with her, so I changed agents. The new one said, 'Why aren't you using your family name? It's a real attention-grabber.' I worried, 'How much is it going to cost to put my name in lights?' But then I decided that's not my problem.

I love the idea of playing something stupid or romantic. I'm not the smartest man in the room. I listen, and I learn, and I observe, but I'm always playing characters with intellects profoundly superior to mine. That's great fun, even though it's as much a fantasy for me as for the people watching me.

The more charming person is the person who admits the other person is more charming.

We should have a conversation when we hang up.