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Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Patrick Melrose in Showtime’s Patrick Melrose was a far cry from his manic Sherlock Holmes. Playing the tormented, drug-addicted character in the five-part series left Cumberbatch physically and mentally exhausted. The role demanded him to portray a character who, as a child, experienced sexual abuse and later spiraled into a destructive addiction. In the first episode alone, Patrick embarks on a reckless heroin binge in New York, loses himself in a chaotic restaurant date, and faces his inner demons in a frenzy of violence. Cumberbatch said, “Playing it was exhausting,” though he quickly added, “Not as exhausting as actually living that life.”
This wasn’t just another role for Cumberbatch—this was a deep dive into the psychological toll of addiction. Executive producer Rachael Horovitz noted that the crew gave Cumberbatch an ovation after a particularly intense scene. But did he carry that intensity off-set? “Hell, yeah,” he said. “Can you imagine taking that beast home with you?”
The iconic actor had to distinguish between authenticity and maintaining his emotional well-being. “You don’t learn how to act like a drunk by getting drunk,” he explained. Instead, he meticulously studied the psychological and physical effects of heroin addiction, aiming to depict Patrick’s internal struggle with realism. “It’s about whether we are ultimately capable of changing,” he reflected, emphasizing that the show isn’t just about addiction—it’s about redemption.
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