How A Life-Size Chocolate Statue Of Benedict Cumberbatch Was Made
While being a celebrity must have its perks, there might also be some bizarre moments for the rich and famous, including seeing your 3-D likenesses sculpted in chocolate.
While generally uncommon, we imagine, this odd and very specific honor has been bestowed not just once but twice on actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Yes, twice has the "Doctor Strange" star been captured in cocoa and sugar. While seeing a chocolate statue of yourself might be peculiar, it's probably stranger to see people eat your chocolate likeness.
The "Sherlock" actor's first confectionery tribute came in 2015. According to Mental Floss, Britain's UKTV launched a promotional campaign asking viewers to vote for the Dishiest Drama Actor on television. Once decided, the network would have a life-sized statue of the winner forged entirely from Belgian chocolate.
Cumberbatch beat out "Doctor Who" star David Tennant by an incredibly narrow 1% margin for the "dishiest" honor — and the 88-pound chocolate statue. It took eight sculptors 250 man-hours to construct the sweet sculpture, according to a UKTV video. The most challenging aspect of creating "Benedict Chocobatch," according to one of the artists, was trying to get his "thin face" and "large head" just right.
The statue was displayed in a U.K. shopping mall where, disgustingly, passersby (even dogs!) helped themselves to pieces of chocolate Cumberbatch, breaking off fingers and even his nose (via Daily Dot). Some even licked the statue. Note to UKTV: Next time, hire security.
Benedict Cumberbatch fans can also buy a "Cumberbunny"
As if one chocolate Benedict Cumberbatch isn't enough, a second iteration of the actor was created for Easter 2019. Or, more accurately, Chocolitician, a U.K. chocolatier, made a "Cumberbunny," which is exactly what it sounds like: an Easter bunny with a Cumberbatch head.
According to GQ, the treat has "a massive CumberHead on top of a dainty BunnyBody." The dapper confection is also wearing a bowtie.
But why? What does Cumberbatch have to do with Easter? Well, nothing, but Jen Lindsey-Clark of Chocolitician told GQ, "Everyone loves a bit of the Batch! ... He's an interesting character. He's a great actor and English gent and he's also making the most of his celebrity status by being able to put his political views across and making the most of his moment in a very cool way."
According to Insider, when the Cumberbunny was launched, Chocolitician described it as "a delicious Belgian chocolate rabbit with a handsome face and a tasty bottom." How cheeky. The Cumberbunnies seem to have become a yearly tradition. They're available now in three varieties: milk chocolate with a gold dust finish, dark chocolate with a bronze dust finish, and white chocolate with a 22-karat-gold bowtie. They start at £39.95 each (about $52.12).
While Cumberbatch called the statue "brilliant" on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," he joked that the bunnies "are where it gets a bit scary."