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Comic-Con: Watch Benedict Cumberbatch talk Sherlock, ‘Penguins’ and more

Benedict Cumberbatch made his first trip to Comic-Con on Thursday with DreamWorks Animation’s “Penguins of Madagascar,” and after leaving the shrieks of Hall H, he stopped to chat with Hero Complex.

Cumberbatch talked about the trick of playing the smartest guy in the room, from a modern detective in “Sherlock” to an animated wolf who runs an elite undercover interspecies task force in “Penguins of Madagascar” to World War II codebreaker Alan Turing in the upcoming drama “The Imitation Game.”

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in “Sherlock.” (PBS/AP)

“I’ve been very, very fortunate so that it looks like there’s something going on behind my eyes that looks like I’m thinking about or understanding or encompassing the brilliance of their minds,” Cumberbatch said. “Brilliant people have private moments of self-doubt, which we can all relate to, but they also have these extraordinary moments of discovery.”

In the midst of extreme fandom at Comic-Con, Cumberbatch also divulged some of his own obsessions as a fan — “Breaking Bad” and “True Detective” are personal favorites — and shared some details about an upcoming project he’s long dreamed about, playing “Hamlet” on the London stage next year.

“I’m of an age now where it’s now or never,” Cumberbatch said, of performing the Shakespearean tragedy. “If I can bring a new audience to it, that means a lot to me.”

Cumberbatch’s warm reception at Comic-Con came thanks in large part to fans of his BBC show, “Sherlock.” The actor had some thoughts to share about the classic detective’s enduring appeal.

“He’s not superhuman,” Cumberbatch said of Sherlock Holmes. “There’s no trickery to it. It’s something if you worked hard enough at, you could actually do yourself. He doesn’t fly around in a cape…. It’s about being smart, making decisions…. You get to see a guy who’s just slightly on the edge of being different, and he’s a hero for people who feel they are different or maybe slightly on the edge of society.”

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Rebecca Keegan-what a thoughtful, intelligent interview. Thank you!

Such a fine interview. She let him talk. I love his stream of consciousness. Words flow easily out of him…and they're always the perfect words.

Really enjoyable interview. She gave him the chance to really convey his thoughts without rushing into another question too quickly. Wonderful interview with a fantastically talented actor and human being!

Rebecca that was one of the best Cumberbatch interviews. It was amazing!

This marvelous interview made me feel like I was seated on the floor listening to this much-beloved

actor talk about his past work in the theater, his present Comic con convention, and his meticulous preparation for his future roles. These plus the ease with which he discusses any subject matter Miss Keegan throws at him proves why we so admire Benedict Cumberbatch .

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