What's Inside?
- Benedict Cumberbatch reveals his Marvel diet included five meals daily and snacks, calling it “horrific” and “beyond your appetite.”
- Despite intense eating, Cumberbatch enjoyed the exercise regimen, crediting it for boosting his strength, stamina, and on-set endurance.
- He criticizes Hollywood’s environmental waste, advocating for sustainable practices like reducing single-use plastics and energy consumption on set.
Transforming into a superhero is no small feat and for Benedict Cumberbatch, playing Doctor Strange demanded far more than just magic spells and multiversal battles. In a recent conversation on Ruthie’s Table 4, the acclaimed actor opened up about the physically taxing and emotionally conflicting journey behind his Marvel transformation, highlighting a grueling diet, a love for the workout, and a critical look at Hollywood’s wasteful practices.
Benedict Cumberbatch Slams “grossly wasteful” Marvel Diet
While fans marvel at Doctor Strange’s powerful on-screen presence, the actor behind the cloak has confessed that the road to looking the part wasn’t entirely enjoyable. Cumberbatch admitted he was fed to the point of discomfort. “It is horrific. I don’t like it personally,” he confessed during the podcast. “I could feed a family with the amount I’m eating.”
His superhero diet included five calorie-dense meals daily, interspersed with high-protein snacks like cheese and crackers, almond butter, and of course — “crackers, lots of crackers.” While that might sound like a food lover’s dream, for Cumberbatch, it was the opposite. Eating when not hungry turned the process into an exercise in overindulgence rather than nourishment.
Yet, amid the food fatigue, there was one aspect of preparation that he wholeheartedly embraced — the training. “For me, the exercise is great. And the end result is that you feel strong and you feel confident — you hold yourself better,” he explained. The physical grind helped him build not only strength but also stamina, which proved essential during long, intense filming days.
Still, the transformation wasn’t without its perks. Marvel, known for sparing no expense, provided dedicated support. “You have someone who can prescribe you what you’re eating, and they can cook for you,” he shared. “We had a fantastic chef on the last Doctor Strange film.”
A Deeper Critique of Hollywood’s Excess
Beyond the superficial shine of superhero abs lies a bigger concern — the unsustainable nature of Hollywood production. Cumberbatch didn’t hold back when addressing the industry’s deep-rooted issues, calling it a “grossly wasteful industry.”
“You may think about set builds that aren’t recycled, think about transport, think about food, think about housing, but also light and energy,” he said. The actor pointed to the immense energy consumption needed just to replicate daylight inside a studio. As a producer, he now champions greener filmmaking practices. “I try to push the green initiative, the green handshake into every agreement I can,” he added.
His remarks resonate with sentiments shared by other Marvel actors. Paul Rudd once noted that during his Ant-Man training, his only reward was a sparkling water. Danny Ramirez echoed similar struggles, calling his post-training dinners “kinda bland.”
Cumberbatch, however, is using his platform to spotlight both the personal and global toll of his Marvel metamorphosis. Whether it’s calling out overconsumption or pushing for climate-friendly sets, his voice is becoming as strong offscreen as it is onscreen and that might just be the most heroic thing about him.
