Benedict Cumberbatch has bemoaned the “grossly wasteful” nature of making movies, referencing his “horrific” diet when playing Marvel‘s Doctor Strange.
Speaking on Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast, the Sherlock actor said his Doctor Strange eating regimen was overseen by a chef and included enough meals to sustain a family.
“I think it’s horrific eating beyond your appetite,” Cumberbatch said. “Going back to responsibility and resourcefulness and sustainability, it’s just like, ‘What am I doing? I could feed a family with the amount I’m eating.’”
Cumberbatch said his diet consisted of five meals a day, with snacks including boiled eggs, almond butter crackers and cheese needing to be consumed between larger portions.
He continued: “It’s a grossly wasteful industry. … Think about set builds that aren’t recycled, think about transport, think about food, think about housing but also light and energy.”
Cumberbatch acknowledged that the “excessive” nature of the film industry means that actors are often accused of hypocrisy when they campaign for sustainability.
The actor, who is not slated to appear as Doctor Strange in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, added that he attempts to “push the green” as a producer through this SunnyMarch banner.
Cumberbatch said this could be as simple as having a “gentlemanly discussion” about banning single use plastics on set. “You don’t have to give the crew plastic bottles. If you’re in the middle of a desert and you can’t get glass bottles there, fair enough. But we’re in 21st Century,” he added.
Ruthie’s Table 4 is hosted by Ruth Rogers, the chef who owns The River Café, the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in west London.