Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange in MCU and Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock; Credits: The tylt

Being a versatile artist is the biggest achievement any actor could come across in his life. Not many actors get to portray extremely varied roles in their life, but the Emmy Award winner Benedict Cumberbatch has an impressive resume that holds roles from sci-fi films, thrillers, drama, and much more. 

To mark his brilliance in his field, the actor was recently awarded the famous Cinema Vanguard Award. The award is given to actors who can work on major studio films along with indie films, and who better than Cumberbatch to receive the honor?

The award was presented to Benedict Cumberbatch at the 37th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival ( SBIFF ). He received the accolade owing to his extreme brilliance in Jane Campion's Oscar winner production - The Power of the Dog. 

The award is usually presented to artists who are self-made and have helped define the industry with their independent hard work. It is worthy of mention that Cumberbatch has always been seen as an actor who gives his best to his works, regardless of the fact if they are big studio productions like Marvel films or independent works. 

His works are distinctly recognizable for the thought and hard work put behind them. The actor first became a celebrity figure with his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock. He then also made a name as he worked for Star Trek Into Darkness. 

Other works to mention are The Hobbit films, where Cumberbatch breathed life into the book character of Smaug by Tolkein. He is probably now best known as Doctor Strange from Marvel Cinematic Universe along with The Power of the Dog. 

Here are all his best roles from over the years and how he managed to play them:- 

The most fun production Cumberbatch ever starred in was his Titania role in A Midsummer's Night Dream play by Shakespeare. 

Being in an all-boys boarding school, the play required the boys to enact the women in the drama, too. 

Though the actor shared that he doesn't remember much about enacting the role, he shared that he played Rosaline too, and that was not an easy experience. First off, he was a boy who had to play a girl playing a boy playing a girl in the play. 

It was his single most varied acting experience back in the day and when he went on to give an interview to get into Bristol University he was asked what playing the role of Rosaline was like. 

He revealed that he couldn't remember much from the time when he was thirteen and played the part. So he simply zoned out and said whatever came to his mind first. Needless to say, he didn't get in. 

The next role that Cumberbatch recalled playing was Stephan Hawking, the single most intelligent person of this century until now. He revealed that he was very excited about the role until the reality of the demanding role settled on him. 

Stephan Hawking made a name for himself that is now synonymous with his perseverance and genius, and his words help visibly change the definition of science as we perceive it today. 

The first time he met Hawking, he was there for a script meeting so that he could get to see Hawking up close for the first time. He recalls that Hawking smiled at him, and the smile held as much value as a newborn baby, "or a pope who doesn't speak English." I likened the smile to a "blessing."

After they were done with the film, Hawking visited them in Cambridge, where Cumberbatch heard the scientist say in his mechanical voice, “Very good. Very realistic. Well done.” The actor was so happy to hear it that he would have been content to retire at that moment. 

Moving on to Sherlock and his role as Sherlock Holmes, Cumberbatch shared that he was already aware of the enormity of the role he had achieved. Holmes is a well-known hero, and as Cumberbatch gave for his audition, he knew it could become a big thing for him. 

Cumberbatch starred in countless distinct roles including Smaug, Dr. Strange and others; Credits: The Rotten Tomatoes

The role brought him commercial attention, along with the fact that playing Sherlock was a "classy" role in its uniqueness. The character was beautifully molded into the 21st-century perspective, keeping in mind the original content of the detective books by Conan Doyle.