Benedict Cumberbatch is looking back on a “near-death” experience from over 20 years ago … when he says he was abducted and robbed while traveling abroad.
The British actor opened up to Varietyabout the harrowing ordeal, where he claimed he was kidnapped and robbed by 6 men while in South Africa filming BBC’s “To the Ends of the Earth” in 2004.
Benedict said the incident occurred after a diving excursion with friends, and their group ended up with a blown-out tire — stranding them on the side of the road.
Things took an especially dire turn when Benedict and his group were then robbed by bandits, forced into a vehicle, and driven around for several hours. He recalled being tied up and forced to sit “execution-style” … which allowed the robbers to then flee.
Benedict noted he was seriously changed in the aftermath of the experience … explaining he became a bit of an adrenaline junkie.
He added … “The near-death stuff turbo-fueled all that. It made me go, ‘Oh, right, yeah, I could die at any moment.'”
However, BC said his outlook has evolved after marrying his wife, Sophie Hunter, and welcoming their 3 sons together.
He continued … “There’s a huge shift in priorities, and it makes you value what you do with your life in a very different way.”
A fine reason to retire the “YOLO” mantra.
