Benedict Cumberbatch was transformed to tell tell the story of artist Louis Wain in the powerful biopic movie to tell the story of the British artist who led an extraordinary life
Sherlock’ actor Benedict Cumberbatch has been remarkably ‘aged’ to appear as an old man for his latest lead role movie as forgotten British artist Louis Wain.
The Marvel star appears almost unrecognisable as he adopts the persona of the movie’s titular character’ complete with unkempt white hair, moustache and beard and of skin ageing prosthetics.
But the upcoming biopic, The Electric Life of Louis Wain ,tells the character’s life through several different decades, which means it is only in the twilight years that Cumberbatch adopts the persona with grandfatherly gentleness.
During other scenes, Cumberbatch appears as an attractive middle-aged man with thick mousey brown moustache, smartly dressed and full of life.
Wain, was best known for his drawings of large-eyed, anthropomorphised cats, but was ostracised for marrying his sisters’ governess, Emily Richardson, played by The Crown star Claire Foy.
Speaking on US TV chat show LIVE Kelly and Ryan, he said: “Louis Wain was an extraordinary human being, he was an artist, but he also fancied himself as a boxer, inventor and opera music writer and all sorts of things that he wasn’t incredibly good at.
“But he was incredibly skilled at drawing and painting.”
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Image:
BBC)
Cumberbatch credited Wain for basically ‘domesticating of the cat’ at a time when they were considered ‘one up from vermin’. The film also touched upon his character’s mental health struggle.
He added: “It’s hard to do it justice. It’s a very complex character.”
Cumberbatch was keen to credit the movie’s director Will Sharpe, who he praised as the ‘driving force behind’ the film, and a ‘brilliant director’.
Will told Variety: “I just had a deep sense of admiration for him (Wain), almost as a human being, than as a historical figure and I wanted people to know about him.”
The film features a host of other stars including another The Crown star, Olivia Colman, who also lends her voice as the narrator. Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood also stars, as well as Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones, Sharon Rooney and Hayley Squires.
But before Cumberbatch hits the big screen as Wain, he’s to appear as brutish rancher Phil Burbank in Jane Campion’s stunning western The Power of the Dog.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is released in UK cinemas on 1st January 2022.
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