He's known for his highbrow, Shakespearian roles or as the fiercely shrewd Sherlock Holmes, but Benedict Cumberbatch is ready to play the fool. Speaking with 'The New York Times' magazine in the USA the British actor, 37, said that since 'Twelve Years A Slave' and his role as Julian Assange in 'The Fifth Estate', he wouldn't mind becoming the idiot for a while: "I'm so ready to play a really dumb character," said the London-based star who was educated at the exclusive Harrow school. "I always seem to be cast as slightly wan, ethereal, troubled intellectuals or physically ambivalent bad lovers," he explained. Talking of his complex Sherlock role he noted that while people may love the character the detective would "never love them back". He said: "I always make it clear that people who become obsessed with him or the idea of him - he'd destroy you. He is an absolute b*****d." Pictured: Benedict Cumberbatch Splash News and Picture Agency does not claim any Copyright or License in the attached material. Any downloading fees charged by Splash are for Splash's services only, and do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any Copyright or License in the material. By publishing this material , the user expressly agrees to indemnify and to hold Splash harmless from any claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of or connected in any way with user's publication of the material.