The
actor
attained
global
fame
playing
a
modern
version
of
the
fictional
detective
in
the
BBC
series
"Sherlock" and
his
portrayal
has
left
fans
speculating
as
to
whether
the
sleuth
is
"asexual".
Speaking
to
the
Elle
UK
magazine,
Benedict
insists
his
alter
ego
has
to
avoid
erotic
acts
because
relationships
would
get
in
the
way
of
his
investigations.
"He's
asexual
for
a
purpose.
Not
because
he
doesn't
have
a
sex
drive,
but
because
it's
suppressed
to
do
his
work.
Cold
showers,
looking
at
a
lot
of
dead
bodies
...
that'll
do
it
for
you,"
the
38-year-old
said
when
asked
whether
Sherlock
would
be
good
in
bed.
Benedict,
also
known
for
his
role
in
the
movie
"The
Fifth
Estate",
is
currently
in
a
relationship
with
Sophie
Hunter,
but
he
admits
the
dating
has
become
more
complicated
since
he
became
famous.
"It's
a
really
double-edged
sword,
you
know.
You
discover
why
people
find
you
attractive,
in
a
relationship
or
a
tryst,
and
if
it's
just
to
have
a
go
on
you
or
try
you
out,
then
I
can
smell
that
a
mile
off,"
said
the
actor.
With
his
career
at
an
all-time
high
with
roles
in
films
such
as
"Star
Trek
Into
Darkness",
"The
Imitation
Game"
and
"12
Years
a
Slave"
as
well
as
"Sherlock",
Benedict
has
started
to
turn
his
attention
to
having
a
family.
He
said:
"I
can
imagine
I'll
look
back
at
this
point
in
my
life
and
think:
'Wow
that
was
really
extraordinary,' but
at
the
same
time
I
hope
I'm
looking
back
and
going,
'Oh,
that
was
the
moment
I
got
on
with
life
and
realised
things
beyond
myself.'
"Without
using
words
like
'marriage',
'children'
and
'family'
-
although
I
have
just
used
those
words
-
put
it
this
way,
I
hope
I've
got
other
people
to
look
back
with
me
at
that
point.
I
hope
I'm
surrounded
by
family."