Assange Quote by Benedict Cumberbatch
“I know that might sound perverse because I played Julian Assange but, honestly, I don't think it would be fair for me to judge the man. I realize that makes me a bit of a hypocrite because I was portraying him a certain way, but we were always open to the fact that this was an interpretation, not any kind of exact evidence of who the man was.”
About This Quote
The speaker acknowledges the conflict between portraying a public figure in a dramatized way and the responsibility to judge that person fairly, highlighting the tension between artistic interpretation and factual judgment.
In simple terms: Balancing artistic portrayal with ethical judgment.
Key Takeaway
Interpretation ≠ factual truth.
Themes
ethics
media representation
public perception
artistic license
responsibility
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
candid
Type
personal anecdote
ethical reflection
media commentary
When to use this quote
- acting in a biopic
- journalistic profiling
- public speaking about controversial figures
- media criticism
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
interpretation
judgment
hypocrisy
fairness
Practical Applications
- critical analysis of biographical works
- ethical guidelines for portraying real people
Questions to Reflect On
- How does artistic license affect public opinion?
- When is it appropriate to separate performance from personal judgment?
![“There's a huge amount of footage of Julian [ Assange] online, but he's usually in presentation or defending mode, talking about his cause, or the revelations which Wikileaks have brought about. There's none of Assange relaxing or in private mode. There's none of the personality I tried to give him…” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57d/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_amount_there-s-a-huge-amount-of-footage-of-juli_1862020.jpg)
![“I know he [Julian Assange] is a man of fierce determination, and now living under the strain of house arrest in the Ecuadorean embassy as a "political exile," as he calls himself.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6f3/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_assange_i-know-he-julian-assange-is-a-man-of-fie_1621360.jpg)
![“My assessment of Julian Assange is a professional one, really, of what he's managed to achieve, and the idea that he came up with, which set the world alight and continues to inspire others like Snowden [NSA leaker Edward Snowden], about the secret goings-on that are done in our name with our tax…” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/27f/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_achieve_my-assessment-of-julian-assange-is-a-pro_1376286.jpg)
![“I understand from those who adore him, he [Julian Assange] has a great sense of humor which rarely gets an airing because he's dealing with such serious issues.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/31c/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_adore_i-understand-from-those-who-adore-him-he_1069671.jpg)
![“I'd love to meet Julian [Assange], and time permitting, and his will permitting, I'm sure it will happen at some point. Even though he's been very critical of the film [The Fifth Estate], he's been very polite about me and my work, and I feel the same way about him.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/733/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_assange_i-d-love-to-meet-julian-assange-and-time_290842.jpg)
![“I had to imagine myself into certain aspects of [Julian Assange] character for our version of events. That involved extrapolating based on clues in his biography, his public persona, photographs, and other accounts of him by people who encountered him during that extraordinary period from 2007 to…” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3e/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_accounts_i-had-to-imagine-myself-into-certain-asp_359165.jpg)
![“[While voicing cartoons] you have to lose your sanity and inhibitions and any kind of dignity and just throw yourself around a bit.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd6/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_bits_while-voicing-cartoons-you-have-to-lose_125725.jpg)
