Benedict Cumberbatch, the veritable embodiment of British charm and esteemed river otter look-alike, will be starring in the upcoming film The Imitation Game.  Playing the controversial gay hero Alan Turing, many have speculated on just how much historical homosexuality will be included in the final film. Benedict recently opened up to The Daily Beast for a telling, earnest, and intelligent interview in which he discusses the tragedy of Turing's death and the sad prevalence of homophobia today.

On Turing's historical importance, Cumberbatch had this to say:

He’s not as prominent as he should be. That’s the tragedy isn’t it, really? You have a guy whose life he cut off himself at 41 ... The only thing that’s in contention, really, is whether he died by accident or on purpose.

When asked to reflect on the relevance of discussing militant homophobia today, Benedict offered some thoughts about the USA:

Oh, the Christian far right? Yes. Very homophobic. You need to have a female president next, and then after that, a gay president. That’s the full journey from Obama’s legacy onwards.

Clearly a liberal minded progressive, Cumberbatch then told a story from his childhood about the homophobia rampant in his strict boarding school:

I was 18. Two boys who were just discovered in bed together doing something, and it was shocking. I was just finishing an essay in the school dining hall at breakfast, and I looked out the window and heard a commotion, a pair of feet scampering by, and then a horde just charging after shouting, “Wankers! Faggots!” and I thought, “What the fuck is going on?” ... [I later told them that] you have to learn acceptance at this school, and you have to go into the world as a better person, and you have to try and embrace the fact that people are different rather than defining yourself by not being like them. Who cares that they’re gay? You have to coexist.

The Imitation Game will be out in theaters on November 21, 2014.  Until then, check out the trailer, below.