LONDON, June 2 (Reuters) – British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, known for his portrayal of fictional crime-fighter Sherlock Holmes and comic book superhero Doctor Strange in the Marvel movies, has been hailed a hero for chasing away four assailants as they mugged a cyclist in London.
Cumberbatch, 41, jumped out of his taxi and ran to the aid of the man working for food delivery company Deliveroo as he was set upon by the muggers, the Sun newspaper reported.
“The cyclist was lucky, Benedict’s a superhero,” Cumberbatch’s Uber driver Manuel Dias told the Sun. “Benedict was courageous, brave and selfless. If he hadn’t stepped in the cyclist could have been seriously injured.”
The attempted robbery took place on Marylebone High Street, just around the corner from Holmes’ fictional home on Baker Street.
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Benedict Cumberbatch arrives for the ‘The Imitation Game’ Los Angeles Special Screening Hosted By Chanel at DGA Theater in Los Angeles, California, November 10, 2014. AFP PHOTO / David McNew (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ 2014 Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 8, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 07: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends BAFTA LA Behind Closed Doors with Benedict Cumberbatch at Pacific Design Center on November 7, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Buchan/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends day one of Variety Studio: Actors On Actors presented by Samsung Galaxy on November 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Variety)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Benedict Cumberbatch at the opening gala premiere of ‘The Imitation Game’ at The 58th London Film Festival on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for BFI)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: An alternative view of actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley at the premiere of The Imitation Game at The 58th London Film Festival on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the opening night gala screening of ‘The Imitation Game’ during the 58th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI)
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch poses for pictures as he arrives for the BFI London Film Festival’s premiere of ‘The Imitation Game’ at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London, on October 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Benedict Cumberbatch attends the press conference for ‘The Imitation Game’ during the 58th BFI London Film Festival at Corinthia Hotel London on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch poses with fans as he attends the opening night gala screening of ‘The Imitation Game’ during the 58th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the press conference for ‘The Imitation Game’ during the 58th BFI London Film Festival at Corinthia Hotel London on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the press conference for ‘The Imitation Game’ during the 58th BFI London Film Festival at Corinthia Hotel London on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – NOVEMBER 09: Presenter Benedict Cumberbatch and Breakthrough Prize Founder Mark Zuckerburg (R) speak onstage during the Breakthrough Prize Awards Ceremony Hosted By Seth MacFarlane at NASA Ames Research Center on November 9, 2014 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends day one of Variety Studio: Actors On Actors presented by Samsung Galaxy on November 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Variety)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 07: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends BAFTA LA Behind Closed Doors with Benedict Cumberbatch at Pacific Design Center on November 7, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Buchan/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 9: Benedict Cumberbatch on the red carpet for The Imitation Game at the Princess of Wales Theatre. (David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 9: Benedict Cumberbatch points over to the photographers on the far side of the street and then directs the fans to wave with him for the cameras as he arrives on the red carpet for The Imitation Game at the Princess of Wales Theatre. (David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 9: Benedict Cumberbatch points over to the photographers on the far side of the street and then directs the fans to wave with him for the cameras as he arrives on the red carpet for The Imitation Game at the Princess of Wales Theatre. (David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 07: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends BAFTA LA Behind Closed Doors with Benedict Cumberbatch at Pacific Design Center on November 7, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Buchan/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 9: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch signs autographs and take photos with fans at the ‘Imitation Games’ premiere during TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) at the Princess Of Wales Theatre. (Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 09: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends ‘The Imitation Game’ Premiere during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 9, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 09: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch and actress Keira Knightley speak onstage at ‘The Imitation Game’ Press Conference during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 9, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the Variety Studio presented by Moroccanoil at Holt Renfrew during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Variety)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 02: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch arrives to the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by C Flanigan/WireImage)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 26: Actors Benedict Cumberbatch (L) and Andy Serkis attend’The hobbit’ press room on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WireImage)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 26: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends ‘The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies’ Press Line during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hilton Bayfront on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 26: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the Legendary Pictures preview and panel during Comic-Con International 2014 at San Diego Convention Center on July 26, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 08: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the Men’s Final of Roland Garros French Tennis Open 2014 – Day 15 on June 8, 2014 in Paris, France. (Photo by Rindoff/Charriau/French Select/Getty Images)
HAY-ON-WYE, WALES – MAY 31: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch performs during the Hay Festival on May 31, 2014 in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. The Hay Festival is an annual festival of literature and arts which began in 1988. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 25: Benedict Cumberbatch attands the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 25, 2014 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 05: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attends the ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion’ Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – APRIL 29: Benedict Cumberbatch attends the launch of chef Jason Atherton’s new restaurant ‘City Social’ at Tower 42 on April 29, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 2: Benedict Cumberbatch arrives at the 86th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 13: Benedict Cumberbatch attends BAFTA New York Presents: In Conversation With Benedict Cumberbatch at The Standard Highline on February 13, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Carter Rinaldi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 12: Benedict Cumberbatch (L) seen outside the Boss show on February 12, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Timur Emek/Getty Images)
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“One of the males attempted to grab the victim’s cycle … He was then punched in the face, struck on the head and hit with his helmet,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement, adding that the incident took place in November last year.
“Nothing was reported stolen. The victim did not require hospital treatment. No arrests have been made,” the statement added.
Cumberbatch, who has played the fictional detective in TV series “Sherlock” since 2010, has also starred in films such as The Hobbit, Avengers: Infinity War and The Imitation Game, where he portrayed British World War Two codebreaker Alan Turing.
Dias said the actor ran up to the assailants and pulled them away, shouting “leave him alone” before they fled.
Cumberbatch told the Sun he was not a hero.
“I did it out of, well, I had to, you know ,” he was quoted as saying. (Reporting by Alistair Smout Editing by Helen Popper)
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