Benedict Cumberbatch is riding an enormous wave of popularity right now. Sherlock brought him into the awareness of the world at large, and he’s been taking on roles ranging from Smaug in The Hobbit to Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness to Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate. It doesn’t seem like he’s afraid to try his hand at new genres. In a recent interview, he discussed preparing for those roles, dealing with fame, and his acting process.

The interview with Cumberbatch marks the first of a new series from The Hollywood Reporter and BAFTA New York, “In Conversation.” The questions aren’t geared towards discussing just a few roles but instead cover the bigger picture. Cumberbatch is candid about his experiences, and he even does impressions of Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg.

If you’ve enjoyed any of Cumberbatch’s performances, I highly recommend setting an hour aside to watch this interview. His replies are fascinating. You can also use his answers to build your Cumberbatch fact file. For example, his debut role was Queen Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Tell us what the interview taught you about Benedict Cumberbatch in the comments.

HT: io9