So much for the "whining about being posh" controversy

We’ve watched all the drama over his recent remarks on his “poshness” with both interest and amusement. And we have to say, it’s amazing how so many people can read so much into so little, without even once considering the man’s past, explicitly stated stance on so many pressing issues.

This latest interview*, however, shows the man we’ve always known him to be: politically aware, profoundly grateful for his relatively privileged background and the efforts of his parents to give him a sound education, and deeply angry at the continuing marginalisation of the disadvantaged in his society.

“We are living under illusions that are similar to Edwardian delusions of empire and power and state, where ridiculous trade-offs in diplomacy are discussed over fine wines between the landed gentry who are deciding the fates of millions.

My character, Tietjens, is all about duty and how duty is more important than your own well-being. We don’t have that now. Cameron’s Big Society is just a terrible bit of window-dressing for the fact that the government is withdrawing its support for the basic fabric of society and the most needy, the most poor, the most at risk, in favour of bailing out the money system, which we know now is teetering on the brink of utter corruption. It is all happening before our very eyes.

The irony of the First World War was that two deaths — that’s Archduke Ferdinand and the other one I always forget — resulted in millions of deaths. Now, through rogue trading and betting on unstable equities, the actions of a few have bankrupted millions in this world. Yet still they are getting away with it. The system hasn’t changed, they haven’t been imprisoned ...”

And later in the article, we get a clearer perspective on the recurring issues about his background:

His heightened post-Sherlock profile means his voice now carries greater weight, and he intends to use it.

“I might get things wrong along the way, and I know I anger a lot of people because I talk from a very privileged standpoint, but I can’t rewind the clock, I can’t alter the circumstances of my birth … I wasn’t really born with a silver spoon in my mouth or as part of the landed gentry. My parents just worked fucking hard to afford me an expensive education. I was very aware and I made full use of it, which is part of why I am doing all right now. But I’m not just what the label makes me look like, having been to a public school.”

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*Scans courtesy of Cumberbatchweb — please click the picture or here for the full article on their website.