Teen Cumberbatch lookalike: People keep comforting me about ‘Imitation Game’ Oscars loss
A 17-year-old has amassed an internet following – due to his similarity to Imitation Game star Benedict Cumberbatch.
Norwich teenager Tyler Michell says that people often confuse him for the actor and stop him on the street to ask him about his “latest films”.
The teen has amassed over 16,000 follows on Instagram due to his resemblance to Cumberbatch, who recently lost out on an Oscar for his role as gay codebreaker Alan Turing.
Mr Mitchell’s selfies can now attract over 4,000 comments, most simply remarking on his similarity to the star.
He told the Mail: “It started out as a joke – my close friends and family would tease me and say I looked like Benedict Cumberbatch. I guess I look like him a little – but I really didn’t take it seriously.
“Then people would come up to me at school and say, ‘Wow you really look like Sherlock.’ Suddenly people started adding me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and I got more and more friends and followers.
“Now people are messaging me and saying I should have won the Oscar. I get girls from Brazil saying the want to meet me in the UK, which is crazy as I’m just a teenage boy sitting at home.”
He added of ‘losing out’ on the Oscar to Eddie Redmayne: “I was shocked Benedict didn’t win. This might be biased but I thought he was the best nomination. Even though he lost, it hasn’t stopped the attention I get.
“I still get inundated with people messaging me on social media saying I look like him or that they love my work.
“In honesty, I don’t really see the similarity. I’m a huge fan of Benedict, but I don’t think I look like him.
“A couple of people have suggested me being a ‘Teenlock’ – a young version of the detective. I’d love that but I don’t think it will happen.
