Meet Benedict Cumberbatch’s artistic and supportive wife, Sophie Hunter: the Sherlock star met his award-winning theatre playwright and director other-half on set, and they share 3 kids together

While she may be known by many as the wife of beloved British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who recently starred in Netflix thriller TV miniseries Eric, Sophie Hunter is accomplished enough in her own right. The Doctor Strange star’s spouse is, in fact, a celebrated theatre director, playwright and actress. Hunter has a slew of both acting and producer credits, including roles in various TV series and a part in the 2004 film Vanity Fair alongside Reese Witherspoon. So what else is there to know about the 46-year-old? Sophie Hunter comes from a distinguished English family Per the Telegraph, Hunter hails from a “distinguished family line”. Her maternal grandfather was General Sir Michael James Gow, a senior officer in the British army who went on to become commander-in-chief of the British Army of the Rhine and Commander of Northag, the Northern Army Group of Nato. He was so high up in British society that he had dealings with both Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in the 1950s, as well as the queen in the 1980s. As is common among British high society, Hunter went to Oxford University where, according to People, she studied French and Italian. She met Benedict Cumberbatch on set The Imitation Game actor and the Midsomer Murders actress met each other on the film set for the fairy tale thriller Burlesque Fairytales, per People. That was back in 2009, but the couple didn’t get serious until years later. They were seen in public for the first time in 2014 at the French Open. A few months after their first sighting together, they announced their engagement in a rather traditional way, perhaps befitting their pedigree – the pair reportedly put an engagement announcement in the marriages section of The Times. “The engagement is announced between Benedict, son of Wanda and Timothy Cumberbatch of London, and Sophie, daughter of Katherin Hunter of Edinburgh and Charles Hunter of London,” read the advertisement. The couple got married in February 2015 on the Isle of Wight, England. According to People, the wedding reception was held at Mottistone Manor, a 263-hectare historical estate that can be traced back to at least the 15th century. Hunter is even said to share familial ties with the Nicholsons, the former owners of the estate. She’s an award-winning creative Cumberbatch is well known as an actor with a long list of award nominations and wins behind his name. Among others, he’s won a Bafta, Critic’s Choice Award, Emmy, Olivier, and he’s been nominated for two Oscars and four Golden Globes. And while the wife of the Power of the Dog’s star might not have as long a list of accolades behind her name, she has still been recognised for her work in the creative arts. As an avant-garde theatre playwright and director, in 2007, Hunter was awarded the esteemed Samuel Beckett Award for the play The Terrific Electric. She also received a prestigious international artist fellowship by The Location One International Residency Programme. She is a supportive wife and mum of three From red carpet premieres, award ceremonies, film festivals and star-studded galas, to Wimbledon matches and the illustrious ceremony in which Cumberbatch was awarded the high honour of CBE (Commander of the British Empire), Hunter is often seen by her A-lister husband’s side. The couple announced that they were expecting their first child together just over a month before their wedding on Valentine’s Day in 2015, per People. Since then, they’ve welcomed another two kids into their family, in 2017 and 2019.