Benedict Cumberbatch has opened up about his opinions on toxic masculinity, the patriarchy and 'not all men' arguments in a candid interview.
This conversation was part of a promotional interview with Sky for Cumberbatch's new film The Power of the Dog, where toxic masculinity is a notable theme.
On the topic, he stated that 'we need to fix the behaviour of men'.
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He then went on to say: "You get this sort of rebellion aspect or this sort of denial, this sort of childish defensive position of 'not all men' blah blah blah.
"It's like we just need to shut up and listen."
The Sherlock actor then went on to remark that we currently live in a world where there is still 'not enough recognition of abuse'.
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Cumberbatch believes the next step we need to take in society is to 'lift the lid of the engine'.
He said: "Somewhere along the line, we need to do what the film does, which is to examine the reason behind the oppressive behaviour to fix the men."
The Power of the Dog, directed by Jane Campion, follows Cumberbatch's fear-inspiring but magnetic character Phil Burbank as he torments his brother's wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son.
To aid their performances, it has been reported that Dunst and Cumberbatch stayed away from each other on set.
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The Marvel star told NME: "I didn't want to be really mean to Kirsten, but I needed to stay in character. So, I didn't speak to her on-set. She was the same."
These on-set measures show just how much getting this film right meant to Cumberbatch, who also said in his interview with Sky that it is 'ever-relevant' to 'point out the inadequacies of the status quo'.
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Cumberbatch also reportedly puts his money where his mouth is and refuses to accept acting jobs where his female co-stars are not receiving equal pay.
He told Radio Times that this measure is a 'central tenet of feminism' which fueled his motivation to implement the policy throughout his career.
The Power of the Dog is based on Thomas Savage's 1967 novel, which is set on a ranch in 1920s Montana, and also deals with the theme of homophobia.
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The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw has said the film is 'made with artistry and command: it is one of Jane Campion's best'.
The Power of the Dog is currently playing in cinemas, before hitting Netflix on 1 December.
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: TV and Film, Celebrity, Netflix