Benedict Cumberbatch Brings a “Dream‑Therapy” Twist to “The Power of the Dog”
The Actor Meets the Wild West (and the Subconscious)
Benedict Cumberbatch, diving deep into his bucket‑list of ranch‑ready skills, confessed that the key to capturing his rugged rancher role didn’t come from a dusty boot‑camp but from an unusual mental vacation—dream therapy.
“We did dream therapy! We did dream analysis. It’s a real trip. You just drop a tiny suggestion on a notepad or in a mantra before you sleep and let your subconscious do the heavy lifting,” Benedict told the EE BAFTA Film Awards virtual gathering, “The Sessions 2022.”“So if a book wasn’t easy, I then fell back on dreaming for inspiration, but boy, there’s plenty after a few dry spells of ‘Did I lock the door?’ or ‘Is the oven on?’” he chuckled.The supposed “first few dry spells” were a prelude, and later, he remembered a vision that was oddly dramatic: Jane Campion seeing flowers “exploding with blood.” This surreal imagery sparked something far more vivid than mere dream sketches, giving him fresh, unexpected ideas that the script had never hinted at.
Real‑World Ranch Training
Even with his “endless” skill list, Benedict stuck with grit. He trained under a true cowboy: Randy and Jen from Montana’s prairie, experts in horse riding, roping, and hide preparation.
“The horse‑riding and roping were pretty daunting for a guy like me, who’s never lived the ranch life,” he confessed.“Jane, Tanya, and everyone else on the set were very supportive. ‘Anything you feel insecure about—we’ll help you.’ They cheered me on.”He learned everything from braiding to cutting hide and even how to soak and stretch leather—skills that truly landed on his cowboy swagger.
Why All This Matters
Instead of letting muscle memory or an on‑set coach dictate his performance, Benedict let his mind wander in the night, transforming subconscious images into on‑screen authenticity. The result? A pilot who’s fiercely in-tune with his character’s raw, primal vibe.
“The Sessions 2022” to Be Remembered
The EE BAFTA Film Awards, slated for March 13 at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London, gave this actor‑actor collab a platform to reveal these behind‑the‑scenes absurdities—and to watch Benedict master both the world’s backyard and his own mind.
“It was an amazing person to be with,” Benedict reflected—both literally, with Randy’s ranch life, and figuratively, with the dream‑therapy journey that illuminated the grit of “The Power of the Dog.”
