"Sherlock" star Benedict Cumberbatch has been laying low for the past couple of weeks, only showing up at the Serpentine Summer Party in Kensington Gardens for a night out with his wife as well as watching a play to support his co-star.
His absence from the limelight is partly because of his new status as a first-time father. He and his wife, Sophie Hunter, welcomed a baby boy last June and are currently caring for the little tot.
He's also deep into rehearsals for the titular role in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" which will be performed at the Barbican next month. He's definitely excited about it as he already expressed his dream of playing the troubled prince to BBC in 2012.
"It's a role I've been interested in for a long time," he reportedly said.
According to the Evening Standard, Olivier Award-winning director Lyndsey Turner will be helming the play. Opening night will be on August 25 and will run for 12 weeks with "Sherlock" star Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead.
Fans have been as excited to see the Academy Award nominated actor on stage, if the sold-out shows are any indication. And the hype only increased when rehearsal photos were released earlier this week.
Ticket outlet Viagogo reported that 20,000 people queued online for the tickets when they were released last year. Many were left devastated when they couldn't get a hold of one.
However, eager fans can still watch the 38-year-old actor in action! The Evening Standard reported further that Sonia Friedman Productions and Sky Arts have allocated 8500 seats worth £10 each for the entire public run of the play.
The Huffington Post also reported that fans can still watch "Sherlock" star Benedict Cumberbatch become Hamlet when the play is screened for the UK National Theatre Live project on Oct. 15.
Check out the rehearsal photos here.
