Benedict Cumberbatch talks about the terrifying experience he faced in 2004 when he was kidnapped and robbed while traveling in South Africa.

The revelation comes less than two years after another terrifying ordeal in May 2023, when a knife-wielding intruder broke into his London home.

Benedict Cumberbatch looks back on a chilling encounter 20 years ago, revealing how it profoundly changed his outlook on life.

The actor revealed that he was abducted and robbed by six men while filming the BBC mini-series "At the Ends of the Earth" in South Africa in 2004. The incident reportedly happened after a diving trip with friends when a blown tire left their car stranded on the side of the road.

Cumberbatch and his companions were allegedly ambushed, forced into a vehicle and driven for hours. The 48-year-old claimed they were then tied up and made to sit execution-style before the attackers fled. In an interview with DiversityCumberbatch addressed the ordeal, stating:

"It gave me a sense of time, but not necessarily a good one. It made me anxious to live a less ordinary life."

This impatience fueled his adrenaline-seeking tendencies, from skydiving to extreme sports. However, his perspective changed after he married Sophie Hunter and became the father of three sons.

"Now it's changed, and it sobers you up. I've looked over the edge; I've become comfortable with what's underneath. And I've accepted that that's the end of all our stories," he shared.

Cumberbatch's life was anything but boring, but an incident in May 2023 brought terror to his doorstep. Before revealing his experience in South Africa, the actor and his family suffered a terrifying £3.5million home invasion in London.

The Blast reported that Jack Bissell, a former chef at the prestigious Mayfair Hotel, forced his way through the house's iron gates before going on a destructive rampage armed with a fish knife.

The report described Bissell kicking, stomping and tearing up plants in the garden, throwing them against walls, all while screaming menacing threats such as, "I hope it burns."

Bissell didn't stop there – he allegedly spat and ripped out the intercom before fleeing the scene. Authorities later arrested the chef, thanks to the DNA left behind.

Luckily, Cumberbatch and his family narrowly avoided direct contact with the intruder during the home invasion. Although the family remained safe behind the walls of their home, they could hear the chaos unfolding outside.

A source close to the family shared their plight: "Of course the whole family was terrified and thought this guy was going to come in and hurt them." An insider revealed that the incident left Cumberbatch deeply upset. in their words:

"Benedict and Sophie have had many sleepless nights since then, worrying that they might be targeted again. The fact that it was a targeted intrusion makes it that much more terrifying."

In a satisfying moment of justice, the man responsible for the attack on Cumberbatch's London home has been held accountable for his actions. The former luxury hotel employee pleaded guilty to the damage at Wood Green Crown Court, was fined £250 and given a three-year restraining order.

The restraining order prohibits Bissell from approaching the Cumberbatch family or their apartment complex. Despite the alarming nature of his actions, prosecutors found that the incident was premeditated.

On the day of the attack, Bissell allegedly stopped at a nearby store to buy two packages of pitta bread. While there, he allegedly told the store owner that he intended to break into the star's house and set it on fire.

Cumberbatch is no stranger to going the extra mile for his craft, but his commitment to authenticity came at a price during the making of "The Power of the Dog."

In a 2021 interview with Esquire Magazine, Cumberbatch revealed that he suffered nicotine poisoning not once but three times while playing Phil Burbank, a chain-smoking rancher.

The Blast reported that Cumberbatch smoked countless rolls without a filter for the role, which took a toll on his health. "That was really hard. Rolls with no filter, just take for take for take. I got nicotine poisoning three times," he admitted, calling the experience "terrible."

Adding to the challenge was the shame he felt about his body odor, especially during social outings. Rekindling the habit must have been particularly difficult for the actor, who reportedly quit smoking in 2014.