Benedict Cumberbatch dreams in character

The actor has revealed he is “haunted” by memories from playing his many alter egos including Sherlock Holmes, Hamlet and Doctor Strange and he often appears naked in his dreams.

(Photo: ITV/WENN)

He explained: “It’s usually, like a lot of actors, nightmares after the event, rather than during. It’s the way that brains work - it’s incredible, isn’t it? But you just get haunted by a moment, and suddenly you’re back playing a character that you dropped months or years [ago], and then you’re often onstage and often without a vital prop and sometimes without any clothes whatsoever and you can’t remember your lines.

"You’re looking at characters that are really familiar and the situation is half familiar, but suddenly you’re in a real room and the dream takes real odd turns, I don’t know. It’s so funny in the way we get haunted by our work as actors, I know I’m not alone in that. The naked thing, or running out or just completely forgetting what you’re saying is very fiercely real.”

Benedict with wife Sophie Hunter (WENN)

Benedict also recently admitted he practised calming techniques whilst filming for his role as the Marvel superhero Doctor Stephen Strange in ‘Doctor Strange’.

Speaking about the relaxation method, he told the I newspaper: "I practise meditating and mindfulness, but that’s as much tool to be a better person, hopefully.

"The idea that is very prevalent in this film - that your mind has the power to shape reality.

"You can imagine having a few nightmares with that world in your head.”