Benedict Cumberbatch’s moment came in a 2013 Reddit AMA after being asked what literary character he would play if he could choose his role.
Though he often looks calm and collected on screen, Cumberbatch recalled to Metro he was quite nervous the night before the meeting and the morning of and was rereading the final two novels in order to adequately prep for the big moment.
Cumberbatch, who has portrayed Sherlock Holmes, Smaug The Dragon, and other famous literary characters, plainly stated the character Patrick Melrose was his choice, and the rest is history.
The call was only the beginning, however, as Cumberbatch then had to meet with Michael Jackson (the producer) and Rachael Horovitz for breakfast while he was still in New York.