Benedict Cumberbatch consumed a high-calorie diet, eating five meals a day plus high-protein snacks like boiled eggs, cheese, almond butter, and crackers, to prepare for his role as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This regimen, overseen by a chef and tailored to meet specific caloric needs, was designed to build muscle and stamina for the physically demanding role, which involved intense fight scenes and long shooting days. Cumberbatch noted that the diet helped him achieve the physicality required to portray the Sorcerer Supreme, enhancing his endurance for multiple takes and action sequences. However, he described the experience of eating beyond his appetite as “horrific” and wasteful, highlighting that the amount of food could have fed a family. He also criticized the film industry’s broader excesses, linking his diet to Hollywood’s “grossly wasteful” practices. This transformation was part of a broader fitness plan that included high-intensity workouts, yoga, and training with professionals to ensure he could handle the role’s physical demands while maintaining a healthy approach to bulking up.
