‘Imitation Game’ opens London Film Festival

British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley greet one another before they pose for photographers during the photo call of the film The Imitation Game, at the Corinthia Hotel in central London, which will open the London Film Festival, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP) British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley greet one another before they pose for photographers during the photo call of the film The Imitation Game, at the Corinthia Hotel in central London, which will open the London Film Festival, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

By Associated Press October 8, 2014 2 min read

LONDON (AP) – “Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch says his latest role as a code-breaking genius doesn’t mean he’s only capable of playing brainy characters.

Cumberbatch stars as computer pioneer Alan Turing in “The Imitation Game,” which opens the London Film Festival on Wednesday.

Turing’s work on cracking German codes helped win World War II, but he later committed suicide after being prosecuted for homosexuality. Now widely regarded as a wartime hero, he was granted a posthumous royal pardon last year.

“It’s a great honor to be asked to play someone like Alan Turing, so the last thing I want to do is go, ‘Well, it’s a bit like Sherlock, isn’t it,'” Cumberbatch told a news conference.

“I’ve also played stupid people as well,” he said. “If anyone out there’s got some more stupid roles for me, great, bring it on.”