Benedict Cumberbatch may have played tough characters on screen, but in real life, he’s faced his own terrifying moments. The actor recently revealed how a life-threatening experience in South Africa forever changed the way he sees the world.

Back in 2004, while filming the BBC miniseries To the Ends of the Earth, Cumberbatch and his friends were ambushed by six men after their car broke down. They were robbed, tied up, and forced to sit in what he described as an “execution-style” position. Thankfully, the attackers eventually fled, leaving him shaken but unharmed.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Cumberbatch admitted it gave him a sense of urgency to live boldly. “It made me impatient to live a life less ordinary,” he shared. The experience even pushed him to seek out extreme activities, like skydiving, to chase that adrenaline rush.

But things have changed since then. Now a father of three, Cumberbatch says he’s become more cautious. “I’ve looked over the edge; it’s made me comfortable with what lies beneath it,” he explained. “And I’ve accepted that that’s the end of all our stories.”

The Doctor Strange star also touched on how his past experiences, including this one, have influenced his acting. When asked about his ability to cry on command, a skill Tom Holland credited him with mastering, Cumberbatch emphasized the importance of drawing from real emotions. “You have to really put your mind somewhere so you can respond to the moment,” he said. “It’s harder when you’re very young. I’m 48, so I’ve lived a bit of life.”

Cumberbatch’s candid reflections remind us how personal experiences can shape not just our lives but also our craft. It’s a testament to how even the darkest moments can lead to growth and new perspectives.