Covid 19 coronavirus: Benedict Cumberbatch fears being ‘patient zero’ and spreading the virus around the world

Benedict Cumberbatch worries that he was the “zero patient” of the coronavirus.

The “Imitation Game” star was very ill in late 2019 after flying to South Africa and is now concerned that he had helped spread the coronavirus around the world before the first cases were confirmed.

Speaking to independent.co.uk, he explained: “I was incredibly ill, to the point where when all this Covid stuff suddenly broke down in the new year, I was thinking, oh my gosh, I was actually patient zero. I was so sick. It was borderline pneumonia. “

It was previously revealed that Benedict donated NZ $ 23,600 to purchase hospital gowns.

The actor made the donation while in New Zealand. He contacted Savile Row tailor Emma Willis after she launched her Style For Surgeons initiative in April.

Emma, ​​who previously put 44-year-old Benedict T-shirts on screen and for his wedding to Sophie Hunter in 2015, said: “It was great. I got a call from him out of nowhere saying, ‘I’m Benedict, New Zealand “. He said: ‘I’ve heard about your Style For Surgeons and would love to get involved. What can I do?’ I said: ‘Our goal is to raise £ 30,000 and we have an additional £ 12,000 to raise to cover the cost of the fabric, we are covering the cost manufacturing ‘. He said, ‘Count it done’ and transferred the rest of the money, “he recalled.

“He obviously felt a real need for support. We do ongoing work with him and there is also something on the way. I think people, like Benedict, who use their influence and fame to support important causes are wonderful. They see how they can help people through of his fame in such a positive way. “

The actor has previously said that he was “blessed” to have been locked up in New Zealand with his family, including his elderly parents.

He passed the alert level 4 lockdown in New Zealand last year after being accidentally caught in border closures while working on a movie in the country.

Cumberbatch was in New Zealand filming “The Power of the Dog” with New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion when the country was locked down in March last year.

He said he was lucky to be “stuck” in New Zealand with his family.

“We were so blessed to be there … Very, very lucky,” he told Newshub.

The actor revealed that he spent confinement in the country with his wife, his three children and his parents, who are more than 80 years old.

“By then it was too late to risk going home. I had my two parents with me, who are in their 80s, and my father is severely asthmatic … and my three children and my wife, a very happy bunch of We couldn’t have landed in a more fortunate situation, we were so lucky and I kept them close to me, “added the” Doctor Strange “actor.

“We couldn’t have landed in a more fortunate situation,” he said.

The actor, who is now back in London, couldn’t say enough about the Kiwi hospitality.

“One of the greatest characteristics of your country, if I may be bold enough to analyze it, is your welcome, your hospitality, your attention with open arms to all attendees. We feel so, so privileged to be in your company I really did, so thank you, from the bottom of my heart, “he said during a video interview.

– with Bang! Showbiz