The actor, who had his anxieties about crying on set, found a mentor in Benedict Cumberbatch when it came to doing sad scenes.

Tom Holland has been trying to do more serious roles ever since his career took off starring in Marvel’s Spider-Man films. Lucky for the actor, being associated with the MCU means the actor has shared the screen with some of the best dramatic actors of our time, who can advise the young talent on various acting techniques.
Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland in a still from Avengers: Infinity War
Crying seems to have been a pain point for Tom Holland, allegedly “worrying himself out of tears” whenever a scene required him to cry, The actor was able to get some insights about acting, and advice that went beyond the simple ‘pull from what you know’ that people hear, from none other than Benedict Cumberbatch.

Benedict Cumberbatch had some practical advice on crying

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch is a masterclass of emotional acting. The actor has routinely delivered great dramatic and emotional moments in films that he has starred in, which is something that ended up benefitting Tom Holland. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Holland wanted to talk about how he got over his crying dilemma, and how Cumberbatch aided him in the process. The Avengers: Endgame actor said:
“He would do this thing where he would kind of simulate laughing and he would breathe really, really quickly, and that would sort of, I guess, bring the emotion to the surface, and he could just take it and ride the wave from there, and I started doing that. I love crying scenes now.”
The actor began to emulate Cumberbatch when thinking about crying scenes, going with he practical advice he received from the Doctor Strange actor rather than relying on personal experiences.

Tom Halland trusts three of his co-stars to help him act

Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
Tom Holland is a versatile actor, but he is still young and inexperienced in some ways. The actor has revealed that he relies on three of his co-stars when it comes to talking about his acting. These actors include the Avengers: Infinity War alum’s long-time partner Zendaya, his onscreen mentor Robert Downey Jr, and fellow British acting legend Benedict Cumberbatch. When asked about how they contribute to his acting, the actor revealed:
“Zendaya is probably the most honest with me, which I love, ’cause you need that. Downey is very honest, sometimes a little too honest”
Cumberbatch, as mentioned, is the one who gives the actor more practical advice, rounding out Holland’s acting support system.