Sophie Hunter is a theatre director and actress (Picture: Rex)

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake after announcing his engagement to Sophie Hunter in The Times.

The actor’s bride-to-be has so far largely managed to stay out of the public eye despite her high-profile partner, with the pair rarely spotted out in public.

While attention inevitably is now focused on Miss Hunter, she is much more than Cumberbatch’s other half.

Here are the main things you need to know about Sophie Hunter.


Benedict and Sophie together in Burlesque Fairytales (Picture: YouTube)

– Sophie’s a talented theatre and opera director. In 2007, she received the Samuel Beckett Award for writing and directing the avant-garde play The Terrific Electric.



– She’s also an actress too. Screen credits include Vanity Fair, The Curse of Steptoe and Torchwood’s Children Of Earth.

– Sophie and Benedict have actually appeared on-screen together, in 2009 thriller Burlesque Fairytales. This appears to be where they first met. The film also features Jim Carter, aka Carson in Downton Abbey.

– As if writing, directing and acting wasn’t enough, she’s also a singer. In 2005 she released a French language album, The Isis Project, co-written with former Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers.

– Her father Charles is from London, while mother Katharine is from Edinburgh. Benedict reportedly flew to Edinburgh to ask Katharine’s permission for her daughter’s hand in marriage before proposing.

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