Sherlock actor takes a break from filming on location in London and attacks the UK government over civil liberties violations

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch made a splash on Sunday when he was photographed holding a sign directed at the paparazzi following him: "Go photograph Egypt and show the world something important."

Seizing another opportunity to spread a message to the media, Cumberbatch on Wednesday again approached a group of photographers, notebook paper in hand. "Questions we have a right to ask in a democracy," he wrote in occasionally unreadable script addressed to British Prime Minister David Cameron. The message seems to have been spurred, in part, by the Guardian's recent dealings with GCHQ, the UK intelligence agency, and the detention of Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald's partner David Miranda at Heathrow airport.

Twitter user @vickster51 chronicled the entire statement, white @cumberbatch_DE, a German fan site, documented the incident in photos.

"Hard drives smashed, journalists detained at airports...... Democracy?"

And with that, Cumberbatch bid the media and gathered fans adieu, and returned to filming Sherlock.

Oh, and Martin Freeman was there too.