Benedict Cumberbatch’s audition for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (2013). Benedict and Martin Freeman sent their audition tapes at the same time for this film, while filming the first season of “Sherlock”! Apparently, Cumberbatch did not hear from the production of “The Hobbit” for nearly a year, before they confirmed he got the part. He plays the majestic and menacing dragon Smaug, and not only does he lend his voice but also provides motion-capture performance for the creature! Absolut

For The Hobbit films, Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as the dragon Smaug was a blend of theatrical presence, vocal mastery, and technical experimentation. Rather than simply recording lines in a booth, Cumberbatch physically embodied the dragon during the performance capture sessions — crawling on all fours, stretching his body, and using broad, predatory movements to inform the rhythm and weight of Smaug’s delivery. Vocally, he employed an extraordinary range, lowering his register into a d