Turns Out Benedict Cumberbatch Is Related to Richard III

Although Benedict Cumberbatch soon takes on the role of infamous English king Richard III in The Hollow Crown, the actor actually has another link to the character: he's related to him.

Kevin Schurer, a professor at the University of Leicester in the U.K., revealed the link between the actor and the former king, showing that they are third cousins, 16 times removed. Although up to 17 million people in the UK have some link to the king, Cumberbatch is more of a direct descendant than most.

"He [Cumberbatch] is more direct because he is a third cousin," says Schurer. "Most other relatives would be much lower order cousins. I think the Queen would be a third cousin several times removed as well."