Benedict Cumberbatch used his role as 'Doctor Strange' to get in shape for his wife.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter at Doctor Strange premiere
The 40-year-old actor stars as the titular mystical superhero in the new Marvel movie and had to get in great shape for some bare-chested scenes.
Cumberbatch admits the fitness regime he undertook was also popular with his pregnant spouse Sophie Hunter, 38, and also meant he could more easily keep up with their 16-month-old son Christopher.
Speaking at the GQ sponsored 'Doctor Strange' premiere after-party in London on Monday night (24.10.16), he said: "The physical regime helped. That wasn't just for the obligatory shirt-off moment. It was keeping healthy for my new family."
Benedict had to do a lot of his own stunts for the action-packed film and during shooting he needed to make regular visits to see doctors and a chiropractor after getting injured several times on set but he had a saviour medication for his ailing muscles, Tiger Balm - a mentholated ointment used for a variety of conditions.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "There were a few crisis meetings with a chiropractor or somebody with some Tiger Balm, but I was very well looked after, as anyone is who does these films."
Cumberbatch stars in the movie with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo,
Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer, Benedict Wong as Wong and Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius.