6) The Fall – Sherlock
To be honest, we could probably fill this list with only scenes from Sherlock. As well as being his most famous role, it’s also the actor’s most comprehensive, as Cumberbatch has been called on to do a lot over the show’s 13 feature-length episodes. One of his most impressive performances though comes at the climax of perhaps Sherlock‘s greatest outing, season 2’s finale, “The Reichenbach Fall.”
Despite not acting opposite each other, Cumberbatch and Freeman’s chemistry and skill is such that the emotion of a man saying goodbye to his best friend still shines through even on a phone conversation. It’s also the first time we see Sherlock become emotional, which makes it all the more affecting.
Of course, we later find out that Sherlock was planning to fake his death, which renders this all a ploy on his part. Nonetheless, that doesn’t take away from Cumberbatch’s heartfelt portrayal here of the moment when Sherlock truly becomes a hero.