'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie': Joanna Lumley Reveals Benedict Cumberbatch Turned Down A Cameo

Joanna Lumley has revealed the one star who turned down the chance to make a cameo appearance in the ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ film.

Back in April, the full list of celebrities making guest spots in the film was revealed, ranging from the A-list (Kate Moss, Stella McCartney and Lara Stone) to the slightly less A-list (Judith Chalmers, Christopher Biggins and Perez Hilton).

But while you’d be forgiven for thinking everyone and their granny was appearing in the film, Joanna - who plays Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom and its forthcoming big screen adaptation - says there’s one actor they failed to grab for the film.

Writing in her ‘Ab Fab’ diary back in October, which has now published in the Telegraph, she said: “Mandie Fletcher, our director, is trying to lock down the casting of cameo roles between takes and sometimes I have to sit with her in a nice chair, eating a delicious Brie baguette, and throwing out names like ‘Benedict Cumberbatch’.

"Although Benedict Cumberbatch, it turns out, is busy for the next five and a half years.

“What is it with actors? We are offering tiny, tiny, tiny roles that will take up minuscule amounts of time and it’s, ‘Oh no, sorry, I’m busy doing films,’ or, ‘So sorry, I am going round the world with all my actor friends for the next two years,’ or a simple, ‘I’m dead.’”

However, she did reveal that the ‘Sherlock’ actor’s mother, Wanda Ventham, will be appearing in the film, as Eddy Monsoon’s rich aunt Violet.

‘Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’ makes its much-anticipated debut in UK cinemas on Friday (1 July), with all the main cast of the original BBC sitcom making a return, including Jennifer Saunders, Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks.

Find out everything you need to know about the film here.

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