Benedict Cumberbatch says he felt the pressure in trying to honour Alan Turing in new film The Imitation Game.
Cumberbatch takes on the role of Turing in the new drama, which explores Turing's role in helping to break the Enigma code during the Second World War.
The actor said that it was a role that was hugely important to him because of the way that Turing was treated for being a gay man and the pardons that have come recently are too late.
Speaking to the Press Association on the red carpet, Cumberbatch said: "I did [feel pressure telling his story] but I worked really hard to try and honour his legacy.
"It's hugely important to me because I think he has been remarkably overlooked. There has been recognition of him in the last few years with pardons - in my opinion too little too late.
"The only person who should be doing any pardoning is him towards the people who treated him in such a manner."
Cumberbatch stars alongside Keira Knightley, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, and Matthew Goode, while Morten Tyldum is in the director's chair.
Cumberbatch's performance was praised after it screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the film is set to open the BFI London Film Festival at the beginning of October.
We have already seen Cumberbatch star in 12 Years A Slave and August: Osage County this year, and he is set to return as Smaug in The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies.
The actor has also completed work on Black Mass and lent his voice to Penguins of Madagascar and Magik.
The Imitation Game is released 14th November.
Tagged in Benedict Cumberbatch