Benedict Cumberbatch presented the world premiere of How to Live on Earth, a documentary about people working with nature, on the first night of London Climate Action Week.
How to Live on Earth, a documentary narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, had its world premiere at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in the West End on Monday 22 June 2026. The screening opened London Climate Action Week.
Cumberbatch, who presents the film and spoke before the screening, was born in London in 1976 to the actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham. He read drama at the University of Manchester and trained in classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Sherlock made him a household name from 2010. He has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for The Imitation Game and The Power of the Dog.
Jonnie Hughes, co-founder of Open Planet Studios, opened the evening. He co-directed David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, and shared this film’s direction with Fredi Devas.
The documentary gathers stories of people learning to work with nature, with music by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and Ho-Ling Tang. Together Films released it in British cinemas on 26 June.
Three of the film’s contributors joined Cumberbatch: the climate campaigner Xiye Bastida, Dan O’Neill, and Sam Kass, the chef who served as White House nutrition adviser.