Benedict Cumberbatch uses Power of Dog wrangling skills to save family stuck in field by cows

The actor, who spent two months living in Montana to get into the role of surly rancher Phil Burbank, was taking a beach break when he saw the opportunity to put his newly found cowboy skills to the test.

He told Graham Norton: “I came back from shooting the film in August and we were off to the beach.

“To get there we had to cross a field and in the field was a petrified family who just couldn’t move, they were frozen because of a herd of cows with calves.

“I thought, ‘I can do this,’ and I just sort of parted the waves of cattle. The family was like, ‘That was incredible. Hey, aren’t you Sherlock?’ It was very un-Sherlock activity!’”

The Oscar nominated actor also revealed director Jane Campion encouraged him to stay in character during breaks from filming.

He said: “She was very secure about all the things I was insecure about and said, ‘Do whatever you have to do to feel ownership of this very different lived experience.’

“So, I went off to Montana for two months to find out what it is like to live on a ranch and to experience all those things you see in the film. It was incredible and so far from anything I have ever done.”

It is Oscar-winning filmmaker Jane Campion’s first movie since 2009 and has been nominated for 11 Oscars including best actor for Cumberbatch and actress for co-star Kirsten Dunst.

In the psychological drama, Benedict plays a secretive and cruel rancher whose brother brings home his new wife and her son to the famiy’s 1920s Montana ranch.

Speaking at its LA premiere, Dunst revealed: “Jane gave Benedict permission to be Phil on set.

“Because Benedict is a very kind person, he’s very English. He apologises a lot, he’s just someone who will take too much time and energy to say ‘good morning’.”