The 'Sherlock' actor sent a letter to the family of a young female fan who passed away at the age of 14, apologizing for missing her funeral because he was still filming.
- Feb 27, 2015
AceShowbiz - Benedict Cumberbatch sent a touching letter to the family of a "Sherlock" fan named Eve Shepherd, who passed away at the age of 14 of breathing difficulties. He wrote, "I send my deepest sympathies to Eve's family. To lose someone so young who fought for her health all her life must be beyond endurance."
"I hope they can take solace from the fact that she was clearly much loved and her support of our show is hugely appreciated and shall be remembered. I wish I could be there but sadly am filming the show she loved. God rest her soul. With all my love and sympathies, Benedict xxx," he continued.
Benedict's letter was read in front of Eve's family and friends at her funeral service on Monday, February 23 at Padgate Methodist Church in Warrington, U.K.
Eve's father Mark Shepherd comments on receiving Benedict's letter to PEOPLE, "It was absolutely unbelievable. We know that Eve would have been jumping for joy. For him to have spent time to write to us and to comfort us in such a very difficult time is incredible. We knew that he was a lovely man before, but to spend time when he was getting married and was so busy with the Oscars and the BAFTAs and everything else is amazing."
Mark remembers her daughter, "Eve was a really bubbly girl - the life and soul of the family. I have to be honest and say that our lives are empty because we are so missing her. She always had a smile on her face and never let anything get her down. Despite all her difficulties she was forecast to get all A's and B's at every subject at school. For what she went through in her life, that's unbelievable."
