Who Is Sophie Hunter? Meet Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Secret’ New Girlfriend

After several weeks of hiding his girlfriend from the public, the identity of Benedict Cumberbatch’s new partner has been revealed. Contradictory to previous reports that Cumberbatch’s "secret" woman was not a public figure, the Sunday Mirror confirmed that his leading lady is none other than his former co-star, British actress Sophie Hunter.

“Watch this space. You never know,” Hunter's mother Anna recently told the tabloid of her daughter’s romance with the “Sherlock" actor at her home in Edinburgh. The couple has reportedly been dating steadily for unspecified number of weeks. Cumberbatch, 38, was last seen with Hunter attending the French Open in Paris in June.

So just who is Sophie Hunter? Similar to Cumberbatch, Hunter, 36, is also a British native. While not a household name like “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" star, the Oxford graduate, actress and theater director does have 14 acting credits to her name. In 2004, she starred alongside Reese Witherspoon in the critically acclaimed “Vanity Fair.” In 2009, Hunter played Annabel Blythe-Smith to Cumberbatch’s Henry Clark in the thriller “Burlesque Fairytales.” Check out the couple's scene together in the film here -- starting at the 1:29 mark. Hunter's most recent role was in the 2012 British short “Maria.” A majority of Hunter’s work rests in TV series and made-for-TV movies.

While Cumberbatch has yet to confirm his relationship with Hunter, her credentials do seem to fit his girlfriend criteria. In 2012, Cumberbatch's sister, Tracy Peacock-Tabernacle, said her brother was particular. “You have to be a pretty smart cookie to keep up with him. I think that is possibly why he has trouble with girlfriends," she said. Peacock said a woman from outside Hollywood would be the best match for her brother. “I think they would have to be someone not in the acting profession," she said. "Someone who was happy to hold the fort while he went off and pursued his career."

Hunter’s identity confirmation follows reports that Cumberbatch was dating a woman who preferred to remain nameless. "He’s keeping it hush-hush, but it's safe to safe he’s smitten,” a source told ShowBizSpy.com in April. “She isn’t in the public eye and has quite a serious career, so [she] is keen to remain anonymous as long as possible.”

Cumberbatch’s new relationship comes two years after his split from fashion designer Anna Jones in 2012. His longest romance to date, nearly 10 years with actress and screenwriter Olivia Poulet, ended in 2010.