Henry Cavill And 9 Best Actors Who Have Played Sherlock Holmes

Netflix’s latest Sherlock-themed offering, Enola Holmes, starred Millie Bobby Brown as the titular detective, with Henry Cavill playing her brother, Sherlock. Even though Cavill appeared in the film for limited screen time, his performance drew praise. His version of Sherlock Holmes doesn’t bear the clichés of the deerstalker cap or magnifying glass. Instead, it’s a more grounded version of the character that doesn’t seem to be overdone, compared to other portrayals.

The Man of Steel actor joins a long line of European and American actors who have played the pipe-smoking British detective before.

9 Henry Cavill – Enola Holmes

Calm and observant, Cavill’s Holmes is a socially awkward detective who has already acquired national fame in England with several high-publicity cases. However, fame doesn’t get to his head and he is very picky with his cases.

He wants to help out people, like his own sister, but as Enola points out herself, Sherlock’s fascination with everyone is as if they’re a case first and then a human. He also acts aloof regarding social and political affairs, adding to his lack of empathy. This characterization of Sherlock Holmes is fresh and original because it doesn’t blatantly glorify the character. The film paints a good picture of him, while pointing out his flaws, too.

8 Robert Downey Jr – Sherlock Holmes And Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

For a literature aficionado, the Iron Man star’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes might be the least accurate, but it’s still an unconventional take on the character. Featured in two films by Guy Ritchie, this version is definitely more talkative, brash, and certainly more stylish.

At the same time, his skills of deduction are pretty much swift and on-point, shown in a manner reminiscent to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock. The character’s ego and self-obsession are also evident, as he likes challenging himself with worthy adversaries. Some of the classic character quirks, like talking fast and wearing disguises, are also highlighted in Robert Downey Jr’s performance.

7 Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock

A modern take on the detective, Benedict Cumberbatch perfectly captures the god complex and the introversions in his character in Sherlock. In episodes written by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, this 21st century Sherlock Holmes has limited friends and acquaintances and often behaves like an immature child.

It’s easy for viewers to find him frantically jumping to conclusions or brashly putting down others when they offer a solution that’s not as ‘smart’ as his own. And yet, despite the rudeness, there’s a softer side to his character that is emulated by his friendship with his best friend and ex-roommate, John Watson.

Jeremy Brett is the quintessential Sherlock Holmes for many. The reason behind this is that he took method acting to a new level to get into the skin of the character, so much so that he looked and behaved like the fictional character in his real-life, too.

From his steely gaze to his suave superiority, Jeremy Brett flawlessly portrayed the character for several Granada series, including The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Return of Sherlock Holmes. The shows, along with his performance, are widely regarded as the most accurate adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original novels and short stories. While the character has been reinterpreted several times thereon, Brett was still pretty unique in his acting approach, perfectly capturing the analytical mindset and drastic mood swings of the character.

6 Christopher Plummer – Murder By Decree

Christopher Plummer has had a vast career involving many roles from classic English literature, Sherlock Holmes being one of them. He played Holmes in a 1979 film called Murder By Decree, which reimagines the detective investigating a trail of murders by the notorious killer, Jack the Ripper.

The film might not have aged well, but Plummer pulls off a decent Holmes, expressing the detective’s confidence, as well as frustration. His pairing with John Mason as his sidekick Watson is also quite touching, in parts. Plummer’s overall bravado in playing leader-like characters definitely helps him in giving Holmes a heroic makeover.

5 Michael Caine – Without A Clue

Another British acting veteran, Michael Caine’s Sherlock Holmes might be the funniest and a polar opposite when compared to other portrayals of the great detective. Michael Caine plays a drunk, third-rate actor, who pretends to be Sherlock Holmes at the behest of Dr. Watson (Ben Kingsley), the real crime-solving genius who merely created Holmes as a fictional alter ego.

However, when both fall into a conspiracy by Professor Moriarty, Watson and Holmes battle their wits to escape. Michael Caine displays great comedic timing, while parodying the detective in Without A Clue that benefits greatly from the chemistry between its two lead actors. This film can be an easy alternative to the recent universally-panned parody, Holmes & Watson.

4 Basil Rathbone – Sherlock Holmes film franchise

One of the earliest actors to don the robes of the detective, Basil Rathbone acted in 14 films, as well as radio plays. Out of these films, only two have survived, with a complete restoration, including The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles. Four others are fortunately in the public domain, keeping Rathbone’s legacy alive.

Rathbone was known for his commanding voice, as well as the physical eccentricities and the style statements that he brought to the character. In fact, the illustrations for Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories didn’t feature the iconic deerstalker hat that prominently. It’s Rathbone’s Holmes that made the cap a staple for the detective.

3 Johnny Lee Miller – Elementary

For over seven seasons, Johnny Lee Miller played a modern variant of the detective in Elementary. The show provides entertaining thrills, but has vastly been overshadowed with the superior BBC series, Sherlock. Paired with Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, the procedural drama finds Holmes as a recovering drug addict who assists the New York Police Department with his unique set of unconventional detective skills.

This portrayal is significant for the fact that Sherlock’s chemistry with Watson isn’t always the ‘master-apprentice’ type. This version of Sherlock is quite troubled and not always the godly genius he tries to be, and Lucy Liu’s Watson, too, isn’t always shown to be a bumbling protégé, resulting in a more humanized portrayal.

2 Barrie Ingham – The Great Mouse Detective

In this classic Disney film from the 60s, the protagonist is Basil, who can be seen as the mouse version of the London-based detective. Basil lives in Baker Street with Dr. David O Dawson, as he solves the disappearance of a toy-maker, regularly quoting typical Sherlock Holmes lines like, ‘It’s elementary’ and ‘The game’s afoot.’ He might be a mouse but he’s willing to take on colossal challenges that get him closer to the truth.

Based on the children’s book series, Basil of Baker Street, the character was named in the honor of Basil Rathbone, who also voices the human Sherlock Holmes in a guest appearance in the film.

1 Vasily Livanov – The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes And Dr. Watson

It’s not just British and American actors who have proved their mettle playing Sherlock Holmes. Take the case of the Russian actor Vasily Livanov, who channels Holmes perfectly with his uptight demeanor and body language. He played Holmes in the show The Adventures of Sherlock Holmesand Dr. Watson, which aired in 1979.

The show and Livanov’s performance drew enough praise amongst British viewers, so much so that the Russian even received Honorary Membership of the British Empire in 2006.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
(724 Articles Published)

Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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