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12 Actors Who’ve Played Sherlock Holmes On Screen – Who Is Your Favourite?

It’s intriguing to assert that Sir Conan Doyle’s detective short stories from the late 19th century would not have existed without what we now refer to as a “fandom.” The stories were so well-liked, in fact, that they surpassed the Bible in 1964 as the book with the biggest global sales. It is impossible to attribute the enormous appeal to anything other than the obsessive Sherlock Holmes and his dependable sidekick Dr. John Watson.

Updated April 13, 2023: If you came to this page looking for the best actors to play Sherlock Holmes, you’ll be glad to know that we’ve added additional players to the list.

The film business has shown an unparalleled level of interest in the dynamic combination throughout the years, and even investment. Many people, ranging from filmmakers Guy Ritchie to Paul McGuigan, have approached the methodical detective and his tale in different ways. Each of them imagined a different actor playing the peculiarly eccentric detective and his behaviours. See these twelve actors who delivered the best performances.

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Beginning with The Sleeping Cardinal, which follows the brilliant detective as he once again squares off against his formidable foe Professor Moriarty with the assistance of his dependable partner Dr. Watson (Ian Fleming), the criminal blackmails a foreign diplomat, Arthur Wontner played a cunning, dapper version of the legendary sleuth in five British films from 1931 to 1937. Wontner would later return to the role for four more movies, concluding his run in 1937 with Silver Blaze.

Numerous people praised his performance as Sherlock Holmes and said he was the ideal representation of the adored Arthur Conan Doyle character. The British actor’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes was praised by author Vincent Starrett, a co-founder of the Sherlock Holmes fan club The Baker Street Irregulars, who reportedly said, “Certainly no better Sherlock Holmes than Arthur Wontner is likely to be seen and heard in films, in our day.”

Basil Rathbone in The Hound of Baskervilles (1939) & Otherswho is the best sherlock holmes actor,marvel actors who played sherlock holmes,henry cavill sherlock holmes,best sherlock holmes actor livanov,sherlock holmes actors watson,name two current tv shows featuring sherlock holmes,worst sherlock holmes actor,best sherlock holmes actor reddit,sherlock holmes actors in order,actors who played sherlock holmes and dr. watson,actors who played sherlock holmes in hound of the baskervilles,famous actors who played sherlock holmes,best actors who played sherlock holmes,english actors who played sherlock holmes,actors who have played dr watson in sherlock holmes,which actor has played sherlock holmes the most,who is the most famous sherlock holmes actor,list of actors who played sherlock holmes,actor who played sherlock holmes on tv,how many actors have played sherlock holmes

The Hound of the Baskervilles, which was released in 1939, was notable for being the first of 14 films in which English actor Basil Rathbone played the enduringly popular Arthur Conan Doyle character. The gothic mystery was the debut of a Sherlock Holmes feature film that was both set in the Victorian era (like in Doyle’s books) and showed the investigator wearing his distinctive costume. Rathbone established himself as the definitive Holmes with his dashing charisma and audacious intellect, establishing the standard for subsequent portrayals.

Also, from 1939 until 1946, the performer worked with co-star Nigel Bruce (who played Dr. John Watson) on the well-known and enduring radio series The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which ran concurrently with the motion features. Rathbone made a lasting impression as Holmes, and Jim Harmon, a historian, has praised his coupling with Bruce as “near flawless casting.”

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The most well-known of all the adaptations is perhaps the BBC TV series Sherlock, which aired intermittently from 2010 to 2017 and starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson. With its screenplay, acting, and directing, it has been commended for effectively establishing the mood for a contemporary view of the detective’s life. The connection between Cumberbatch and Freeman, which has sparked a sizable fandom for the couple’s relationship, is undoubtedly responsible for Sherlock’s success.

It goes without saying that Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Holmes’ neurodivergence—combined with his cerebral assurance and emotional vulnerability—has been spectacular as always. The performer has received multiple nominations and accolades, including the 2014 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.

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From DC’s Superman to Napoleon Solo to his distinctive interpretation of Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s Enola Holmes, the great Henry Cavill has quietly worked his way through several famous performances (2020). Cavill found space to showcase his exceptional acting abilities despite the Netflix film’s primary focus being on Sherlock’s younger sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) and adapting Nancy Spinger’s first book of the same name. The Conan Doyle Estate was upset by the new portrayal of Holmes and decided to file a lawsuit against Netflix for copyright violations since Sherlock was shown to have feelings.

Many people find the character’s fresh perspective appealing since it demonstrates that being smarter doesn’t automatically give you the right to treat people badly. Don’t be misled, though; Cavill’s character is still as shrewd with his deductions as ever, only with a kinder attitude about his surroundings.

Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes (2015)who is the best sherlock holmes actor,marvel actors who played sherlock holmes,henry cavill sherlock holmes,best sherlock holmes actor livanov,sherlock holmes actors watson,name two current tv shows featuring sherlock holmes,worst sherlock holmes actor,best sherlock holmes actor reddit,sherlock holmes actors in order,actors who played sherlock holmes and dr. watson,actors who played sherlock holmes in hound of the baskervilles,famous actors who played sherlock holmes,best actors who played sherlock holmes,english actors who played sherlock holmes,actors who have played dr watson in sherlock holmes,which actor has played sherlock holmes the most,who is the most famous sherlock holmes actor,list of actors who played sherlock holmes,actor who played sherlock holmes on tv,how many actors have played sherlock holmes

The British-American mystery movie Mr. Holmes depicts the greatest investigator in history in his later years. The 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes, played by Sir Ian McKellen, a living Hollywood legend, struggles to remember specifics of his past while researching his own final case. The legendary figure was portrayed in a tender, touching, and genuinely human way by McKellen, who brought so much to his portrayals.

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Many people consider The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from 1984 to be the only legitimate depiction of the detective. 42 separate short stories by Sir Conan Doyle feature Jeremy Brett as Holmes and David Burke as Dr. Watson. Being a bisexual man, Brett unquestionably grasped Sherlock Holmes’ character’s underlying, emotionally nuanced queerness better than anybody else. The famous character’s bravado and occasional ethical uncertainty were wonderfully captured in scenes like the one when he demolished a murder scene to demonstrate how smart he was.

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A contemporary retelling of the Sherlock Holmes tales, Elementary was released by CBS in 2012 and starred Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. The story is set in New York City, where Holmes assists the Police Department in solving crimes, as opposed to the typical British setting. Because it debuted so soon after the BBC’s Sherlock series, the show faced criticism both before and throughout its first season. The brilliantly constructed friendship between Miller and Liu quickly won the audience over.

Miller excels in the title role despite the show’s general lacklustre quality. His interpretation gives the character so much more life, and Miller does a superb job acting out the character’s strongly suggested autistic characteristics. His character undergoes a well-deserved evolution from refusing to let anyone close in season 1 to vowing he wouldn’t leave Joan at the end no matter what.

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The late Peter Cushing was a beloved figure in Hammer horror movies, so it was only logical that he would accept the role of Sherlock Holmes in a Hammer production. He portrayed the quirky detective in three different productions: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), Sherlock Holmes (1968), and The Masks of Death (1984).

Like with many other BBC broadcasts, some of the episodes featuring his legendary performance were misplaced until they were rediscovered in 2020. Many people view Cushing’s portrayal of Holmes as having the necessary classical ambience. The fact that The Hound of the Baskervilles was the first Sherlock Holmes film to be produced in colour is also important.

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In Guy Ritchie’s 2009 historical thriller Sherlock Holmes, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law co-star as Holmes and Dr. Watson and battle an enormous peril that puts all of England in risk. Ritchie provided Downey with fantastic direction as he used his wit, which we frequently saw in the MCU, to give the well-known character his own unique glitter. Several have suggested that due of Downey’s undeniable charisma, his portrayal of Sherlock is rather extroverted.

There is no denying that Holmes continues to isolate himself and only genuinely confides in Watson. The second Sherlock Holmes film, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, was released in 2011, and fans are eagerly anticipating the third one. For this role, Downey won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical.

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1954’s Sherlock Holmes features Ronald Howard in the title role and is the first American television adaptation of the legendary British detective. Ronald Howard chose to give the character a more relaxed, disciplined quality as opposed to Basil Rathbone’s high-strung iteration in the Hollywood films. The programme drew inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, which was the book that originally introduced the renowned detective to the globe, and set out to give audiences with a more sincere and modern version of Holmes.

Up until 2012’s Elementary, this 39-episode television series was the only one airing in the United States that was based on a classic novel. Howard’s debut as the legendary detective was favourably received, and his likeable, ambitious portrayal of Sherlock Holmes paved the way for subsequent episodes.

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In a run of Soviet television movies called Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, actor Vasily Livanov portrayed a classy, British-looking version of the legendary detective. Livanov was awarded honorary membership in the Order of the British Empire for his performance, which was remarkably true to the original story, and his contributions to the theatre and the arts. Moreover, the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, which is located on Baker Street, has a wax monument of the actor with the designation 221B on display.

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Around 75 actors have portrayed Sherlock Holmes in movies and on television, ranging from Jeremy Brett, the classic Holmes, to Benedict Cumberbatch, the beloved investigator of the twenty-first century. Of course, there are a lot of novel ways to approach the traditional detective. One of them is a female-driven Japanese rendition of a Sir Conan Doyle story.

Miss Sherlock, which stars Japanese actress Shihori Kanjiya as Dr. Wato Tachibana, follows brilliant investigator Sara “Sherlock” Shelly Futaba as she solves crimes in contemporary Tokyo with the help of her best friend, Sara “Sherlock” Shelly Futaba. Any fan of detective fiction should see Miss Sherlock, the first major series to cast a woman to play Sherlock Holmes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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