Sherlock Holmes, the iconic detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has captivated audiences for over a century. Over the years, numerous actors have portrayed the great detective, each bringing their unique interpretation to the role.

Two notable portrayals of Sherlock Holmes have been by Robert Downey Jr. in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films and recently Henry Cavill in Netflix’s Enola Holmes franchise. While both actors have undoubtedly delivered compelling performances, there are distinct differences in their approaches to the character.

Portrayal of Sherlock Holmes By Two Great Actors: Who Did Better? 

Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Enola Holmes provided a fresh perspective on the legendary detective. Known for his versatile acting skills, Cavill’s Sherlock Holmes is depicted as a supporting character, offering a more subdued and mature persona in contrast to the action-oriented interpretation by Robert Downey Jr.

While both Cavill and Downey Jr. delivered compelling performances as Sherlock Holmes, their portrayals differ in several key aspects. Cavill’s Holmes is more reserved and introspective, while Downey’s is more outgoing and extroverted. Cavill’s Holmes is also more emotionally connected to his sister, Enola, while Downey’s is more independent and self-reliant.

Cavill’s Sherlock Holmes is presented as a supporting character in the Enola Holmes films, while Downey Jr.’s is the main protagonist of his own films. This distinction in character focus allows Downey Jr. to delve deeper into Sherlock’s psyche and motivations.

One of the primary reasons why Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes stands out is the depth and complexity he brought to the character. His portrayal delved into Holmes’ personal struggles, addictions, and emotional complexity, making the character more relatable and intriguing. Henry Cavill’s Holmes, on the other hand, remained relatively one-dimensional, focusing primarily on his intellectual abilities.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes was a unique and modern adaptation that reinvented the character for a new generation. In contrast, Enola Holmes aimed to stay more faithful to the source material and lacked the same degree of innovation and reimagining. While there is merit in a faithful adaptation, it did not capture the imagination and excitement that Downey Jr.’s Holmes did.

Both Henry Cavill and Robert Downey Jr. have delivered memorable portrayals of Sherlock Holmes, each with their own unique strengths and appeal.

What Henry Cavill Said on Playing Sherlock in Enola Holmes

Cavill’s Holmes is more vulnerable and emotionally complex than some other portrayals, particularly in his interactions with his younger sister, Enola.

In an interview with Radio Times, Cavill talked about how his version of Sherlock differs from previous takes on the character.

“Our Sherlock is different from what we may see as the traditional misogynistic genius. Enola softens Sherlock and opens up his heart, which we haven’t really had access to in other renditions.”

On Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Cavill explained:

“I got my hands on the script and read it and I realized that this is a Sherlock that exists within a universe where Enola exists, which allows for a very different iteration of the character. Because yes, his forward-facing self is still very similar to the character who we’ve seen played before, but when it comes to Enola there’s a special something. And then it made sense to me. I was like, ‘Oh OK, there is a hidden warmth to this character.’”

Directed by Harry Bradbeer, Enola Holmes features a lead cast of Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, Adeel Akhtar, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Louis Partridge, Burn Gorman, Susan Wokoma, with Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter.

Watch Enola Holmes on Netflix.