In Enola Holmes 2, Sharon Duncan-Brewster’s seemingly unassuming Mira Troy was revealed to be the franchise’s version of the legendary Professor Moriarty. In Enola Holmes 3, she returns with a far meatier role. The latest instalment sees Moriarty adopt a new identity while orchestrating an elaborate game of revenge, giving Duncan-Brewster ample room to explore the character’s intelligence, menace and physicality.
Speaking to Filmfare, the actress opened up about stepping into one of fiction’s most iconic villainous roles, working alongside Henry Cavill and Millie Bobby Brown, and the surprising reactions her darker turn has received.
Over the years, Professor Moriarty has largely been portrayed by male actors. For Duncan-Brewster, however, the appeal of the role has never been about breaking tradition. Instead, it’s about inhabiting a richly layered character.
“There’s freedom. People ask me what it means to play a character who was originally written as a man. And I always say I’ll happily jump into any role and do it to the best of my ability. The important thing we should remember about Moriarty is the complexity of her nature. I’ve played male characters in the past, and for me, they’re simply well-written characters. Unfortunately, with many classic stories, most of the great roles were originally written for men.”
She continued, “But with the adaptation that Jack Thorne has written for us, we’ve taken Moriarty and started exploring very different shades and energies that she holds. To play a character who is intelligent, witty, charismatic and charming, but also physically adept, is just a blessing. I’d happily play Moriarty till the cows come home. And every morning when I got up to go to work, I was so happy because I felt physically challenged. I was stepping up my game, training two or three times a week and looking at every possible way to get as physically ready as I could.”
One of literature’s greatest rivalries has always been Sherlock Holmes versus Moriarty. While Enola Holmes naturally shifts the spotlight towards Enola, Duncan-Brewster still found herself sharing scenes with both Henry Cavill and Millie Bobby Brown, each bringing a distinctly different energy to the set.
“Henry and Millie are very different human beings. Henry is focused. He’s a consummate professional in the sense that he’s completely hyper-vigilant about every aspect of his choices. And Millie is quite playful. She’s a jovial, joyous person to be on set with. But the two of them approach things from very different places. It’s almost like the characters they’re playing. You have the older brother, Sherlock, who’s quite collected, and then you have Enola, his younger sister, who brings this younger energy.”
The actress added, “You definitely see that dynamic in some ways on set. What I love about both of them is that they’re completely reactive. They like to play with whatever you give them as well. So it’s always a joy to have scenes with them, for sure.” Although audiences first met Moriarty in the previous film, Duncan-Brewster says the third instalment reveals a far darker side of the character.
“One unexpected reaction from people is how scary Moriarty can be. People are quite surprised. I’m a pretty easygoing human being, so when they see how dark it gets in some of the scenes towards the end of the film, they’re quite taken aback. But they’ve also come back with some really complimentary responses. So I feel like I’m doing my job properly, and that’s a good thing.”
Enola Holmes 3 is currently streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: Enola Holmes 3 Review: Holmes but Not Alone
