With Sherlock Holmes absent for much of Enola Holmes 3, the spotlight shifts to an unlikely but familiar ally: Dr John Watson. Played by Himesh Patel, the beloved literary character gets a fresh interpretation in the latest chapter of Netflix’s mystery franchise as he joins forces with Enola Holmes on a dangerous new case.
Patel spoke to Filmfare about collaborating with producer-star Millie Bobby Brown, finding his own take on the iconic detective’s trusted companion and why he’d love to work in India someday.
While Enola Holmes 3 reunites Himesh Patel with both Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill, the actor says he spent most of his time on set working alongside Brown. “Millie is such a great actress, which we already know, but it was great to watch her behind the scenes as a producer. Because these movies are very much her thing. It’s her franchise that she sort of made happen. She really cares about it and wants it to be the best thing it can be. And she really fosters a great environment. It’s fun. She cares about everyone having a good time and about it being the best that it can be,” Patel shared.
Dr Watson has been portrayed by several acclaimed actors over the years, including Jude Law and Martin Freeman. Rather than trying to emulate those performances, Patel focused on discovering what made this version of the iconic character unique.
He explained, “Part of that was built into the character as he’s written in this version of the story, which people will understand when they watch the film. It is a gift to be able to put your own spin on such an iconic character that’s been around for over 100 years. Part of you just has to sort of believe that something about you is just going to bring something different to it.”
The actor added, “Beyond that, it’s just finding it through different layers. I’m an actor. I really like costume. Costume informs a lot for me in terms of physicality, but it just does something in terms of bringing out a character. We had a wonderful costume designer on this film, Consolata Boyle, who’s done an incredible job. It was fun going through that process with her and trying on all the different suits and how they made me feel. We also had Dr Watson’s cane because, as fans of the books and stories know, he has an injury. That was a big thing for me, and I kept that with me throughout the day as much as I could.”
Patel’s portrayal of Watson also marks a notable departure from previous screen adaptations. In Enola Holmes 3, the character is reimagined as a British Indian man, with the film exploring aspects of his family history and his connection to colonial India as part of his backstory.
Born in England to parents of Gujarati Indian heritage and raised speaking Gujarati, Patel has often spoken about maintaining a strong connection with his Indian roots. Asked when Indian audiences might finally see him in an Indian production, the actor admitted it is something he is actively hoping for. “When the right thing comes along, I’d love to. I’ve never shot anything in India, so I would love to come out there and make something. There are a few things that I’m sort of attached to and working on at the moment where that could happen. But I hope the day comes, because I would love to,” he concluded.
Enola Holmes 3 is currently streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: Enola Holmes 3 Review: Holmes but Not Alone
