Sherlock Holmes says that once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains—however improbable—is the truth. So here are some improbable truths about Jonny Lee Miller, the British actor who plays Holmes—a modern, rehabbed version of him—on the hit CBS series Elementary. Miller has starred in everything from Hackers to Trainspotting to Dark Shadows, but he’s only 40 years old. He’s classically trained for theater, but also trained to race to the South Pole. He’s a ladies’ man-turned-family man with a wife and 4-year-old son. Oh, and somehow his unlikely Sherlock—with Lucy Liu as his partner in crime-solving Watson— might just be the most convincing one yet. Elementary? Hardly!
Watch!: Good day to you, sir. Was it fun to come back to the motherland and do a shoot like this?
Jonny Lee Miller: It’s really nice. You don’t get the chance to see your extended family a lot doing a network show, especially when you live in another country, so it’s been fantastic.
Watch!: Let’s talk a little about what drew you to this unorthodox version of Sherlock Holmes.
Jonny: There have been hundreds of incarnations over the years, but because of the high-profi le ones recently, it didn’t seem like a good idea at all. I initially said no to the project.
Watch!: Really?
Jonny: I think Lucy did the same thing. But I came to my senses! I read the script and thought it was very interesting, different and strong enough that we could do something different with it. [Laughs.] Also, they don’t come knocking on your door every day offering you a lead on a show, so the initial skepticism evaporated pretty quickly. And fortunately they hadn’t gone out to anyone else at that stage.
Watch!: Did your buddy Jude Law—the big-screen Watson to Robert Downey Jr.’s Holmes—give you any advice?
Jonny: He was thrilled about it, actually. He’s a very excitable guy! He’s not a precious guy, do you know what I mean? I think he also got a kick out of being compared to Lucy Liu.
Watch!: How’d you prep for the role?
Jonny: The only thing you can really do is read the books, and they were a real revelation. I guess in my general state of ignorance—which is what I tend to operate at—I hadn’t read them before and they’re wonderful. It’s quite shocking how much drug use there is! It wasn’t really the social problem back then that it is now. He finishes one of the early novels with, “Oh, well, Watson—there’s always the cocaine bottle.” It’s the last line! And you’re just like, “Really?” [Laughs.]
Watch!: Since this is a darker take on Holmes, did you fi nd yourself drawing on whatever darkness you could from your own life? Jonny: You’re trying to bring the darker side of yourself into it, but you can’t do it without good writing, good situations and good characters. I really liked the fact that you see Sherlock struggle—not necessarily in his recovery but also in relationships—and, in particular, his relationship with Watson.
Watch!: Are you hoping they add the word “sexual” to the tension between Holmes and Watson?
Jonny: None of us are! It’s not what you want from your Holmes/Watson experience. Some things have to remain sacred.
Watch!: So no Holmes-on-Watson action?
Jonny: I mean, let’s face it, it would be a different show. The tension comes from other aspects, and there’s room for a lot of antagonisms with the sober companion thing. Them hooking up would just be weird. [Laughs.] Talk to me later, though, because we’re only in Season 1.
Watch!: Was there chemistry from the fi rst moment you met Lucy?
Jonny: She’s extremely cool and we have a similar work ethic, and if Lucy doesn’t think something’s right, she’s vocal about it. All those things I really like. But people either work well together or they don’t. It’s pretty nerve-racking. You’re like, "Hey, hi there, let’s see if this works out for the next, uh, five years…"
Watch!: Good day to you, sir. Was it fun to come back to the motherland and do a shoot like this?
Jonny Lee Miller: It’s really nice. You don’t get the chance to see your extended family a lot doing a network show, especially when you live in another country, so it’s been fantastic.
Watch!: Let’s talk a little about what drew you to this unorthodox version of Sherlock Holmes.
Jonny: There have been hundreds of incarnations over the years, but because of the high-profi le ones recently, it didn’t seem like a good idea at all. I initially said no to the project.
Watch!: Really?
Jonny: I think Lucy did the same thing. But I came to my senses! I read the script and thought it was very interesting, different and strong enough that we could do something different with it. [Laughs.] Also, they don’t come knocking on your door every day offering you a lead on a show, so the initial skepticism evaporated pretty quickly. And fortunately they hadn’t gone out to anyone else at that stage.
Watch!: Did your buddy Jude Law—the big-screen Watson to Robert Downey Jr.’s Holmes—give you any advice?
Jonny: He was thrilled about it, actually. He’s a very excitable guy! He’s not a precious guy, do you know what I mean? I think he also got a kick out of being compared to Lucy Liu.
Watch!: How’d you prep for the role?
Jonny: The only thing you can really do is read the books, and they were a real revelation. I guess in my general state of ignorance—which is what I tend to operate at—I hadn’t read them before and they’re wonderful. It’s quite shocking how much drug use there is! It wasn’t really the social problem back then that it is now. He finishes one of the early novels with, “Oh, well, Watson—there’s always the cocaine bottle.” It’s the last line! And you’re just like, “Really?” [Laughs.]
Watch!: Since this is a darker take on Holmes, did you fi nd yourself drawing on whatever darkness you could from your own life? Jonny: You’re trying to bring the darker side of yourself into it, but you can’t do it without good writing, good situations and good characters. I really liked the fact that you see Sherlock struggle—not necessarily in his recovery but also in relationships—and, in particular, his relationship with Watson.
Watch!: Are you hoping they add the word “sexual” to the tension between Holmes and Watson?
Jonny: None of us are! It’s not what you want from your Holmes/Watson experience. Some things have to remain sacred.
Watch!: So no Holmes-on-Watson action?
Jonny: I mean, let’s face it, it would be a different show. The tension comes from other aspects, and there’s room for a lot of antagonisms with the sober companion thing. Them hooking up would just be weird. [Laughs.] Talk to me later, though, because we’re only in Season 1.
Watch!: Was there chemistry from the fi rst moment you met Lucy?
Jonny: She’s extremely cool and we have a similar work ethic, and if Lucy doesn’t think something’s right, she’s vocal about it. All those things I really like. But people either work well together or they don’t. It’s pretty nerve-racking. You’re like, "Hey, hi there, let’s see if this works out for the next, uh, five years…"
