Stephen Fry on Robert Downey Jr's withering looks and playing his brother in Sherlock Holmes 2
Stephen Fry: I think what Robert gets across of Holmes is something of the sort of exquisite artistry of him. The humor, the physical courage and the impatience. I mean, you know, he is a man you want to please. You wouldn't want him to call you out for a fool. You know, you can do withering looks very quickly and well, Robert. But he's also likable and there's something of the pained romantic about him.
I jumped. I couldn't have jumped further, harder, faster, higher, when I was asked if I was interested in Mycroft. I thought it was a wonderful gig as you might say. I mean, a character I've always been fascinated by. He's been played wonderfully in the past, by actors like Christopher Lee and Charles Grey and many others. And there's a sort of heavy pomposity about him that, I'm honest, I know people see in me. And so I felt I was suitable. I can't claim to look much like Robert, if only. But people seem to accept it, that I'm the older brother. So I'm thrilled.
Interview with Stephen Fry for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
