Who Stars In Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Origin Story

Young Sherlock pulls together an incredible cast of talented actors to bring the Sherlock Holmes origin story to life. From creator and director Guy Ritchie, this period drama follows the world’s greatest detective years before he earned that title and recognition. However, a youthful Sherlock still manages to convey impressive skills of deduction while sharpening his ability to solve mysteries.

The show kicks off with Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft, pulling strings to get his brother out of prison, before sharing the good news that he has gotten him a place at Oxford. However, things don’t go exactly to plan, and Sherlock ends up uncovering a convoluted scheme where the crimes and motives don’t align. Thankfully, the entire cast displays spectacular skill in bringing the story to life and delivering a thrilling adventure from start to finish.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes

Date Of Birth: November 6, 1997

Actor: Hero Fiennes Tiffin was born in London, England. From a young age, Hero was immersed in the culture of filmmaking, thanks to his mother’s career as a director and his father’s career as a cinematographer. Hero is also the nephew of actors Ralph Fiennes and Joseph Fiennes. Despite his pedigree and his work in film and TV from a young age, Hero’s breakout role came much more recently, when he starred in the After series of films. Since then, he has proven his skills as a leading man and progressed to tackling increasingly complex roles.

Character: Hero Fiennes Tiffin plays Sherlock Holmes. While this is a wildly popular character who is immediately recognizable, the version in Young Sherlock is still developing his skills and finding what it is that he is passionate about. However, it seems clear that his intuition and ability to absorb information remain intact as the character displays extraordinary mental abilities even as a youth.

Dónal Finn as James Moriarty

Date Of Birth: August 31, 1995

Actor: Dónal Finn was born in County Cork, Ireland. Dónal studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before landing roles in TV and film. His breakout role came when he replaced Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon in the Prime Video series, The Wheel of Time, from the second season of the show onward. He has also played significant roles in West End stage productions, such as the role of Orpheus in Hadestown.

Character: Dónal Finn plays James Moriarty in Young Sherlock. While Moriarty is often depicted as Holmes’ greatest rival, and the only person that comes close to being a peer in terms of intelligence, Young Sherlock sees the pair initially engage in a much more friendly relationship. There is a mutual respect and admiration, though it appears that Moriarty’s morality is already diverging from that of his new friend.

Max Irons as Mycroft Holmes

Date Of Birth: October 17, 1985

Actor: Max Irons was born in London, England. Max is the son of Irish actress Sinéad Cusack and English actor Jeremy Irons. However, it appears that Irons did not take to acting until he was nearly in his 20s. Since then, he has appeared in several films and shows, with his breakout role playing Henry Lazar in Red Riding Hood in 2011.

Character: Max Irons plays Mycroft Holmes in Young Sherlock. Mycroft is the older brother of Sherlock who is often forced to intercede for his brother. While he may not yet be a high authority within the British governing body that he is destined to become, he is clearly building connections and gaining respect among the upper class.

Natascha McElhone as Cordelia Holmes

Date Of Birth: December 14, 1969

Actor: Natascha McElhone was born in Surrey, England. She is also an alumnus of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and has established herself as a performer both in the UK and in the US. McElhone’s breakout role came in 1996, when she played Françoise Gilot in Surviving Picasso, and shortly thereafter, playing opposite Jim Carrey in The Truman Show in 1998.

Character: Natascha McElhone plays Cordelia Holmes, the mother of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. In the classic Arthur Conan Doyle stories, Sherlock’s parents are never explicitly named or even referenced, which means this character is largely up to interpretation. However, it is interesting to see how Sherlock’s mother may shape him into the man that will one day be the world’s greatest detective.

Joseph Fiennes as Silas Holmes

Date Of Birth: May 27, 1970

Actor: Joseph Fiennes was born in Salisbury, England. Fiennes comes from a family of artists, with many of his siblings establishing prominent careers in the world of film and television. Fiennes refined his acting skills by performing on stage across the UK, and has developed a reputation as a go-to actor for classic British characters. His breakout screen role came when he played Will Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love.

Character: Joseph Fiennes plays Silas Holmes, the father of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock. Like Cordelia, the source material for Silas is non-existent, so it appears that Guy Ritchie and his team have free rein to create and shape the character as fits their narrative.

Zine Tseng as Princess Gulun Shou’an

Date Of Birth: Unknown

Actor: Zine Tseng was born in Tamsui District, Taiwan. Tseng moved from her home to the United States to pursue a career in acting, and studied at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. Since then, she has taken on only a handful of roles, but she has made an impression with her standout performances. Namely, for her prominent role in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem as the young astrophysicist Ye Wenjie.

Character: Zine Tseng plays Princess Gulun Shou’an in Young Sherlock. Not much is known about the character, but it appears that they are tied to the mysterious goings on around Oxford in the show.

Young Sherlock Supporting Cast & Characters

Colin Firth as Bucephalus Hodge: Colin Firth is a popular actor from the UK who has played a leading man in several major films, such as the Kingsman franchise and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Firth plays Bucephalus Hodge in Young Sherlock, a notable figure at Oxford University who takes an interest in Sherlock Holmes.

Scott Reid as Constable Lestrade: Scott Reid has progressively become a more recognizable figure on British TV, with his appearance in Young Sherlock potentially marking his most notable role to date. Reid plays Constable Lestrade, early in his career as a lowly officer who is hungry for advancement within the service.

Numan Acar as Esad Kasgarli: Numan Acar is a prominent Turkish actor who has had prominent roles in films like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Aladdin, and in TV shows like Homeland. Not much is known about his character in Young Sherlock, Esad Kasgarli.

Ravi Aujla as Kishore Malik: Ravi Aujla is an established actor who has had prominent roles in a wide range of projects from House of the Dragon, to Slow Horses. Aujla plays Kishore Malik, who is a professor at Oxford in Young Sherlock.