Seven years have passed since Millie Bobby Brown first brought Enola Holmes to life on screen. The young actress was just 15 then, a child star already famous for her telekinetic role in Stranger Things. Now, at 22, she returns to the role as a mother, a wife, and a producer. The transformation is profound, and Brown is candid about the lessons she has learned along the way.
If she could speak to her teenage self, Brown says the advice would be simple: “Don’t go online. Just don’t do it.” The internet trolls that plagued her early career are not something her Victorian-era detective hero has to contend with. Instead, Enola deals with murder, intrigue, and the complexities of adulthood.
A Darker, More Mature Sequel
Now streaming on Netflix, Enola Holmes 3 picks up with the brilliant young detective preparing to marry her longtime beau, Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), in a seaside ceremony in Malta. But the wedding bells are silenced when Enola discovers that her brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) has been kidnapped. The plot takes a more serious turn, exploring themes of loss, identity, and justice.
Director Philip Barantini, known for intense dramas like Adolescence and Boiling Point, took over the franchise from Harry Bradbeer. Barantini initially thought the call was for something darker, like Dune 3, but he was intrigued by the script. “Jack Thorne made it a whole lot darker, a lot more grown up,” he says. “Millie is a grown woman now, so I thought, if I can bring a bit of my own flavour to the franchise, I’d love to give it a shot.”
A Personal Touch
The third film also deepens the romance between Enola and Tewkesbury. One particularly tender scene involves Tewkesbury braiding Enola’s hair before a late-night swim. Brown reveals that the moment was her idea, inspired by her real-life marriage to Jake Bongiovi. “My husband, at night, he braids my hair, and I think it is the most adorable, loving thing,” she says. “I’m obsessed with the fact that he does that for me.” Partridge admits he had to learn the braid in just two minutes, but the result is a heartfelt gesture that resonates with audiences.
The chemistry between the two leads is effortless, built on years of friendship and mutual trust. Partridge describes their working relationship as “anything goes.” Brown agrees, noting that filming romantic scenes with a stranger would be terrifying, but with Partridge it is easy.
Tackling Colonial History
Enola Holmes 3 is not afraid to address serious social issues. The film’s setting in Malta allows the story to explore Britain’s colonial past, a subject that Enola examines with her characteristic intelligence. This aligns with the franchise’s tradition of using historical issues to comment on modern society. The first film looked at vote reform; the second at workers’ rights and female-led trade unions.
The character of Moriarty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) is given a sympathetic backstory, highlighting the hypocrisy of the British Empire and the treatment of Black women. Duncan-Brewster says, “Moriarty comes with a mission to call out what isn’t fair. There’s no secret as to the colonial history of Great Britain, and I get to approach elements of conversations that a lot of people are scared to have. Stuff needs to be said and we need to talk about it.”
Himesh Patel, who plays Dr Watson, admires how the films weave social commentary into family entertainment. “The films are trying to say something about the modern world through the lens of historical issues, and I think that’s something to be admired,” he says.
Millie Bobby Brown: From Child Star to Producer
Brown’s evolution extends beyond the screen. She conceived the Enola Holmes franchise herself, pitching the idea to Netflix after reading the books as a teenager. Now she serves as a producer, overseeing everything from script changes to cast interactions. Before filming began, she hosted dinner and games nights at her home to build camaraderie among the cast.
Co-stars speak of her maturity and focus. Duncan-Brewster recalls, “I was in admiration of this young being who was just manoeuvring around this busy world, making all of these decisions. But she’s grown up and matured in the industry; she has a better understanding of it than actors who are three, four times her age.” Patel adds, “I do often forget how young she is because she’s got a sort of maturity beyond her years.”
Brown has learned to delegate, but she remains hands-on. “She’s hyper-focused and vocal, she means business!” says Duncan-Brewster. The confidence she now exudes did not come easily. For years, Brown felt underestimated by the public and the industry. She says, “I constantly felt underestimated by everyone. And for so long I was trying to prove everyone wrong, but I’ve come to the realisation, after having my daughter, that I don’t actually care.”
This realization has been transformative. “I cared for a really long time, but I don’t any more! And I don’t underestimate myself any more, and that’s really the most important lesson I’ve learnt. As a girl, that’s the reason I felt so passionate about Enola Holmes, because I want girls to see her on screen, and feel with her, and be her. In many ways, I did this for my daughter.”
Enola Holmes 3 is now streaming on Netflix, a testament to the growth of its star and the enduring appeal of a clever young detective finding her place in a changing world.
Source: MSN News