Millie Bobby Brown’s Enola Holmes (Photo Credit – Instagram)
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Back in the saddle as Enola Holmes, Millie Bobby Brown returned to Netflix’s Enola Holmes 2 (2022) with her signature sass and sharp wit. She wasn’t just the young detective on the screen but also making moves behind the scenes as a producer—a severe power play for the Stranger Things star born in 2004. And with Enola Holmes being based on a seven-book series by Nancy Springer, it looked like Millie’s detective days might be far from over.
The spark for Enola Holmes didn’t just come from a casting director’s vision—Millie’s older sister, Paige, initially got hooked on the books. Envisioning Millie in the lead role, Paige’s excitement rubbed off. “When Paige is excited about something, it gets me immediately excited,” Millie told The Los Angeles Times. Millie dove headfirst into the character, thrilled by the stunts, costumes, and Victorian period. She admired Enola’s mix of bravery and vulnerability—a combination that Millie poured into her performance.
And speaking of stunts, Millie was all in. “For Eleven [in Stranger Things], I don’t have many stunts,” she said. “But for Enola Holmes, I did the most stunt work I’ve ever done.” But don’t be fooled—Millie’s no gym rat. She’s more about training specifically for roles, turning her lack of athleticism into a hidden strength when it matters most.
The on-screen sibling chemistry between Millie’s Enola and Henry Cavill’s Sherlock wasn’t just acting. According to Cavill, their dynamic mimicked a real older brother-younger sister vibe, a whole of playful teasing. He even admitted there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes fun that neither holds back. When asked if Millie ever made him cry, Cavill laughed it off, saying, “Not that I’m willing to admit or that anyone has ever seen.”
Director Harry Bradbeer let Millie’s creativity fly, encouraging the cast to infuse their personalities into the characters. Bradbeer described moments when Millie improvised on set, much to the frustration of the focus puller trying to keep up with her. “She’s like a gazelle, Harry,” he said, hinting at Millie’s knack for adding unexpected layers to Enola.
However, only some things about Enola Holmes went smoothly. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate wasn’t thrilled with how the film portrayed a more emotional, humane Sherlock. They filed a lawsuit against the creators, citing copyright infringement on Holmes’ later character traits.
Millie’s journey to mastering Enola’s accent was a quirky twist. Born in Spain, raised in the UK, and then transplanted to Orlando, Florida, Millie honed her American accent by watching Disney Channel shows. Switching back to British for Enola was a mix of challenge and delight, as she found the sweet spot between posh and relatable. “I didn’t want her to be like, ‘Innit? Yeah?'” she explained. Once she nailed words like privacy and advertisements, she was unstoppable.
Enola Holmes even entered Millie’s home in a way fans might not expect—Dash, a cherished piece from the set, found a permanent spot in her life. And if you’re wondering who Dash is, it’s time to stream Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2 to find out.
When asked if she’d make a good detective in real life, Millie didn’t miss a beat: “One hundred percent. I’m good at getting into people,” she quipped.
And for a throwback, who could forget when President Obama met the Stranger Things cast at the White House? Millie described the surreal moment of entering the Oval Office and standing before the President, admitting she was nearly in tears from the overwhelming experience.
With each new role, Millie Bobby Brown showcases her versatility and talent, establishing herself as a formidable presence in Hollywood beyond her character as a young detective.
