Profiles In Creativity: Jeremy Brett

Jeremy Brett: Sherlock Holmes and the Hidden Cost of Genius

Jeremy Brett, widely acclaimed as the definitive on-screen Sherlock Holmes, brought an unmatched intensity and psychological depth to the role. Behind the camera, however, Brett was navigating a private battle with bipolar disorder, a condition he was diagnosed with in the 1980s. The emotional demands of portraying such a cerebral and emotionally constrained character placed tremendous strain on his mental health. Brett described the role as “devouring” him, noting, “Holmes is not a man you can play for long without becoming him in some way”¹. His obsession with accuracy—down to Holmes’s physical mannerisms, vocal tone, and mental acuity—often blurred the line between performance and identity.

Following the death of his second wife, producer Joan Wilson, in 1985, Brett’s health declined further. He experienced several hospitalizations, periods of depression, and the side effects of lithium therapy, including fluid retention and tremors². Despite these challenges, he continued portraying Holmes in the Granada Television series, which ran from 1984 to 1994. His performance remains definitive—haunting, brilliant, and emotionally layered—reflecting both the genius of Holmes and the fragility of the actor who embodied him. Brett’s vulnerability off-screen infused his Holmes with a human dimension rarely seen in other portrayals.

Sources

Footnotes

1. PBS Mystery! Archives. “Jeremy Brett: Playing the Part of Sherlock Holmes.” PBS.org. Available at: https://www.pbs.org/mystery/sherlockholmes/brett.html ↩

2. Manners, Terry. The Man Who Became Sherlock Holmes: The Tortured Mind of Jeremy Brett. Virgin Books, 2001. ↩