As a young girl of barely 11 years, Sian Brooke remembers watching her first play — one that was mounted by the local community theatre in Lichfield, England — a life-defining moment of sorts, that led her into the world of theatre, followed by films.
Known for her role as Eurus Holmes (Sherlock’s sister), Brooke will next be seen in Mission Impossible 6. With plot and character details under wraps for now, she speaks of how her career has shaped up over the years and the impact of her role in BBC’s modern-day adaptation of Sherlock.
Under wraps
Brooke had already been a huge fan of the detective series, so when the part of the fourth season’s main antagonist, Eurus, was offered to her, she immediately said yes. The role begins with Brooke playing several characters along the sideline, eventually leading up to a big reveal at the end of the season’s finale.
Working with various disguises was a big part of her role, never fully letting the audience know they’ve seen her before. “That doesn’t happen every day. I got to exercise every acting muscle I have and it was enjoyable,” she says. Her character was kept classified till the big reveal premièred on BBC in January this year. “Various things were constructed to conceal me [from the public eye],” she says. “It was something that was quite top secret and even I didn’t know the full extent of the part.”
Brooke — who was a part of the Lichfield Youth Theatre, then joined the National Youth Theatre, and eventually graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art — maintains that she’s always strived for a varied career, and avoids being pigeon-holed. As an actor, she often relies on her gut instinct to choose projects. But it’s her fascination for people, to make a character believable, that drives her.
Open for anything
Brooke’s career is evidence then that she doesn’t distinguish between mediums (theatre, film or television) or even genres (comedy, crime, musicals). She’s most famous for her British roles on the thrillers The Moorside and Cape Wrath, and the comedy All About George. But she’s also performed on stage as Dorothy in the English adaptation of the Wizard of Oz and collaborated with Benedict Cumberbatch (before Sherlock) in Hamlet.
Currently at home with her two children, she is looking forward to her most high-profile performance, in the form of the latest Mission Impossible installment with Tom Cruise that will release next year. Also catch her in AMC’s upcoming show, The Terror (chronicling the Victorian era expedition to the Arctic) and the second series of BBC One’s drama, Doctor Foster (about a crumbling marriage).
Sherlock is currently airing on AXN India every Tuesday at 10 pm.