Young Sherlock star Hero Fiennes Tiffin: “I’m not going to get a ‘nepo baby’ tattoo, or put it in my bio!”

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The newest Sherlock Holmes series is taking a surprising approach. Forget the classic deerstalker hat and pipe! In one scene, Holmes is disguised as a Victorian-era laundry worker while his enemy, James Moriarty, orchestrates a dramatic prison break – complete with plenty of fighting and bold action.

This film tells the story of how the famous detective first began his career, directed by Guy Ritchie. It shows him as a young, inexperienced man, before he honed his skills and became known for his iconic look.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin, the star of Young Sherlock, describes the show as an origin story. Viewers will meet Sherlock Holmes long before he becomes the famous detective everyone knows. He’s incredibly smart, but still developing his skills, and is full of energy and enthusiasm. The show explores the experiences that will eventually lead to his more reserved and troubled personality, including hints at the origins of his struggles with addiction, which were a daring choice in the original stories. The actors and writers aimed to shed light on what shaped him into the character fans recognize.

The eight-episode series includes familiar elements from Sherlock Holmes stories – like when the main character says his famous line, “The game is afoot” – which were especially exciting for actor Fiennes Tiffin, a big fan of the BBC’s Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch, having watched all four seasons three times.

He explains that iconic elements like the deerstalker hat, pipe, and trench coat are important parts of the character that they’re revealing gradually. They don’t want to show everything at once, preferring to build the character’s personality over time.

The story starts with a young Sherlock Holmes struggling to find his direction, frequently getting into trouble with the law. To help him turn his life around, his brother Mycroft arranges for him to work at Oxford University – not as a student, but as a staff member responsible for cleaning and serving.

While studying at Oxford, Holmes meets Moriarty (Dónal Finn). Though known as Holmes’s future enemy in the stories, they’re portrayed as friends in this series, working together to investigate a Holmes family mystery – his very first case. The result is a classic Ritchie production: a vibrant blend of historical setting, modern energy, exciting action, and clever conversations.

As a total cinema fan, I loved hearing about the approach to the costumes and style in this new take on Sherlock Holmes. Apparently, they weren’t aiming for strict historical accuracy. The actors wear what looks like period clothing at first, but if you pay attention, it’s actually high-end designer stuff – Ralph Lauren, specifically! They weren’t going for someone as overtly flashy as Brad Pitt in ‘Snatch,’ but the director, Guy Ritchie, really pushed them to be effortlessly cool. His main direction, apparently, was just, ‘Be cool. Be cooler!’

Moriarty and Holmes learn from each other: Moriarty trains Holmes in combat, and Holmes, in turn, reveals his technique of mentally reconstructing crime scenes to notice even the smallest clues – his famous “mind palace.” It’s fascinating to watch them interact, knowing they’re destined to become bitter rivals.

Fiennes Tiffin describes the characters as competitive rivals, always trying to outdo each other. They can’t stand to be just acquaintances; it’s either a close friendship or a fierce rivalry. Both characters are ambitious and a little self-centered, which drives them to constantly challenge and improve. Tiffin compares their dynamic to legendary footballers like Ronaldo and Messi, who push each other to reach new heights, or the excitement of a local derby – the most thrilling games are always against your biggest rivals.

Currently, the show focuses on solving a major mystery: the death of Sherlock Holmes’s sister. This event caused his mother, Cordelia (Natascha McElhone), to be institutionalized, his father, Silas (Joseph Fiennes), to work overseas, and led to Holmes being sent away to boarding school. This project is also the first time actor Fiennes Tiffin—whose parents are writer-director Martha Fiennes and filmmaker George Tiffin—has worked with his uncle, Joseph Fiennes.

Tiffin explains that he’d been working on the show for months when Joe joined the cast. He describes feeling insecure at the beginning, then gaining confidence, but that all changed when Joe arrived. He felt he needed to impress Joe and prove his acting ability, but those feelings didn’t last long.

When asked about the advantages he’s had due to his family connections – including his uncle Ralph Fiennes – Tiffin is open about the topic of nepotism. He acknowledges he likely wouldn’t be where he is today without their support, but he doesn’t want to be defined by it. He jokes that he won’t be getting a tattoo or adding a label to his biography identifying him as a ‘nepo baby’.

I’m grateful for the opportunity I was given, and I believe my work has shown that I’m capable and deserving of my position. I’m comfortable discussing my accomplishments and value.

He didn’t initially want to be an actor, but his mother recognized his talent and encouraged him to try it. He admits it’s common to rebel against your parents’ suggestions and forge your own path. His mother cleverly balanced his interests, saying something like, ‘I know you want to play football, but quickly do this audition and I’ll help you.’ He bought a West Ham jersey with his name on it with his first paycheck, realizing acting wasn’t so bad after all. His passion for acting has grown over time, and he’s incredibly thankful for his mother’s support and where it’s led him.

Authors

Emma Cox

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2026-02-23 20:43