INTERVIEW: Robert Downey Jr. On Becoming Misses Holmes For Sherlock Holmes Sequel

15 December 2011

Robert Downey Jr. goes undercover as a woman in SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, but the star says his turn as a misses was a far cry from something out of Some Like It Hot and more of looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger's dwarf brother or The Cure's Robert Smith.

At a recent press conference with the stars and filmmakers behind SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, Robert Downey Jr. joked about his transformation into a woman for his return as Sherlock Holmes  in the Guy Ritchie action adventure comedy also returning co-star Jude Law as Dr. Watson.  In A GAME OF SHADOWS, Sherlock faces a new adversary with Professor James Moriarity (Jared Harris) who is out to alter the course of history.  When Professor Moriarity threatens his friend and newlywed Dr. Watson, Holmes boards a train incognito with his frilly  dress, bonnet, and some badly applied lipstick and eyeshadow.  

While on set of SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, Susan Downey, Robert Downey Jr's wife and producer of both Sherlock Holmes movies, told Robert his turn as a lady reminded her of Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon's Some Like It Hot drag, but the two-time Academy Award nominee disagreed

"I thought I looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s dwarf brother. That’s what I thought I looked like. And the lead singer from The Cure. Robert Smith, sorry. I should know that. It’s embarrassing."

Interestingly, many viewers thought Holmes' smeared red lipstick reminded them of Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight movie. Whatever the comparison, Downey changed the subject at the press conference quickly not because he was embarrassed about wearing make-up for the movie, but more so about not remembering Robert Smith's name.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS opens in movie theatres nationwide on December 16, 2011.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHO DOES HE LOOK LIKE TO YOU?