Actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin was instructed to avoid gym workouts while preparing for his role as Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie’s new series, Young Sherlock, which debuted on Prime Video. Instead of lifting weights, Fiennes Tiffin maintained his fitness by playing football and golf, aligning with the physical portrayal envisioned for the young detective.
The 28-year-old, recognized for portraying Hardin Scott in the After film series, took on the challenge of playing a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes. Speaking at a screening event in New York City, he explained how producers preferred a leaner frame to capture the character’s agility rather than a bulky look.
Physical Preparation and Performing Stunts on Set
Fiennes Tiffin described the physical preparation process as straightforward, noting,
“There’s a lot of physical activity that I was excited to get into, but in terms of like frame physically, it wasn’t like a massive transformation,”
before adding,
“If anything, they said stop going to the gym. And it’s really easy to stop going to the gym when your employer tells you to, surprisingly easy.”
Instead of gym workouts, the actor stayed active by engaging in soccer and golf, sports he enjoys outside of filming.
Throughout 2023 and 2025, he participated in matches with his favorite soccer team, West Ham, in The Soccer Tournament (TST), and competed in a celebrity golf event, the BMW Pro-Am, held at Wentworth in September 2025.
While he did minimal formal training prior to shooting, Fiennes Tiffin eagerly embraced the physical demands of playing the constantly moving Sherlock. He performed many of his own stunts and credited the stunt team for their expertise.
“We’re really lucky to have a great stunt team, and I kind of did as much of it as I was allowed to, but every now and then when you get to the big boy stuff, you got to let the stunties take over,”
he said. He further explained,
“As much as I love to do it, there comes a point where Guy said, ‘Listen, these guys are the trained professionals. They’re going to make you look better. You got to let him do it.’ So I did as much as I was allowed.”
Working with Family and Portraying Complex Relationships
This series marks Fiennes Tiffin’s first lead television role and also his initial collaboration with his uncle Joseph Fiennes, who plays Silas Holmes, the father of Sherlock Holmes, in the series. Joseph Fiennes, known for performances in The Handmaid’s Tale and Shakespeare in Love, brought an added layer of real-life family dynamics to their on-screen relationship.
The younger actor admitted feeling nervous about acting opposite his uncle during their scenes together.
“There’s a parallel with the characters where it’s kind of okay, for me [to be nervous around Joseph]. Even if it seeps into the performance a bit, it kind of works — Sherlock may be feeling the pressure in some of those scenes with his dad,”
he revealed during a prior interview.
A Lifelong Connection to the Sherlock Holmes Legacy
Growing up in London, Fiennes Tiffin has long admired the Sherlock Holmes stories, making the role a dream come true. Reflecting on the experience, he described it as surreal, stating,
“Like I want to drag this interview out and not leave this carpet because I just want to soak it up.”
His respect for the character created some pressure, as any fan of the franchise might expect.
“I won’t lie, I felt the pressure,”
he admitted.
“As a fan, I’d be ready to criticize anyone who brings the role to life and, you know, have expectations and stuff. So yeah, a little bit of nerves, but [it’s] just excitement and honor and a privilege.”
The Series Availability and Impact
Young Sherlock is now available to stream in full on Prime Video. With Fiennes Tiffin taking on such an iconic character and performing many of his own stunts, the show offers a fresh and physically dynamic take on Sherlock Holmes’ early years. His collaboration with Guy Ritchie and family ties to Joseph Fiennes provide an added layer of interest, potentially appealing to fans of both classic detective stories and action-driven drama.
