Robert Downey Jr. Explains His 'Sherlock Holmes' Accent Training on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' (Video)
The actor also talked about the Holmes expert they had on set to keep the Warner Bros. film true to the books.
Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the detective Sherlock Holmes for the upcoming Warner Bros. film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
The Iron Man actor sat down on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday to talk about the action-adventure film.
Kimmel praised the actor’s English accent in the film, which he called “perfect.” Kimmel asked him how he perfected the accent and if he used it even while the cameras weren’t rolling on set.
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“I am not a method actor. I am a lazy person,” joked Downey who added that he did not use the accent when he wasn’t filming. Downey added that he has a good dialect coach who helped him with his accent.
“The main reason I became fairly good at dialects is what you said – I don’t want to be ridiculed,” said Downey. He then shows off a little bit of his English accent work.
Downey and Kimmel also talked about how the films, which are directed by Guy Ritchie, stay true to the books.
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“It turns out the quintessential Sherlock Holmes expert is a tax lawyer who lives in Malibu,” said Downey.
Downey said this expert was upset when Downey called Watson (Jude Law) but his first name, John, in the film. He told Downey that Holmes would “only call him Watson or Mr. Watson.”
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows opens on Friday, Dec. 16.
Watch Downey on Jimmy Kimmel Live! below:
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