Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has described Sherlock Holmes as "sociopathic".
Cumberbatch explained to Hero Complex that Holmes is unlike many other fictional heroes because he doesn't purposefully rely on personal charm to crack cases.
"If he's charismatic, it's an accident of who he is. He's an odd entity," the Sherlock actor commented to the newspaper.
He added of Holmes: "He's sociopathic and there is a vicarious thrill you get watching someone who carves his way through bureaucracy and mediocrity like a hot knife through butter."
Cumberbatch also discussed his approach to playing such an iconic literary character.
"I view it like any of the classical characters in the canon of Shakespeare or Chekhov, there will always be new interpretations," the star noted.
"I think Holmes is the fictional character who has been [in screen incarnations] the most. I'm 76th or something? People compare you to others and that's fine, I can deal with that."
Cumberbatch has revealed that he has no ill feelings about Elementary, the new US series which also places Holmes in a modern setting.
