Holly Cattle
stars in
Amazon Prime
series
Young Sherlock
Photography Grace Hodgson
Creative Direction Deborah Ferguson
Interview by Deborah Ferguson
Holly steps into the spotlight as part of one of Amazon Prime Video’s most successful series, Young Sherlock, created by Guy Ritchie; a role defined by precision, mystery, and a quietly commanding presence. It’s a quality we experienced firsthand while working with her on the cover shoot for Contents Beauty, where her ability to shift between restraint and intensity felt entirely instinctive. With her performance anchored by a pivotal turn in the series, and with more to come as she joins the cast of Disney’s hit drama season 2 Rivals for its second season later this year, Holly is firmly establishing herself as one of the UK’s most compelling rising talents.
Dress, Earrings & Heels: Marine Serre
Vest & Jeans: Kenzo Paris
Young Sherlock introduces a darker, more psychologically charged world, what immediately drew you to this role?
The team behind it were a big part. I’ve grown up watching Guy’s films, so naturally an opportunity to be a part of that world was really exciting. Also, the audition scenes were so much fun. At the top, you meet the character masquerading as someone else entirely, and then she has this wonderful 180 moment where the mask slips and we see the darkness beneath. It’s really destabilising for the audience. Playing a character who functions in such an unpredictable manner meant there was so much freedom for interpretation and bold choices. Plus, it’s a really challenging role. And I like being pushed!
Your character feels both precise and elusive. How did you shape that balance between control and unpredictability?
The key was always in the little moments. I’d map out my scenes prior to the day, making sure while she remained in the periphery, if you looked closer or chose to rewind, the audience would notice she always has one eye on the action or is scribbling something down, but crucially, we never know what she’s writing or thinking or why she’s listening so intently. I worked a lot on physicality as well. I wanted all her movements to feel sharp and precise when we meet her, in a clinical “execute the job” way. Then when the veil falls and she steps into her wildly dark and unpredictable side, it’s like someone’s oiled her wheels. She moves from a different centre entirely. I also worked a lot with costume and makeup on this, so there are visual easter eggs to symbolise that change too.
Dress, Earrings & Heels: Marine Serre
Your role sits at the center of a major narrative shift. What excited you most about playing a character who reframes the story?
Oh, it’s so fun. You really feel the weight of every choice your character makes, so I had to be very methodical in my prep approach. Dramaturgically, it also means a lot of her scenes are infused with incredibly high stakes, which is a gift for any actor.
Guy Ritchie’s sets are famously fast and instinct driven how did that energy influence your performance?
We all just had to lock in and throw caution to the wind. It felt dangerous and exciting. Fresh lines right before takes meant none of us got it right all the time, and there’s definitely a lot of pressure, so it brought us all a lot closer. We shared lots of laughter watching each other navigate that dynamic and trying to ourselves. And the proof is in the pudding, I’d say! His method’s famous for a reason.
You share a layered on-screen relationship with Hero Fiennes Tiffin; what was key to building that connection?
Hero and I grew up in a similar part of the city, and although we’d not met before the chemistry read, there’s a fair amount of intersection between our lives. We know all the same areas and a fair few of the same friends, so forming a relationship off screen was very easy, and I think that translated to our work and character relationship fluidly. Then again, that’s just Hero; he’s very generous and easy to build a rapport with.
Jacket, Blouse, Skirts, Belt & Boots: Toga Archives
Dress, Earrings & Heels: Marine Serre
With filming spanning locations like Cardiff and Seville, did the environment shape your approach to the character?
I don’t know how much the locations shaped my character approach, but they definitely infused my offscreen time! Big shout out to Chippy Lane in Cardiff and every croquette consumed in Seville.
With roots in theatre, including early work at the Donmar Warehouse, how does that discipline inform your screen presence today?
Theatre is all about collaboration, and for screen, it’s sometimes possible you don’t meet your scene partners until five minutes before filming. I think theatre shaped the way I cultivate my character relationships, I lend more time playing with scenes prior or spitballing ideas with castmates than I might without that background. It’s ironic doing it that way around, though, because theatre’s impermanent after the curtain falls and screen is immortalised forever, so you’d think you’d have more rehearsal for camera! But we aren’t always afforded that luxury, so I try and take it in where I can.
Dress, Earrings & Heels: Marine Serre
Shifting briefly to Rivals, what has been most creatively refreshing about stepping into such a contrasting world?
Rivals has been a barrel of laughs. The cast is huge, and we spent so much time together. There are big set piece days with all characters involved, which didn’t happen as much on other jobs. It was always so exciting to be part of something so vast. Also, joining a cast for a season two can be daunting, but at the same time it’s freeing. We know what it is we’re making, and we know how loved it is.
During long months on set, what are your non-negotiable rituals, both for maintaining your skin and for staying grounded and well?
My skin always struggles when I’m on a long job. There’s no two ways about it, I just try and keep as hydrated as possible and always have SPF on! I find it’s often when I finish long jobs that my body seems to catch up with me. That said, on the odd day you have to film and you’re deathly ill, there’s nothing worse. So, if I feel ANY inkling of ANYTHING, I’m downing all the ginger shots and paracetamol, so I can to blitz it out the way. Sleep is super important to me too and a bit of an ongoing battle, so I try to be disciplined in that regard.
Jacket, Blouse, Skirts, Belt & Boots: Toga Archives
Vest & Jeans: Kenzo Paris
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