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Mary J. Blige's Voice Role Irene in Sherlock Gnomes (2018)

  • Writer: MaryJBligeFashionbook
    MaryJBligeFashionbook
  • May 17
  • 2 min read

Irene — Mary J. Blige's Voice Role in Sherlock Gnomes (2018)

 

Film: Sherlock Gnomes  |  Year: 2018  |  Studio: Paramount/MGM  |  Voice Cast: Johnny Depp, James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor

 

One year after two Oscar nominations for Mudbound, Mary J. Blige went and voiced a gnome. And I think that is one of the most wonderful things about her. She does not take herself too seriously. She shows up, she commits, and she does the work whatever the format is.

 

About Sherlock Gnomes

Sherlock Gnomes is a 2018 animated comedy sequel to Gnomeo and Juliet. Garden gnomes Gnomeo and Juliet team up with the legendary ceramic detective Sherlock Gnomes to investigate the mysterious disappearance of their fellow gnomes across London. The voice cast is remarkable across the board.


Mary J. Blige as Irene Voice Role in Sherlock Gnomes 2018 | MaryJBligeFashionBook

 

Mary as Irene

Mary J. Blige voices Irene — the gnome world's version of Irene Adler from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. In the original stories Irene Adler is the only person described as having outwitted Sherlock Holmes. She is brilliant, independent, and formidable. Holmes refers to her simply as The Woman.


 

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul voicing the one woman who could outsmart the world's greatest detective. The casting practically wrote itself. Mary brings authority, warmth, and sharpness to Irene in a way that makes the character feel completely alive even without a physical presence on screen.


Mary J. Blige as Irene Voice Role in Sherlock Gnomes 2018 | MaryJBligeFashionBook

 

Voice Acting Is a Craft

I want to say something about voice acting because it does not always get the respect it deserves. When you are doing voice work you have nothing except your voice. No costume, no set, no facial expression visible to the audience. Every emotion, every character beat, every comedic or dramatic moment has to come through sound alone. Mary's voice is one of the most expressive instruments in music history. Using it for animation was a natural extension of everything she has always done.

 

Have you seen this role? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to subscribe for more on Mary's acting career! mary j blige sherlock gnomes irene


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