"The provocation with Holmes is the fact that he's described by Doyle as a man without a heart - all brain... and that's very difficult to play, or even indicate"

Jeremy Brett's quote about playing Sherlock Holmes highlights the intrinsic obstacles in depicting a character like Holmes, who is famously depicted by Arthur Conan Doyle as an animal of intellect, relatively devoid of psychological warmth. Brett's interpretation explores the juxtaposition between intellect and feeling, a theme central to Holmes's character.

To comprehend Brett's viewpoint, it's important to consider the nature of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle's Holmes is a detective whose unrivaled deductive abilities come from his keen observation and rational thinking. He's characterized as a "determining device", focusing simply on realities and evidence, typically at the expense of human feeling and social connections. Brett's difficulty, therefore, lies in embodying this duality-- depicting a man who is purely rational, yet still interesting and relatable to audiences.

Brett underscores the problem of this job. Holmes's absence of heart suggests a character whose inspirations and actions are driven not by feelings however by intellectual interest and logic. For an actor, this requires a nuanced efficiency that can interact an abundant inner world without counting on obvious expressions of sensation. This is an intricate endeavor since emotions are normally the lens through which audiences link to characters.

Furthermore, Brett's experience aligns with the broader interpretative options stars deal with: how to humanize a figure who, on paper, appears nearly inhuman in his emotional detachment. This involves finding subtle ways to suggest depth and complexity, maybe through minor variations in tone, physicality, or minutes of vulnerability that mean an inner life beyond the stark outside.

Eventually, Brett's quote is a reflection on the actor's craft. It speaks with the continuous balancing act in between faithfulness to the source material and creative interpretation. Effectively portraying Holmes needs capturing the essence of a figure who exists at the crossway of reasoning and a curious kind of emotional lack, an obstacle that actors like Brett welcomed in bringing Doyle's renowned detective to life.