Top 10 Portrayals of Mrs. Hudson
The last time I did a list related to the “supporting cast” of the Sherlock Holmes universe, I did a Top 10 of my favorite takes on Inspector Lestrade. Today we’ll be going over the other member of the “Baker Street Family,” Mrs. Hudson.
Mrs. Hudson is a character whom I often feel gets overlooked in the grand pattern of Holmes’ cast. She’s not really a major player in most of the original stories, but her presence is a fairly constant one. Like Watson and Lestrade, she essentially acts as an anchor, bringing some semblance of sanity into the wild madness that is Holmes and his world. Some adaptations barely make use of her, but a lot of my favorites play up the relationship between herself and her tenants in some fun ways. Mrs. Hudson is usually shown to be a sort of surrogate mother to Holmes, in more ways than one: she loves him dearly, but she’s also always in a tizzy over his hijinks, and forever put off by his rude behavior.
The two flip-flop between genuine affection and sniping at one another constantly…but no matter how often they fuss and fume, each genuinely couldn’t imagine being without the other. She is just as valuable a member of the team as Watson, or any member of Scotland Yard, and just as persistent a character. Very few Sherlock Holmes adaptations are without her, even if she’s just there for a few moments. For, as one version of Holmes rightly stated: “Mrs. Hudson leave Baker Street? England would fall.”
Picking my favorite versions of Mrs. Hudson was really quite difficult, but I think I managed to arrange and choose some winners from the bunch. With that said, let’s see those winners now! Help yourself to some tea and muffins: these are My Top 10 Favorite Portrayals of Mrs. Hudson!
10. Alison Leggatt, from The Seven Per-Cent Solution.
Honestly, I mostly chose this one because of the actress. It’s hard for me not to enjoy the Queen of Hearts as Mrs. Hudson.
9. Candis Cayne, from Elementary.
An interesting modern interpretation of the character to say the least. In this series, Miss Hudson - rather than Missus - is a slight latecomer to the show, and acts as a maid rather than a landlady. She’s a recurring character throughout the show, but ultimately not as prominent as one might expect after her initial appearance.
8. Mrs. Judson, from The Great Mouse Detective.
Voiced by Diana Chesney. While her role is very small, her brief scenes have always been quite memorable to me, and I felt this list wouldn’t be complete without this rodent reimagining.
7. Geraldine James, from the Guy Ritchie Films.
By far the most snarly relationship between a Holmes and Hudson of practically any version. I wish there had been some more genuine warmth between the two, but I will say that their banter is quite amusing.
6. Pat Keen, from Without a Clue.
In this film, Watson and Holmes effectively swap out, as it’s revealed the doctor is the real mastermind with Sherlock as his bungling sidekick. Mrs. Hudson is one of the few people who knows the truth, which is only fitting.
5. Mary Gordon, from the FOX/Universal Films.
While Mary Gordon didn’t really DO much throughout these movies - nor in the radio show with Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce, where she was also a constant presence - something about her was just so memorable. She brought a sort of befuddled warmth to her scenes, and it’s worth noting that she was the only character, aside from the original Dynamic Duo, to appear in every single movie to some degree or another.
4. The Version from Moriarty the Patriot.
Much like Elementary, this version of the character is called “Miss” Hudson, and is depicted as much younger than usual. She’s something of a comic relief figure, but she still manages to work as an excellent take on the character. I love the sort of big sister/little brother relationship she has with Sherlock, and while, again, she rarely actually DOES much, she’s always fun to see in action.
3. Rina Zelyonaya, from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson.
It was hard to choose between my top three takes on Mrs. Hudson, as all of them are pretty close together, and could all be considered arguably the definitive takes on the character, in my opinion. In this Russian series, Zelyonaya’s Hudson is a wonderfully experienced old lady. You get the feeling she’s known Holmes since he was still VERY young, and knows him better than anybody, even Dr. Watson.
2. Rosalie Williams, from the Granada Series.
This is one of the most “motherly” versions of Mrs. Hudson, in my opinion, in the way she interacts with both Holmes and the good doctor. I love her moments of temper and authority, but I also love her moments of genuine concern and care when they come out. I think one of my favorite parts of the show was all her scenes in “The Empty House,” and how excitedly she gets involved once she realizes Sherlock is still alive.
1. Una Stubbs, from Sherlock.
Much like Rosalie Williams, this version of Mrs. Hudson has one of the most overtly motherly demeanors of any version. I love how she’s so sweet and bubbly on the outset, but then as the show goes on you realize there is a real steel underneath that seemingly frail surface. Like most of the other major cast members, it was neat to see her go from the modern world to period Victoriana in “The Abominable Bride,” and I was very sad to learn of her recent passing. A marvelous depiction overall.
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Fifteen Days of Disney Magic - Number 9
Welcome to Fifteen Days of Disney Magic! In honor of the company’s 100th Anniversary, I am counting down my Top 15 Favorite Movies from Walt Disney Animation Studios!
If you hoped today’s entry would make the cut on my list, then wish granted!
Number 9 is…Aladdin.
“Aladdin” has become a slightly controversial film in recent years, for reasons I won’t go into. However, for most people, I think it’s fair to say it’s one of Disney’s most popular and well-respected franchises, and it’s definitely one of the most wild. The film takes a deliberately more comedic, free-spirited kind of look at its source material; from Robin Williams as the pop-culture-reference-spouting Genie, to Gilbert Gottfried as the loudmouth Iago, to various visual and musical elements that feel more like a cross between Las Vegas and stereotypical Bollywood than any sort of authentic interpretation of Arabian culture. It’s a very modern and comical sort of feature, when compared to the more timeless take on things with “Beauty and the Beast.” This film is essentially the precursor to movies like “Hercules” and “The Emperor’s New Groove,” which also take on a more humorous, almost satirical sort of tone with their stories and aesthetic elements.
What I think sets Aladdin apart from those two films, however, and what makes it better than so many later movies that would take inspiration from it, is its heart. Which isn't to say those later films DIDN'T have heart, but I think Aladdin's soft center is much more pronounced, so to speak. The lessons it teaches are simple ones, but handled very interestingly. It’s a story about honesty, destiny, acceptance, and a willingness to change things for the betterment of the world around you. Aladdin, himself, is quite possibly one of my favorite Disney protagonists: he’s a very human character, as from start to finish we sympathize with him. Even when he makes choices we don’t agree with, we understand why he’s making them and we hope he’ll figure out a way to manage things. He’s also a classic underdog character, as he starts off as someone at the bottom of the ladder and has to find ways to reach the top. Once he falls off again, however, he’s quick to use his wits, courage, and personal skills to make sure things are fixed.
The other characters are very memorable, too: Jafar is one of Disney’s most popular villains, and one of my Top 10 favorites, for good reason. Jasmine is a strong female presence in the story, the Sultan is loveably redonculous, Iago is fun, Abu is cute…and do I even need to say that the Genie is probably Robin Williams’ single greatest movie performance of all time? (Well…aside from maybe Mrs. Doubtfire.) Just like the movie, the character was influential on a lot of later films, both by Disney and even by other rival companies. Off topic from the characters, the visual style – while obviously exaggerative – is honestly one of my favorite parts of the film. The use of shapes and colors really gives this a uniquely dense, rich sense of aesthetics.
Honestly, I think this is also one of those films I love not only for its own sake, but also for its multitude of spin-offs: as a kid, I watched the Aladdin TV series, and the two direct-to-video sequels to this movie set in that universe, about a bajillion times. As an adult I see the flaws in all of them, but they are still fun and adventurous pieces of work that, in my opinion, do credit to the original. And the original, to this day, is still a Disney film I hold a special place for in my heart.
As I said in an earlier entry, choosing between this, “Beauty and the Beast,” "Peter Pan," and one other film was quite tricky. I had to go through a list of criteria to ultimately decide which was really my favorite. “Aladdin” is a movie I refer to a lot in my day-to-day life, and of all the Disney movies out there…honestly, when it comes to the stage versions, there isn’t a single Disney play I think I would want to do more than Aladdin, simply because there are no less than four characters whom I would love to portray and would feel perfectly joyful playing. That’s more than any other stage-from-film version you can find, I think, at least in current existence! And as I said, my general nostalgia for not only this movie, but also its franchise as a whole, is quite pronounced. HOWEVER, Aladdin takes a backseat from the one movie above it because it does falter in one attribute: my writing. I’m not really in a hurry to write anything set in or based on this world, in any way – whether it be my own original work inspired by it, or fanfics I’m commissioned to create – so it loses out for that reason and that reason only.
This is, of course, discounting Jamil & Kalim from Twisted Wonderland. I’ll happily write for them any day of the week. ;)
Tomorrow, we reach the halfway point of the countdown, with my 8th Favorite Disney Movie!
HINT: It Proves the Quote, “The Past Is Never Dead. It Isn’t Even Past.”
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everything at 18, but nothing at 22
alternatively: times she finished in the points while he dnfs
in which the drastic difference in their performance in their career seems to finally be catching up to them
(series masterlist)
-> australia, 2023
she simply cannot wipe the permanent smile on her face. she runs into her garage, straight from weigh-in, immediately greeted by blythe and ciara who are quick to take her in for a hug.
"oh, i made the points!" she laughs, jumping in a circle with her sisters. "can you believe it? i made history just by finishing in the top 10 today!"
"i told you you'll be amazing!" ciara puts her hands on her older sister's cheeks, before quickly pulling her in for another tight hug. "you did so well on the track amidst all the chaos!"
"history in the making with you just being here!" blythe shrieks, grabbing her shoulder. "you were amazing on the track. half the grid retired - did seb tell you?"
"he did," she laughs, slowly settling down as she stands on her feet. "speaking of that, i've got to speak to logan."
"no need to look around, i've got him here with me," oscar's accent fills her garage. "good job finishing above me, mate."
another shrill shriek escapes her mouth as she hops over to the two boys still in their race suits. she is received by oscar first, whispering neverending praises into her ear as they sway in their spot. she rubs circles on his back as they exchange compliments, both proud at their feat of achieving points in arguably one of the more chaotic races they've found themselves in.
as she pulls away, she meets a forced smile and sad green eyes as she is pulled into a hug by logan. "i'm so proud of you today. i stayed and watched the race just for you."
"baby, i'm sorry for the dnf," she whispers, her smile faltering slightly as she wraps her arms around his neck. she's lifted off the ground slightly, the height difference making their public hug slightly awkward. "this is only the third race - i swear it won't stay like this all season."
"no, don't worry about me," logan grins, pulling away from her. with a tender hand on her cheek, he quickly pulls it away when a flash goes off at the corner of his eye. instead, he settles for a hand on her shoulder and shakes her slightly. "today is all about you, ms. record breaker."
"for what it's worth, the fia is under fire for the chaos of today's race," she frowns, rubbing his sleeves up and down to offer a sense of familiarity.
their dream of getting into f1 together has finally come true. it's just a shame that they've got to keep their romantic gestures on the down low, or kept under wraps in fear of the backlash she might get.
"stop trying to justify my race," logan smiles, squeezing a cheek. he takes a step back and huffs, tilting his head as he looks at her. "look at you - i could have sworn you were just that lonely girl oscar decided to befriend at karting. now you're in f1 making history."
her smile carves into something softer, and looks up at him with a glimmer in his eyes that he couldn't ever get tired of. "i wouldn't be here without either of you."
logan squeezes her arm. "sneak into my hotel room later? let's watch a movie."
"oh, max invited me for drinks at some bar tonight. celebrate my first points or something like that," she frowns. "come with us, please? oscar will be there."
"i'll be okay," he smiles. "then sneak in after the drinks. you're funny when you're drunk, anyway."
"i'll sneak some cocktails in your room so we can watch a disney movie together and cuddle," she giggles. at the call of her name by sebastian, mentioning something about an interview she has to go do now. "i'll see you later?"
"i'll see you later." logan bends down, closing an eye when he feels her lips pressed against his cheek. "love you."
she turns around, already being pulled away by an impatient sebastian. she twists her body back to look at him. she mouths, "love you."
-> hungary, 2023
she presses her lips together, rocking back and forth on her feet as she awaits the door to open. when it does, it reveals a clearly dishevelled logan with a towel hung around his shoulders.
he's already in his sweatpants, while she stood out in the hallway in a romper, ready to head out for the evening. she scans her boyfriend head to toe and slumps her shoulders. "baby, you're not going out with us tonight?"
he pokes his head past the door, looking left and right before he lets her walk into his hotel room. she sighs softly, following him further into the room.
he drops himself onto the bed and shakes his head. "i don't deserve to be out and about celebrating after the race today. you go ahead and enjoy yourself, babe."
"my love," she hums, climbing onto the bed with a hand finding his neck to massage the muscle. "just because the race didn't go your way today doesn't mean you should lock yourself up here and be by yourself."
he leans into her touch, turning to lie on his side. he slings an arm around her waist while she comfortably sits on his bed. "i just don't think i should be outside. i'm an embarrassment." he nuzzles his face into the side of her thigh. "good call to keep the relationship behind closed doors - you'll be ridiculed for being with me."
"what?" she says softly, never really getting used to logan's harsh words against himself. she hangs her head low, trying to meet his eyes. "please, don't say that. i'm very proud of you. dnf or not."
"you and oscar have gotten your first points this year. i still have not," he sighs, turning to lie on his back again. "trust me, you don't want people to know you're dating me."
"i do want people to know i'm dating you," she coos, running her fingertip down the side of his face. she moves down and props herself up on her elbow to look over him. "it's just complicated right now - you know that."
"but you get what i'm saying, right?"
"i do," she lays on her stomach, pressing a kiss on his bare shoulder. "okay, let me tell max i'm not feeling great to head out tonight for drinks. do you want to go and eat somewhere just the two of us?"
"what? (y/n), please. you don't have to do any of this. i'm fine being by myself tonight."
"i want to be with you tonight," she grins. "let's go shopping? it's our first time in hungary."
-> zandvoort, 2023
"mate, have you seen logan?" she asks, approaching oscar with a frown. with a pepsi can in hand, she sips on the straw as her bright eyes scan the paddocks for her missing boyfriend. "usually, he'd be right by my garage after a race, but i've yet to find him."
"i can't say i've seen him since before the race," oscar frowns, realising that it's been a while since he's seen logan. he also scans the crowd, hoping that it's just her height that's hindering her chances of finding logan. to no avail, he doesn't find logan either. "is everything okay?"
she shrugs. "i don't know. he retired from the race again, did you hear?"
"i heard. do you know why?"
"no," she shrugs. "seb's got no idea either. can you let me know if you find him, please? i've got an interview i need to go and do."
-> singapore, 2023
"seriously?" she cries, tears rushing into her eyes. she takes the bouquet of loud colours and holds it against her chest. "this is the sweetest thing ever!"
"you like them?" logan grins down at the flowers that clash against the dark motif of her race suit tailor-made for tonight. "i saw them in the mall the other day when oscar and i were out. i was banking on the fact that you'd make it into the points today.
"even luckier that you made podium."
"this is the cutest thing ever," she smiles, sniffling as she drops her head to smell the flowers. "thank you so much, logan."
"you deserve it."
"but i'm sorry for where you finished today," she frowns, dropping an arm and moving to his side. she puts an arm around his waist and squeezes him slightly. "was the car not good today?"
"i think it's the street circuits not being very kind to me," logan sighs, shaking his head. "but, please, enjoy your podium celebrations. i'll join you for drinks tonight?"
"oh, really? you're joining tonight?"
"of course! my girlfriend just made history again," logan says softly into her ear. he squeezes her shoulder. "i have to be there to celebrate with her, right?"
-> qatar, 2023
"fuck!"
"logan, please. just sit down - you're really dehydrated."
"no, god. i'm such a fuck up!"
"hey, don't say that!"
"i retired again because i couldn't take the fucking heat!" he tugs at the roots of his hair, tears threatening to spill out of his eyes.
meanwhile, his girlfriend sits in the corner on a plastic chair with her lips pressed together as he paces around the room against the medical advice of every personnel who's attended to him.
still in her fireproofs, the younger girl nurses her helmet in her lap as she tries to calm logan down. "it's okay, baby. you weren't feeling well. you couldn't have done anything else."
"i could have just sucked it up and raced like everybody else!" logan frowns. "even you finished the race despite your period! what's that say about me?"
she scoffs, eyebrows furrowed as his statement manages to hit her the wrong way. "what are you trying to say? that between you and me, you deserved to finish more because i was hindered by the fact that i've got my period?"
regret strikes logan immediately, and she can see it in the way his look softens and his shoulders slump. "no, that's not what i meant. i mean, like-"
"it sounds like the way it sounds," she says softly, hurt lacing her every word. she shakes her head as she gets up to her feet, helmet hanging off her fingers by the strap. "i'll call you tomorrow, logan."
"(y/n), please wait. i'm sorry."
"i just need to be alone," she frowns, turning her back on him as she heads for the door. "feel better and stay put until the nurse comes back with an iv for you. but i've got to go - i just can't believe you'd say that to me."
-> mexico, 2023
"god, i'm no better at 22 than i was at 18." logan holds his face in his hands, elbows propped up on his knees as he finds comfort in the beanbag in her driver's room after their media commitments. "i don't understand."
it's another race where he's forcibly retired and she's managed to climb her way into the points. despite starting in the back of the grid that afternoon, she managed to challenge lando climbing up the positions on the track.
while she lost out to the more experienced driver, starting 16th and eventually climbing to 8th is no easy task. with sebastian in her ear, it was a slightly easier task that had a lot of people confused and shocked at where she suddenly finished the race.
realistically, it helped that the car was just feeling much better with the upgrades that the team brought in for her this weekend.
but logan unexpectedly had to retire towards the end of the race. which, was disheartening after the point that he got just last week in austin.
"am i just not made to be in f1? i don't get it," he says softly. "something's not right."
all she can do is sigh. nothing about their predicament now is easy: she can't fully relate to the low he's feeling because- well, she's doing fine in her rookie season compared to him.
she knows that and so does he. they try not to talk about it, but it's something that looms over their head whenever they're on social media or are attending interviews together. it doesn't make it any easier that fans are easily gawking at her presence when they chance upon them together in public.
while logan loves being her boyfriend, the past couple of years being the best times he's ever experienced, it's easier said than done to be proud of your girlfriend's achievements when you're always in the trenches week after week.
"i don't even know if i'll still have a seat next year," he sighs, throwing his head back to rest on the wall behind him. "god. i don't know what to do."
"i don't even know what to say," she whispers, crawling over to where he is. she places a hand on his knee and rests her chin on her hand. "i'm sorry you're feeling like this, lo."
"i know you don't get it."
"i know i don't. but i'm your girlfriend."
"you being by my side means more than you think it does." he breathes out with a sigh passing his lips, a hand resting on her shoulder as they sit in silence. "you can boast about your achievements to me, you know?"
"i know." she turns her head to look up at him. logan forces another smile, her worried stare igniting something in him to make sure that she knows he's okay. "but i'm with you even in your darkest hours."
"i'm extremely proud of how far you've come this season."
"i'm proud of how eloquently you're trying to hold yourself around me," she frowns, tracing circles on the material of his jeans. "but you don't have to pretend around me. we celebrate my achievements when you're feeling better."
"we can do both." logan sits up, a hand cupping her cheek to lift it up to meet his gaze. "your achievements shouldn't be tucked away in some box just because i had a bad weekend. i'm happy enough seeing you make history."
"logan..."
"let's head out to dinner with oscar tonight. it's a celebration - you guys have done so well."
"we can just stay in if you want."
"no more of that!" he cheers, his lips meeting the tip of her nose. "we're celebrating tonight. let's dress up, let's go out and take pictures, and then we can post about them on instagram while people speculate about how too close we seem to be. i don't care.
"you've done so much for the sport, you should be celebrated, babe. if you don't want to, i will celebrate you."
she sighs, rolling her eyes. "you're an idiot."
"but an idiot you love, yes?"
"an idiot i love, correct."
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