Irene Adler

Irene Adler is one of the most notable female characters in the original Sherlock Holmes canon. 
== Canon ==
Irene Alder appears in only one of the original Sherlock Holmes' stories, A Scandal in Bohemia, she is known for garnering the respect of Holmes, and one of the few characters that has ever been able to outmaneuver him. She is a popular character to include in various adaptations. 
=== Versions ===
==== Sherlock Holmes (Granada) ====
Sherlock Holmes (Granada) she is portrayed by Gayle Hunnicutt. "A Scandal in Bohemia" was the first episode of the first series of Granada Holmes. The portrait of Irene is kept in Holmes' desk and appears in a few more episodes.
==== Sherlock Holmes (2009) ====
In the 2009 movie Sherlock Holmes she is portrayed by Rachel McAdams. In this film she has divorced her husband and is "Irene Adler again." She and Holmes have a more romantically tinged relationship. 
==== Sherlock (BBC) ====
Irene Adler, portrayed by Lara Pulver, was introduced to the BBC adaptation of Sherlock in a starring role in the season two episode, "A Scandal in Belgravia," after which she was only occasionally mentioned or shown on-screen again. In this version of the story, her character is adapted as a dominatrix under the professional name “The Woman,” and she provides the episode’s conflict. She identifies herself as gay, though she performs her work with non-women clients as well and by the end of the episode has fallen in love with Sherlock.
Like her ACD counterpart, Irene engages in a battle of wits with Sherlock, and is the only woman to get to him. 
Irene is sometimes seen by fans as one of the Moffat Women, women characters written by Steven Moffat who are perceived to have similar personality traits and sexist portrayals.“stop telling me that either of the new interpretations of Irene Adler are progressive”, tygermama, Tumblr, 5 June 2014.Irene Adler: how to butcher a brilliant woman character, blog post from “another angry woman”, 1 January 2012. Similarly, her feelings for Sherlock are felt by some fans to erase her professed homosexuality.response to: “what if Irene Adler’s phone code…”, pennypaperbrain, Tumblr, 1 March 2014.
Many fans have analyzed Irene as a mirror to both Sherlock and John Watson; the former due to shared physical and behavioral characteristics, and the latter due to their ambiguous relationships to Sherlock, as highlighted in the exchange between Irene and John:
There is little consensus in fandom about the extent of Sherlock’s canonical attraction to the Woman, and whether this was romantic, sexual, and/or purely intellectual in nature.On Irene in the Mind Palace, themissadventurer, Tumblr, 23 June 2016.thoughts on Sherlock’s attraction, madlori, Tumblr, 12 February 2014.Meta on “Isn't Sherlock at least attracted to Irene's naked body in a SiB?”, inevitably-johnlocked, Tumblr, 12 May 2016. These discussions can be confused by the canon ambiguity of both characters’ sexuality, and fans’ own interpretations of them.
In fandom, she is most frequently shipped with Sherlock, under the ship name “Adlock.”
==== Elementary ====
In Elementary, Irene was Sherlock's ex-lover who is thought to have been killed by a serial killer called "M." She is later found alive, apparently being held captive by Moriarty. It is revealed that "Irene" actually is Jamie Moriarty, who assumed the identity to seduce Sherlock and distract him from his investigations. Irene/Moriarty is portrayed by Natalie Dormer.
==== Sherlock Holmes (2013 TV Series) ====
Irene Adler (portrayed by Lyanka Gryu) has a love affair with Sherlock Holmes.Sherlock Homes (2013 TV Series) on Wikipedia
=== In other fannish media ===
* Sophie Devereaux dresses up as Irene Adler for a costume party in S5 of Leverage.
* The first patient in the first episode of House, M.D. is named Rebecca Adler. In S5, James Wilson tells a story about a patient named Irene Adler that Gregory House saved and then fell in love with, but the story is apparently not true.
* There is a Marvel Comics character called Destiny, whose real name is Irene Adler. She is the lover of Mystique and adoptive mother of Rogue.
* Irene is one of the main characters of the gothlit crossover fancomic The League of Extraordinary Gentlefolk
== Fandom ==
=== Pairings ===
Irene's most popular ship in almost all adaptations is with Sherlock Holmes, but the prevalence of the pair can vary greatly. There is also a small amount gen fanworks, usually where she is friends with Holmes.
* Irene Adler/Sherlock Holmes
==Example Fanworks==
===Fanfiction===
Sherlock
* Whipped by This_is_The_Phantom_Lady -- Irene Adler/OFC and Irene Adler/Kate. Long and notable fic, but it does feature dark content and heavy BDSM.
* Sui Generis by Francesca_Wayland -- Irene Adler/Sherlock Holmes
==== Books ====
* BOX ONE OF THE NORTON-HOLMES CORRESPONDENCE COLLECTION by language_escapes, Irene & Holmes
=== Meta/Analysis ===
==== Sherlock ====
* by ShinySherlock (December 2012)
* by knackorcraft (February 2014)
==== Books ====
* by sing-a-songofsix-pence (2023)
* by tremendously-crazy (2024)
== Example Art Gallery ==
File:Irene adler by mrmichaelissebastian.png|alt=painting of a head and shoulders portrait of Irene Alder|Irene Adler. by mrmichaelissebastian (2014), inspired by BBC's Sherlock
File:Irene adler by slightlymadart.jpg|alt=head and shoulders protract of Irene Alder wearing a cloak and large hat covered in silk flowers|Irene Adler by slightlymadart (2016), this piece inspired by the Robert Downey Jr films
File:The woman! by rknchan.jpg|alt=illustrations of Irene Alder in an evening gown, a man's suit, and a photograph of her in a dress with a large hat. Text reads 'irene alder'|the woman! by rknchan (2024), inspired by the books
File:Irene Adler by pengu-kiwis.jpg|alt=drawing of Irene Adler in a formal gown with feathers in her hair. Text reads 'Irene Alder'.|Irene Adler by pengu-kiwis (2024), inspired by the Granada TV series 
==Archives and Links==
* Works tagged Irene Adler on the AO3
* Entries tagged Irene Adler on the BBC Sherlock kink meme
* Works tagged Irene Adler at The Sherlock Holmes Kink Meme Archive (for all versions of Sherlock Holmes canon)
* Entries tagged Character: Irene Adler on furtherinterest, a community devoted to the female characters of BBC Sherlock 
== Resources ==
* Irene Alder at Wikipedia
==References==
Category:Sherlock Holmes Characters