Which actress plays Irene Adler in BBC’s Sherlock?

Lara Pulver plays Irene Adler in BBC’s Sherlock.

Pulver appears as Irene Adler in “A Scandal in Belgravia,” the first episode of series 2. The character is a professional dominatrix who possesses compromising material connected to a powerful client. Holmes becomes especially interested in her intelligence, confidence and ability to challenge his assumptions.

The episode updates “A Scandal in Bohemia,” Arthur Conan Doyle’s story in which Irene Adler is famously described as “the woman.” Sherlock’s version keeps that idea but places it in a modern world of smartphones, encrypted information and political power.

Pulver is sometimes confused with Amanda Abbington, who plays Mary Watson, or Louise Brealey, who plays Molly Hooper. The episode was written by Steven Moffat and first broadcast in 2012.