Jude Law says being an actor is like being Sherlock Holmes.

The 38-year-old actor - who plays the fictional detective's responsible sidekick Dr. John Watson in 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' - admits his job allows him to be dashing and inventive and he is always grateful to have such a creative career.

He said: "I suppose, some days I wake up and I have to be responsible and down-to-earth and reliable, and other days I don't.

"I think this job in particular allows us all to be Holmes-ian; eccentric and imaginative and creative and to think out of the box. Real life, away from work, requires us to be slightly more Dr. John Watson."

Jude stars in the sequel to the 2009 film with Robert Downey Jr., who returns as the titular sleuth.

Robert insists the best thing about the new movie - which is directed by Guy Ritchie and is inspired by the novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - is that the plot is told from the perspective of Sherlock's sidekick.

He told BANG Showbiz: "What I think is more on-point this time is that it really is Watson recanting a story. A story that is tragic, although hopeful. A story that is evocative and interesting.

"It is just straightforward entertainment but that is the thing about Doyle; you really got the sense he was talking about issues that were larger than these two guys."

'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' is released this weekend.