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For other people named Martin Freeman, see Martin Freeman (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Morgan Freeman.

Martin Freeman
Freeman in 2019
Born
Martin John Christopher Freeman

(1971-09-08) 8 September 1971 (age 53)
Aldershot, Hampshire, England
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1997–present
Partner(s)Amanda Abbington
(2000–2016)
Children2

Martin John Christopher Freeman[2] (born 8 September 1971)[3] is an English actor and comedian, known for portraying Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy (2012–2014), Tim Canterbury in the original UK version of sitcom mockumentary The Office (2001–2003), Dr. John Watson in the British crime drama Sherlock (2010–2017), and Lester Nygaard in the dark comedy-crime drama TV series Fargo (2014).

His other notable film roles include the romantic comedy Love Actually (2003), the comic science fiction film The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), the semi-improvised comedy Nativity! (2009), the comedic Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (2004–2013), most prominently in the sci-fi comedy The World's End (2013), and his portrayal of Everett K. Ross in the Marvel films Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Black Panther (2018).[4] Among other accolades, he has won an Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, an Empire Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, with nominations including two other Emmy Awards, two other BAFTA Awards, a Saturn Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

Early life

Freeman was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, the youngest of five children. His parents, Philomena (née Norris) and Geoffrey Freeman, a naval officer, separated when Freeman was a child.[specify] His father died of a heart attack when Freeman was 10 years old.[5] His grandfather, Leonard W. Freeman, was a medic in the British Expeditionary Force during World War II, and was killed in action at Dunkirk in May 1940 a few days before the Dunkirk evacuation.[6]

Freeman attended the Salesian School, Chertsey, before attending Brooklands College for media studies.[7] His older brother Tim became a musician with the group Frazier Chorus.

Career

Freeman attended the Central School of Speech and Drama[7] and has appeared in at least 18 TV shows, 14 theatre productions, and several radio productions. He is notable for his role as Tim Canterbury in The Office, a role which, he said in 2004, "cast a very long shadow" for him as an actor.[8] He appeared in the sitcom Hardware. He also appeared in several films, including Ali G Indahouse (2002) and Love Actually (2003).[7]

He began to move into more serious dramatic roles on television with his appearance as Lord Shaftesbury in the 2003 BBC historical drama Charles II: The Power and The Passion. He can also be seen making a brief appearance in the first episode of the second series of This Life. Freeman also starred in the BBC television series The Robinsons and had a cameo in episode 1 of Black Books. In 2007, he appeared in The All Together written and directed by Gavin Claxton, as well as the Bill Kenwright theatre production of The Last Laugh. He is featured in the video for Faith No More's cover of "I Started a Joke".[9] In May 2009, he starred in Boy Meets Girl, a four-part drama that charts the progress of characters Veronica and Danny after an accident which causes them to swap bodies.[10]

Freeman filming Sherlock in 2011

He plays Dr. John Watson in Sherlock, the BBC contemporary adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories. The first episode of Sherlock, "A Study in Pink", was broadcast on 25 July 2010 to critical acclaim. For his performance in the role he won the BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor, 2011 and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.

He played Bilbo Baggins, the main character, in the three-part Peter Jackson film series The Hobbit.[11][12] Accolades that his performance in the first part, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, garnered him include Best Hero at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards[13] and Best Actor at the 18th Empire Awards.[14] Freeman appeared in all three of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's comedic Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, commencing with a brief non-speaking role in Shaun of the Dead as Yvonne's boyfriend, Declan, followed by a brief cameo in Hot Fuzz as a police officer. He was a main cast member in the 2013 finale to the trilogy, The World's End. On 5 October 2013, he was presented with a fellowship bearing his name by the members of University College Dublin's Literary & Historical Society. In April 2014, Freeman began playing insurance salesman Lester Nygaard in the dark comedy-crime drama series Fargo.[15] For his performance in this series, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award,[16] a Golden Globe Award,[17] and a Critics' Choice Television Award.[18] He opened in the title role in Shakespeare’s play Richard III in July 2014 at Trafalgar Studios.[19]

In 2015, Freeman starred as producer Milton Fruchtman in the television film The Eichmann Show, based on the filming, by blacklisted TV director Leo Hurwitz, of the 1961 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. The film intercut dramatic scenes with historical footage from the trial. The Daily Telegraph described the film as "absolutely enthralling".[20][21] He also played Everett K. Ross, a Central Intelligence Agency agent in Captain America: Civil War, which released in May 2016.[22]

In 2017, Freeman starred in Cargo, which premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on 6 August 2017.[23] The film is a feature-length remake of a 2013 short film of the same name.[24] Later in the year he appeared opposite Tamsin Greig in Labour of Love, a political comedy by James Graham, at the Noël Coward Theatre.[25] Labour of Love charts both the evolution of the UK Labour Party in recent decades, and its presence in a tight-knit Nottinghamshire community. Freeman portrays fictional Labour MP David Lyons, whose modernising ideas pit him against the traditional left-wing constituency agent Jean Whittaker (Greig).[25]

In 2018, he reprised his role as Everett K. Ross in Black Panther, which was set around two weeks after the event in Captain America: Civil War, making it his second appearance in Marvel Cinematic Universe.[26] [27] Between May 2017 and July 2019, Freeman starred in numerous adverts for Vodafone.

In 2020, Freeman will star in the FX/Sky comedy series Breeders. Freeman also serves as creator and executive producer for the series.[28]

Personal life

Freeman at the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards

Freeman lived in Potters Bar in Hertfordshire with his partner, actress Amanda Abbington. The couple have two children together.[29] They have appeared in other productions together, including Sherlock, Swinging with the Finkels, The Debt, The Robinsons, and The All Together. On 22 December 2016, Freeman announced in an article in the Financial Times that he and Abbington had separated.[1]

Freeman is a close friend of actor Simon Pegg, who is godfather to his son, Joe.[30]

In an edition of Who Do You Think You Are? aired on 19 August 2009, Freeman discovered that his grandfather, Leonard Freeman, was a medic who was killed a couple of days before the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940 World War II. Leonard's father, Richard, born blind, was a piano tuner and organist at St Andrew's Church, West Tarring, and later a music teacher in Kingston upon Hull.[6]

Freeman is a vegetarian.[31] He has said his Catholic faith remains intact.[32] In 2011, Freeman umpired a charity cricket match to raise money for victims of the Christchurch earthquake.[33]

Freeman's personal style follows that of British mod subculture and he cites Paul Weller as one of his heroes and influences on his style.[34][35] Freeman is a big fan of soul, Motown and jazz music, presenting an episode of BBC Two's The Culture Show in 2009 entitled "Martin Freeman Goes To Motown".[36] He has also selected music in the past for a Motown compilation entitled Made To Measure[37] and has recently worked on a jazz compilation with friend Eddie Piller entitled Jazz On The Corner, which was released on Acid Jazz Records on 23 March 2018, featuring tracks by musicians including Kamasi Washington and The Brand New Heavies.[38] The pair presented Craig Charles' Funk and Soul Show on 31 March.[39] In 2019 a follow-up album to Jazz on the Corner was announced, entitled Soul on the Corner featuring tracks by artists including Leroy Hutson and Bobby Womack.[40]

In June 2018 Freeman was part of To Provide All People, a BBC Wales drama celebrating 70 years of the National Health Service.[41]

Political views

Freeman is a supporter of the Labour Party. As a teenager, he supported Britain's now-defunct Militant political group and volunteered with the Labour Party Young Socialists.[1]

In 2015, Freeman appeared in a party political broadcast to endorse the Labour Party ahead of the 2015 UK general election.[42] In August 2015, he was a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn's campaign in the Labour Party leadership election.[43]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 I Just Want to Kiss You Frank Short film
1999 Exhaust The Car Owner Short film
2000 The Low Down Solomon
2001 Round About Five The Man Short film
2001 Fancy Dress Pirate
2002 Ali G Indahouse Richard Cunningham
2003 Love Actually John
2004 Blake's Junction 7 Vila Short film
2004 Call Register Kevin
2004 Shaun of the Dead Declan Cameo
2005 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Arthur Dent
2006 Confetti Matt Norris
2006 Breaking and Entering Sandy Hoffmann
2007 Dedication Jeremy
2007 The Good Night Gary Shaller
2007 Hot Fuzz Met. Sergeant
2007 Lonely Hearts The Pig Short film
2007 The All Together Chris Ashworth
2007 Rubbish Kevin Short film
2007 Nightwatching Rembrandt van Rijn
2008 Rembrandt's J'Accuse Rembrandt van Rijn Documentary
2009 Nativity! Paul Maddens
2009 Swinging with the Finkels Alvin Finkel
2010 Wild Target Hector Dixon
2010 The Girl is Mime Clive Buckle Short film[44]
2011 What's Your Number? Simon
2012 The Pirates! Band of Misfits The Pirate with a Scarf (voice)
2012 Animals Albert
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Bilbo Baggins
2013 The World's End Oliver Chamberlain
2013 Svengali Don
2013 Saving Santa Bernard D. Elf (voice)
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Bilbo Baggins
2013 The Voorman Problem Dr. Williams Short film
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Bilbo Baggins
2015 Midnight of My Life Steve Marriott Short film
2015 Tubby Hayes: A Man in a Hurry Narrator Documentary
2016 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Iain MacKelpie
2016 Captain America: Civil War Everett K. Ross
2017 Ghost Stories Mike Priddle
2017 Cargo Andy Rose
2018 Black Panther Everett K. Ross
2019 The Operative Thomas
2019 Ode to Joy Charlie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 The Bill Craig Parnell Episode: "Mantrap"
1997 This Life Stuart Episode: "Last Tango in Southwark"
1998 Casualty Ricky Beck Episode: "She Loved the Rain"
1998 Picking up the Pieces Brendan Episode: "1.7"
2000 Bruiser Various roles 6 episodes
2000 Lock, Stock... Jaap 2 episodes
2000 Black Books Doctor Episode: "Cooking the Books"
2001 World of Pub Various roles 5 episodes
2001 Men Only Jamie Television film
2001–2003 The Office Tim Canterbury 14 episodes
2002 Helen West DC Stone 3 episodes
2002 Linda Green Matt Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go"
2003 Charles II: The Power and The Passion Lord Shaftesbury Miniseries
2003 The Debt Terry Ross Television film
2003 Margery and Gladys D.S. Stringer Television film
2003–2004 Hardware Mike 12 episodes
2004 Pride Fleck Television film
2005 The Robinsons Ed Robinson 6 episodes
2007 Comedy Showcase Greg Wilson Episode: "Other People"
2007 The Old Curiosity Shop Mr. Codlin Television film
2008 When Were We Funniest? Himself 4 episodes
2009 Boy Meets Girl Danny Reed Miniseries
2009 Micro Men Chris Curry Television film
2010–2017 Sherlock Dr. John Watson 13 episodes
2014–2015 Fargo Lester Nygaard / Narrator 11 episodes
2014 The Life of Rock with Brian Pern Young Brian Pern Episode: "Jukebox Musical"
2014 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Martin Freeman/Charli XCX"
2015 The Eichmann Show Milton Fruchtman Television film
2015 Robot Chicken Reverend Parris (voice) Episode: "Zero Vegetables"
2015 Toast of London Himself Episode: "Global Warming"
2015 Stick Man Stick Man (voice) Television film
2016–2017 StartUp Phil Rask 20 episodes
2017 Carnage: Swallowing the Past Jeff Television film
2018 To Provide All People Consultant Cardiologist Television film
2019 A Confession Det. Supt. Steve Fulcher 6 episodes
2020–present Breeders Paul 10 episodes; also creator and executive producer
2020 Talking Heads Graham Episode: "A Chip in the Sugar"

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result
2002 The Office British Comedy Awards Best Comedy Actor Nominated
2004 The Office (for "The Office Christmas Specials") BAFTAs Best Comedy Performance Nominated
British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Actor Nominated
Love Actually Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Cast Nominated
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award Best Ensemble Cast Won
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
Hardware Rose d'Or Best Male Comedy Performance Won
2011 Sherlock BAFTAs Best Supporting Actor Won
2012 Nominated
Sherlock (for "A Scandal in Belgravia") Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated
Gold Derby TV Awards TV Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actor Won
Sherlock Crime Thriller Awards Best Supporting Actor Won
Online Film Critics' Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
PAAFTJ Awards Best Cast in a Miniseries or TV Movie Won
PAAFTJ Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie Nominated
Tumblr TV Awards Hottest Male Character in a TV Show Nominated
Tumblr TV Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
Tumblr TV Awards Best Male Character in a TV Series Nominated
Tumblr TV Awards Best Cast in a TV Show Won
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Total Film Hotlist Awards Hottest Actor Nominated
2013 Empire Awards Best Actor Won[14][45]
Saturn Award Best Actor Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Scared-as-S**t Performance Nominated[46]
MTV Movie Awards Best Hero Won[13]
SFX Awards Best Actor Nominated
Shorts Awards Visionary Actor Won
New Zealand Movie Awards Hero of the Year Nominated
Constellation Awards Best Male Performance In A 2012 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, Or Mini-Series Nominated
Tumblr Movie Awards Best Leading Actor Nominated
Tumblr Movie Awards Best Ship Nominated
Online Film Critics' Awards Most Cinematic Moment Nominated
Stella Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Won
The World's End Alternative End of Year Film Awards Best Ensemble Cast Won
2014 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Empire Awards Best Actor Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Hero Nominated
Constellation Awards Best Male Performance In A 2013 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, Or Mini-Series 2nd Place
YouReviewers Awards Best Hero Nominated
Stella Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Won
Online Film Critics' Awards Most Cinematic Moment Nominated
CinEuphoria Awards Best Ensemble Nominated
Fargo Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Movie or Mini-Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated
Online Film Critics' Awards Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Online Film Critics' Awards Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Crime Thriller Awards Best Actor Nominated[47]
Sherlock
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Mini-Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Won
Online Film Critics' Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Online Film Critics' Awards Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
2015 The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies MTV Movie Awards Best Hero Nominated
Favorite British Artists of the Year Favourite Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Fargo Favorite British Artists of the Year Favourite Actor in a Television Series Nominated
Richard III The Mousetrap Awards Best Male Performancer Won
2016 Stick Man British Animation Awards Best Voice Performance Won
2018 Labour of Love WhatsOnStage Awards Best Actor in a Play Nominated
2019 Black Panther Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Won

References

  1. ^ a b c "Martin Freeman on Sherlock, politics and why he's not on Twitter". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Martin Freeman (April 2012)". Slow Boat Records. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  3. ^ Larman, Alexander. "Freeman, Martin (b. 1971)". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ^ Braun, J.W. (2010). The Lord of the Films. ECW Press.
  5. ^ "Interview: Martin Freeman, Actor". The Scotsman. 27 November 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Martin Freeman". Who Do You Think You Are?. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b c "Martin Freeman: No ordinary Bilbo Baggins". The Independent. 30 November 2012.
  8. ^ Meritt, Stephanie (22 February 2004). "Tim for a change". Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. ^ [1], Faith No More — I Started A Joke (Official Music Video), youtube.com (21 Feb 2014); retrieved 5 August 2016.
  10. ^ Boy Meets Girl Interview: Martin Freeman profile Archived 2 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Tv.sky.com (30 April 2009); retrieved 27 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Martin Freeman to play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit". BBC News. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  12. ^ Child, Ben (22 October 2010). "Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, a match made in Hobbit heaven". Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  13. ^ a b Calautti, Katie (15 April 2013). "Bilbo Baggins Beats Snow White For Best Hero At MTV Movie Awards". MTV Movie Awards.
  14. ^ a b Szalai, Georg (25 March 2013). Sam Mendes Win Empire Awards in U.K. for 'Skyfall', The Hollywood Reporter.
  15. ^ "Martin Freeman interview: 'I had no interest in Fargo just being a TV version of the film'". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  16. ^ Lowry, Brian (10 July 2014). "2014 Emmy Awards: 'Game of Thrones,' 'Fargo' Lead Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  17. ^ Swift, Andy (11 January 2015). "Golden Globes 2015: Gina Rodriguez, Transparent, The Affair Win Big". TVLine. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  18. ^ Prudom, Laura (20 June 2014). "Critics' Choice Awards: 'Breaking Bad,' 'OITNB,' 'Fargo,' 'Normal Heart' Among Top Winners". Variety. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Richard III". Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  20. ^ Gerard O’Donovan (20 January 2015). "The Eichmann Show, review: 'absolutely enthralling'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Martin Freeman interview: The actor on hobbits, Cumbermania and his Nazi-hounding role in The Eichmann Show". The Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  22. ^ De Semlyen, Phil (22 February 2016). "Martin Freeman's Captain America: Civil War character revealed". Empire. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Cargo' set for world premiere at Adelaide Film Festival". 2 August 2017.
  24. ^ Giroux, Jack (24 September 2016). "'Cargo' First Look: Martin Freeman Stars in the Zombie-Infested Drama". /Film.
  25. ^ a b "Martin Freeman and Sarah Lancashire star in James Graham's Labour of Love at the Noel Coward Theatre". londontheatre.co.uk. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  26. ^ Perry, Spencer (2 January 2018). "Black Panther Character Bios Released, New Preview Coming Next Week". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  27. ^ Schmidt, Joseph (19 November 2017). "Black Panther's Martin Freeman Talks About His Character's Journey". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Martin Freeman Comedy 'Breeders' Lands FX Series Order". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  29. ^ McLean, Craig (26 May 2013). "Amanda Abbington: Sherlock's Martin and Benedict have a fantastic chemistry". Radio Times. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  30. ^ "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Q&A". blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  31. ^ "Martin Freeman on the Sherlock special, celebrity, politics and being "gobby"". 1 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2019. I turned down 25 grand, or whatever, to advertise a burger chain. I'm vegetarian.
  32. ^ "Martin Freeman: No ordinary Bilbo Baggins". The Independent. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  33. ^ NZPA and Greer McDonald (April 2011). "Charity Match Benefits Christchurch Effort". The Rugby Corner. Archived from the original on 27 September 2014.
  34. ^ Franklin-Wallis, Oliver. "GQ&A: Martin Freeman on the Hobbit, Sherlock erotica and why he hates stylists". Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  35. ^ "Martin Freeman Always Looks Sharp". Esquire. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  36. ^ "Martin Freeman Goes to Motown, 2008/2009, The Culture Show Uncut – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  37. ^ Martin Freeman Presents... Made To Measure, Commercial Marketing, 2 February 2006, retrieved 6 March 2018
  38. ^ "Acid Jazz Records | Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner". www.acidjazz.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  39. ^ "Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller sit in, The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show – BBC Radio 6 Music". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  40. ^ "Acid Jazz Records | Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Soul On The Corner". www.acidjazz.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  41. ^ "BBC - BBC Wales marks NHS at 70 with all-star production To Provide All People - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk.
  42. ^ Mason, Rowena (3 April 2015). "Hobbit star Martin Freeman appears in Labour election broadcast". theguardian.com. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  43. ^ Wylie, Catherine (28 August 2015). "Sherlock star Martin Freeman backs Jeremy Corbyn as 'most impressive'". Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  44. ^ "The 48 Hour Film Project: Behind the Scenes". Pixiq. February 2011. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  45. ^ "Best Actor – Martin Freeman". Empire. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  46. ^ "Best Scared-As-S**t Performance". MTV Movie Awards. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  47. ^ "Best Actor Dagger 2014" Archived 23 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
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