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English actor (born 1971) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martin John Christopher Freeman (born 8 September 1971) is an English actor. Among other accolades, he has won two Emmy Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, and has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Martin Freeman | |
|---|---|
Freeman in February 2019 | |
| Born | Martin John Christopher Freeman 8 September 1971 |
| Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Partner | Amanda Abbington (2000–2016) |
| Children | 2 |
Freeman's most notable roles are that of Tim Canterbury in the mockumentary series The Office (2001–2003), Dr. John Watson in the British crime drama series Sherlock (2010–2017), young Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit film trilogy (2012–2014), Lester Nygaard in the first season of the dark comedy-crime drama series Fargo (2014), and Chris Carson in The Responder. He has also appeared in films including the romantic comedy Love Actually (2003), the horror comedy Shaun of the Dead (2004), the sci-fi comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), the action comedy Hot Fuzz (2007), the semi-improvised comedy Nativity! (2009), and the sci-fi comedy The World's End (2013). Since 2016, he has portrayed Everett K. Ross in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in the films Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and the Disney+ series Secret Invasion (2023).[1]
Martin John Christopher Freeman[2] was born on 8 September 1971 in Aldershot, Hampshire,[3] the youngest of five children. His parents, Philomena (née Norris) and naval officer Geoffrey Freeman, separated when he was a child.[specify] His father died of a heart attack when Freeman was 10 years old.[4]
Freeman's paternal grandfather, Leonard W. Freeman, was a medic in the British Expeditionary Force during World War II and was killed in action at Dunkirk just a few days before the Dunkirk evacuation.[5] Leonard's father, Richard, was born blind and worked as a piano tuner and organist.[5]
Freeman was raised in his mother's Catholic faith, and attended the Salesian School in Chertsey, Surrey, before attending Brooklands College in nearby Weybridge for media studies.[6] His older brother, Tim, became a singer with the group Frazier Chorus.
Freeman attended the Central School of Speech and Drama[6] and has appeared in at least 18 TV shows, 14 theatre productions, and several radio productions. He became notable for his role as Tim Canterbury in The Office (2001–2003), a role which, he said in 2004, "cast a very long shadow" for him as an actor.[7] He appeared in the sitcom Hardware (2003–2004). He also appeared in several films, including Ali G Indahouse (2002) and Love Actually (2003).[6]
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 made a brief appearance in the first episode of the second series of This Life. He 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, and in 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".[8] 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.[9]
He played Dr. John Watson in Sherlock, the BBC contemporary adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Its first episode, "A Study in Pink", was broadcast on 25 July 2010 to critical acclaim. For the role, Freeman won the 2011 BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.
Freeman played lead character Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's three-part The Hobbit film series.[10][11] For his performance in the first part, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Freeman won Best Hero at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards[12] and Best Actor at the 18th Empire Awards.[13]
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Freeman appeared in all three films 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, he played insurance salesman Lester Nygaard in the dark comedy-crime drama series Fargo,[14] for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award,[15] a Golden Globe Award,[16] and a Critics' Choice Television Award.[17] He opened in the title role in Shakespeare's play Richard III in July 2014 at Trafalgar Studios.[18]
In 2015, Freeman starred as producer Milton Fruchtman in the television film The Eichmann Show, based on blacklisted TV director Leo Hurwitz's filming of the 1961 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. It intercut dramatic scenes with historical footage from the trial. The Daily Telegraph described it as "absolutely enthralling".[19][20] Freeman also played Everett K. Ross,[21] a Central Intelligence Agency agent in Captain America: Civil War, which was released in May 2016.[22]
In 2017, Freeman starred in Cargo, a feature-length remake of a 2013 short film of the same name, which premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on 6 August 2017.[23][24] Later that year he appeared opposite Tamsin Greig in Labour of Love, a political comedy by James Graham, at the Noël Coward Theatre.[25] Freeman portrayed 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, he starred in numerous adverts for Vodafone.
In June 2018, Freeman was part of To Provide All People, a BBC Wales drama celebrating 70 years of the National Health Service.[28]
Since March 2020, Freeman has starred in the FX/Sky One comedy series Breeders, of which he is also a creator and executive producer.[29] On 18 May 2020 FX and Sky One renewed it for a second season.[30]
Freeman lives in the Belsize Park area of London.[31] He previously lived in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire with actress Amanda Abbington; they were together from 2000 to 2016, and have a son and a daughter.[32] They appeared together in productions such as Sherlock, Swinging with the Finkels, The Debt, The Robinsons, and The All Together. On 22 December 2016, it was reported that they had separated.[33]
Freeman is a former pescetarian[34] who returned to eating red meat in 2024.[35] He is a non-practising Catholic.[36] He is a close friend of actor Simon Pegg, who is the godfather of his son.[37] 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.[38][39]
In 2011, Freeman umpired a charity cricket match to raise money for victims of the Christchurch earthquake.[40]
Freeman's brother, singer-songwriter and website designer Jamie Freeman,[41] died of brain cancer in December 2022.[42]
Freeman is a fan of soul, Motown and jazz music, and presented an episode of BBC Two's The Culture Show in 2009 titled "Martin Freeman Goes to Motown".[43] He also selected music for a 2006 Motown compilation, "Made to Measure",[44] and worked on a jazz compilation with his friend Eddie Piller, "Jazz on the Corner"; released on Acid Jazz Records on 23 March 2018, it features tracks by Kamasi Washington and The Brand New Heavies.[45] The pair presented Craig Charles' Funk and Soul Show on 31 March 2018.[46] In 2019, a follow-up album, "Soul on the Corner", was announced, with tracks by Leroy Hutson and Bobby Womack.[47]
Freeman is a supporter of the Labour Party. As a teenager, he supported the now-defunct political group Militant and volunteered with the Labour Party Young Socialists.[31] In 2015, he appeared in a party political broadcast to endorse the Labour Party ahead of the 2015 UK general election.[48] In August 2015, he supported Jeremy Corbyn's campaign in the Labour Party leadership election.[49]
| 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 |
| Fancy Dress | Pirate | ||
| 2002 | Ali G Indahouse | Richard Cunningham | |
| 2003 | Love Actually | John | |
| 2004 | Blake's Junction 7 | Vila | Short film |
| Call Register | Kevin | ||
| Shaun of the Dead | Declan | Cameo | |
| 2005 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Arthur Dent | |
| 2006 | Confetti | Matt Norris | |
| Breaking and Entering | Sandy Hoffmann | ||
| 2007 | Dedication | Jeremy | |
| The Good Night | Gary Shaller | ||
| Hot Fuzz | Met. Sergeant | ||
| Lonely Hearts | The Pig | Short film | |
| The All Together | Chris Ashworth | ||
| Rubbish | Kevin | Short film | |
| Nightwatching | Rembrandt van Rijn | ||
| 2008 | Rembrandt's J'Accuse | Rembrandt van Rijn | Documentary |
| 2009 | Nativity! | Paul Maddens | |
| Swinging with the Finkels | Alvin Finkel | ||
| 2010 | Wild Target | Hector Dixon | |
| The Girl is Mime | Clive Buckle | Short film[50] | |
| 2011 | What's Your Number? | Simon | |
| 2012 | The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! | The Pirate with a Scarf | Voice |
| Animals | Albert | ||
| The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Bilbo Baggins | ||
| 2013 | The World's End | Oliver Chamberlain | |
| Svengali | Don | ||
| Saving Santa | Bernard D. Elf | Voice | |
| The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | Bilbo Baggins | ||
| 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 |
| Tubby Hayes: A Man in a Hurry | Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2016 | Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | Iain MacKelpie | |
| Captain America: Civil War | Everett K. Ross | ||
| 2017 | Ghost Stories | Mike Priddle | |
| Cargo | Andy Rose | ||
| 2018 | Black Panther | Everett K. Ross | |
| 2019 | The Operative | Thomas | |
| Ode to Joy | Charlie | ||
| 2020 | A Christmas Carol | Bob Cratchit | Voice |
| 2022 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Everett K. Ross | |
| 2023 | Queen of Bones | Malcolm | |
| 2024 | Miller's Girl | Jonathan Miller |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Bill | Craig Parnell | Episode: "Mantrap" |
| This Life | Stuart | Episode: "Last Tango in Southwark" | |
| 1998 | Casualty | Ricky Beck | Episode: "She Loved the Rain" |
| Picking up the Pieces | Brendan | Episode: "1.7" | |
| 2000 | Bruiser | Various roles | 6 episodes |
| Lock, Stock... | Jaap | 2 episodes | |
| Black Books | Doctor | Episode: "Cooking the Books" | |
| 2001 | World of Pub | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| Men Only | Jamie | Television film | |
| 2001–2003 | The Office | Tim Canterbury | 14 episodes |
| 2002 | Helen West | DC Stone | 3 episodes |
| Linda Green | Matt | Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go" | |
| 2003 | Charles II: The Power and The Passion | Lord Shaftesbury | Miniseries |
| The Debt | Terry Ross | Television film | |
| Margery & Gladys | D.S. Stringer | ||
| 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" |
| The Old Curiosity Shop | Mr. Codlin | Television film | |
| 2008 | When Were We Funniest? | Himself | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Boy Meets Girl | Danny Reed | Miniseries |
| Micro Men | Chris Curry | Television film | |
| 2010–2017 | Sherlock | Dr. John Watson | 13 episodes |
| 2014 | The Life of Rock with Brian Pern | Young Brian Pern | Episode: "Jukebox Musical" |
| Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: "Martin Freeman/Charli XCX" | |
| 2014–2015 | Fargo | Lester Nygaard / Narrator | 11 episodes |
| 2015 | The Eichmann Show | Milton Fruchtman | Television film |
| Robot Chicken | Reverend Parris | Voice, episode: "Zero Vegetables" | |
| Toast of London | Himself | Episode: "Global Warming" | |
| 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 | |
| 2019 | A Confession | Det. Supt. Steve Fulcher | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | Talking Heads | Graham | Episode: "A Chip in the Sugar" |
| 2020–2023 | Breeders | Paul Worsley | Also creator & executive producer |
| 2021 | DuckTales | Poe De Spell | Voice, episode: "The Life and Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!" |
| 2022 | Angelyne | Harold Wallach | |
| 2022– | The Responder | Chris | 11 episodes |
| 2023 | Secret Invasion | Everett K. Ross / Everett K. Ross Skrull | 2 episodes |
| TBA | The Seven Dials Mystery | Superintendent Battle | Miniseries |
 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (January 2019) |
| 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 | ||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie | Nominated | |||
| Tumblr TV Awards | Hottest Male Character in a TV Show | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Won | |||
| Best Male Character in a TV Series | Nominated | |||
| 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[13][51] | |
| Saturn Award | Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Scared-as-S**t Performance | Nominated[52] | ||
| Best Hero | Won[12] | |||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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[53] | ||
| 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 | ||
| Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | |||
| The World's End | MTV Movie Awards | Best Fight | 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 | 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 |
| 2023 | The Responder | British Academy Television Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| International Emmy Awards | Best Actor | Won |
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