Editing Martin Freeman

{{short description|English actor (born 1971)}}
{{Other people}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Martin Freeman
| image              = Martin Freeman-5341.jpg
| caption            = Freeman in 2019
| birth_name         = Martin John Christopher Freeman
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1971|09|08|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Aldershot]], [[Hampshire]], England
| occupation         = Actor
| alma_mater    = [[Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]]
| years_active       = 1997–present
| partner            = [[Amanda Abbington]] (2000–2016)<!--Partner is for unmarried/long-term life partners, not a dating history or fiancées.-->
| children           = 2
}}

'''Martin John Christopher Freeman''' (born 8 September 1971) is an English actor. Among [[#Awards and nominations|other accolades]], he has won two [[Emmy Awards]], a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]] and a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]], and has been nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award]].

Freeman's most notable roles are that of [[Tim Canterbury]] in the [[mockumentary]] series ''[[The Office (British TV series)|The Office]]'' (2001–2003), [[Dr. Watson|Dr. John Watson]] in the British crime drama series ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]'' (2010–2017), young [[Bilbo Baggins]] in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' film trilogy]] (2012–2014), [[Lester Nygaard]] in the [[Fargo (season 1)|first season]] of the dark comedy-crime drama series [[Fargo (TV 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 (film)|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 (film)|The World's End]]'' (2013). Since 2016, he has portrayed [[Everett K. Ross (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Everett K. Ross]] in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]], appearing in the films ''[[Captain America: Civil War]]'' (2016), ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' (2018), and ''[[Black Panther: Wakanda Forever]]'' (2022), and the [[Disney+]] series ''[[Secret Invasion (miniseries)|Secret Invasion]]'' (2023).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Panther Star Martin Freeman Returns in Marvel's Secret Invasion |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/black-panther-star-martin-freeman-agent-everett-ross-return-marvel-secret-invasion-samuel-l-jackson/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=TV Shows |date=12 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Martin John Christopher Freeman<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Freeman (April 2012)|url=http://slowboatrecords.co.nz/the-slow-boat-inquisition/martin-freeman-april-2011/|publisher=Slow Boat Records|access-date=29 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130043631/http://slowboatrecords.co.nz/the-slow-boat-inquisition/martin-freeman-april-2011/|archive-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> was born on 8 September 1971 in [[Aldershot]], [[Hampshire]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Freeman, Martin (b. 1971)|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/541286/index.html|publisher=[[Screenonline|BFI Screenonline]]|last=Larman|first=Alexander|access-date=1 January 2012}}</ref> the youngest of five children. His parents, Philomena (née Norris) and naval officer Geoffrey Freeman, separated when he was a child.{{specify|date=May 2020}} His father died of a heart attack when Freeman was 10 years old.<ref>{{cite news|title=Interview: Martin Freeman, Actor|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/interview-martin-freeman-actor-1-472465|date=27 November 2009|publisher=[[The Scotsman]]}}</ref>

Freeman's paternal grandfather, Leonard W. Freeman, was a medic in the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] during [[World War II]] and was killed in action at [[Dunkirk]] just a few days before the [[Dunkirk evacuation]].<ref name=whydw1>{{cite web|title=Martin Freeman|url=http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/martin-freeman|publisher=Who Do You Think You Are?|access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> Leonard's father, Richard, was born blind and worked as a piano tuner and organist.<ref name=whydw1/> 

Freeman was raised in his mother's [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] faith, and attended the [[Salesian School, Chertsey|Salesian School]] in [[Chertsey|Chertsey, Surrey]], before attending [[Brooklands College]] in nearby [[Weybridge]] for media studies.<ref name="independent">{{cite news|last=Viner|first=Brian|date=30 November 2012|title=Martin Freeman: No ordinary Bilbo Baggins|work=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/martin-freeman-no-ordinary-bilbo-baggins-8372536.html}}</ref> His older brother, Tim, became a singer with the group [[Frazier Chorus]].

==Career==
[[File:Martin Freeman during filming of Sherlock cropped.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Freeman filming ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]'' in May 2011]]
Freeman attended the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]]<ref name="independent"/> 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 (British TV series)|The Office]]'' (2001–2003), a role which, he said in 2004, "cast a very long shadow" for him as an actor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/feb/22/features.review7|title=Tim for a change|date=22 February 2004|work=Guardian|access-date=15 August 2015|location=London|first=Stephanie|last=Meritt}}</ref> He appeared in the sitcom ''[[Hardware (TV series)|Hardware]]'' (2003–2004). He also appeared in several films, including ''[[Ali G Indahouse]]'' (2002) and ''[[Love Actually]]'' (2003).<ref name="independent"/>

He began to move into more serious dramatic roles on television with his appearance as [[Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury|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 (1996 TV series)|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]]".<ref>{{cite AV media |type=YouTube video |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDo6g4CCeU |title="Faith No More&nbsp;— I Started A Joke (Official Music Video)"|date=21 February 2014|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> In May 2009, he starred in ''[[Boy Meets Girl (ITV series)|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.<ref>[http://tv.sky.com/boy-meets-girl-interview-martin-freeman Boy Meets Girl Interview: Martin Freeman profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502175201/http://tv.sky.com/boy-meets-girl-interview-martin-freeman |date=2 May 2009 }}, Tv.sky.com (30 April 2009); retrieved 27 August 2011.</ref>

He played [[John Watson (Sherlock Holmes)|Dr. John Watson]] in ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|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 [[British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor|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)|''The Hobbit'' film series]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11604193|title=Martin Freeman to play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit|date=22 October 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=24 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/oct/22/hobbit-martin-freeman-bilbo-baggins|title=Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, a match made in Hobbit heaven|date=22 October 2010|work=Guardian|access-date=24 October 2010|location=London|first=Ben|last=Child}}</ref> For his performance in the first part, ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'', Freeman won Best Hero at the [[2013 MTV Movie Awards]]<ref name=2013MTVMovieAwards>Calautti, Katie (15 April 2013). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130418070150/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705658/bilbo-baggins-best-hero-movie-awards-2013.jhtml "Bilbo Baggins Beats Snow White For Best Hero At MTV Movie Awards"]. [[MTV Movie Awards]].</ref> and Best Actor at the [[18th Empire Awards]].<ref name=18thEmpireAwards>Szalai, Georg (25 March 2013). [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/empire-awards-skyfall-sam-mendes-430635 Sam Mendes Win Empire Awards in U.K. for 'Skyfall'], ''The Hollywood Reporter''.</ref>

[[File:Martin Freeman, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2016 at The Royal Albert Hall (26118668654).jpg|thumb|left|Freeman at the [[BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards]], [[The Royal Albert Hall]], April 2016]]
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 (film)|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 fiction|crime drama]] series ''[[Fargo (TV series)|Fargo]],''<ref>{{cite news|last=Anthony|first=Andrew|date=19 April 2014|title=Martin Freeman interview: 'I had no interest in Fargo just being a TV version of the film'|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/apr/20/martin-freeman-interview-fargo-tv-version-hobbit-sherlock-coen-brothers|access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> for which he was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/emmy-nominations-2014-list-emmys-nominees-1201260236/ |title=2014 Emmy Awards: 'Game of Thrones,' 'Fargo' Lead Nominations |work=Variety |first=Brian |last=Lowry |date=10 July 2014 |access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> a [[Golden Globe Award]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2015/01/11/golden-globe-winners-2015-golden-globes-awards-winner-list/ |title=Golden Globes 2015: Gina Rodriguez, ''Transparent'', ''The Affair'' Win Big |publisher=[[TVLine]] |first=Andy |last=Swift |date=11 January 2015 |access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> and a [[Critics' Choice Television Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/critics-choice-awards-scandal-breaking-bad-orange-is-the-new-black-1201224259/ |title=Critics' Choice Awards: 'Breaking Bad,' 'OITNB,' 'Fargo,' 'Normal Heart' Among Top Winners |first=Laura |last=Prudom |work=Variety |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> He opened in the title role in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' in July 2014 at [[Trafalgar Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Richard III|url=http://www.trafalgartransformed.com/whats-on/richard-iii|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511224520/http://trafalgartransformed.com/whats-on/richard-iii|archive-date=11 May 2014|access-date=26 September 2014|website=Trafalgar Transformed}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{cite web|author=O’Donovan|first=Gerard|date=20 January 2015|title=The Eichmann Show, review: 'absolutely enthralling'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/11355086/eichmann-show.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/11355086/eichmann-show.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=20 January 2015|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McLean|first=Craig|date=18 January 2015|title=Martin Freeman interview: The actor on hobbits, Cumbermania and his Nazi-hounding role in The Eichmann Show|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/martin-freeman-interview-the-actor-on-hobbits-cumbermania-and-his-nazihounding-role-in-the-eichmann-show-9983829.html|access-date=20 January 2015|work=The Independent}}</ref> Freeman also played [[Everett K. Ross (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Everett K. Ross]],<ref name="Lord of the Films">{{Cite book|last=Braun|first=J.W.|title=The Lord of the Films|publisher=ECW Press|year=2010}}</ref> a [[Central Intelligence Agency]] agent in ''[[Captain America: Civil War]]'', which was released in May 2016.<ref name="FreemanRoss">{{cite web|last=De Semlyen|first=Phil|date=22 February 2016|title=Martin Freeman's Captain America: Civil War character revealed|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/martin-freeman-captain-america-civil-war-character-revealed/|access-date=22 February 2016|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref>

In 2017, Freeman starred in ''[[Cargo (2017 film)|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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Keast|first=Jackie|date=2 August 2017|title=Cargo' set for world premiere at Adelaide Film Festival|url=https://www.if.com.au/cargo-make-world-premiere-adelaide-film-festival/|website=if.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/cargo-first-look/|work=[[/Film]]|title='Cargo' First Look: Martin Freeman Stars in the Zombie-Infested Drama|date=24 September 2016|first=Jack|last=Giroux}}</ref> Later that year he appeared opposite [[Tamsin Greig]] in ''[[Labour of Love (play)|Labour of Love]]'', a political comedy by [[James Graham (playwright)|James Graham]], at the [[Noël Coward Theatre]].<ref name="LTLOL">{{cite web|last=O'Hanlon|first=Dom|date=19 May 2017|title=Martin Freeman and Sarah Lancashire star in James Graham's Labour of Love at the Noel Coward Theatre|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/martin-freeman-and-sarah-lancashire-star-in-james-grahams-labour-of-love-at-the|access-date=19 May 2017|work=londontheatre.co.uk}}</ref> Freeman portrayed fictional Labour MP David Lyons, whose modernising ideas pit him against the traditional left-wing constituency agent Jean Whittaker (Greig).<ref name=LTLOL/>

In 2018, he reprised his role as Everett K. Ross in ''[[Black Panther (film)|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/911591-black-panther-character-bios-released-new-preview-coming-next-week#/slide/1|title=Black Panther Character Bios Released, New Preview Coming Next Week|last=Perry|first=Spencer|publisher=[[ComingSoon.net]]|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=January 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072421/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/911591-black-panther-character-bios-released-new-preview-coming-next-week|archive-date=January 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/marvel/2017/11/20/black-panther-martin-freeman/|title=Black Panther's Martin Freeman Talks About His Character's Journey|last=Schmidt|first=Joseph|publisher=ComicBook.com|date=November 19, 2017|access-date=November 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121104911/http://comicbook.com/marvel/2017/11/20/black-panther-martin-freeman/|archive-date=21 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between May 2017 and July 2019, he starred in numerous adverts for [[Vodafone UK|Vodafone]].

In June 2018, Freeman was part of ''To Provide All People'', a [[BBC Wales]] drama celebrating 70 years of the [[National Health Service]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 April 2018|title=BBC Wales marks NHS at 70 with all-star production To Provide All People|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/to-provide-all-people|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

Since March 2020, Freeman has starred in the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]/[[Sky One]] comedy series ''[[Breeders (TV series)|Breeders]],'' of which he is also a creator and executive producer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|date=14 October 2018|title=Martin Freeman Comedy 'Breeders' Lands FX Series Order|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/martin-freeman-comedy-breeders-lands-fx-series-order-1152206|access-date=2020-02-22|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}}</ref> On 18 May 2020 FX and Sky One renewed it for a second season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Breaking News - "Breeders" Returns for a Second Series - Critically Acclaimed Sky Original Starring Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/05/18/breeders-returns-for-a-second-series-critically-acclaimed-sky-original-starring-martin-freeman-and-daisy-haggard-907111/20200518sky01/|access-date=2020-09-02|website=www.thefutoncritic.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Freeman lives in the [[Belsize Park]] area of [[London]].<ref name="Financial Times">{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2f0d56bc-c657-11e6-8f29-9445cac8966f|title=Martin Freeman on Sherlock, politics and why he's not on Twitter|newspaper=Financial Times|date=22 December 2016|access-date=22 December 2016|last1=Mance|first1=Henry}}</ref> He previously lived in [[Potters Bar|Potters Bar, Hertfordshire]], with actress [[Amanda Abbington]]; they were together from 2000 to 2016, and have a son and a daughter.<ref name="Radio Times">{{cite web|last=McLean|first=Craig|title=Amanda Abbington: Sherlock's Martin and Benedict have a fantastic chemistry|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-05-26/amanda-abbington-sherlocks-martin-and-benedict-have-a-fantastic-chemistry|publisher=Radio Times|access-date=6 February 2014|date=26 May 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mance|first=Henry|date=22 December 2016|title=Martin Freeman on Sherlock, politics and why he's not on Twitter|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2f0d56bc-c657-11e6-8f29-9445cac8966f|access-date=17 August 2020|website=The Financial Times|language=en-GB}}</ref> 

Freeman is a former [[Pescetarianism|pescetarian]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230301035033/https://sherlockshome.net/2016/09/11/10-things-you-never-knew-about-martin-freeman/ "10 Things You Never Knew About Martin Freeman"]. sherlockshome.net. Retrieved 19 July 2022.</ref> who returned to eating [[red meat]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McTaggart|first=India|date=2024|title=Actor Martin Freeman eats pork pies again after 38 years|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/01/martin-freeman-eating-meat-again-substitutes-very-processed|website=The Telegraph|language=en-GB|archive-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501230224/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/01/martin-freeman-eating-meat-again-substitutes-very-processed/|url-status=live}}</ref> He is a non-practising [[Catholic Church|Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite news | last = Pelly |first=Rich |title=Martin Freeman: 'I'm one of few people in my family who would ever unironically go into a church' | work= The Guardian |url=https://theguardian.com/culture/2022/jul/16/martin-freeman-actor-this-much-i-know | date = 16 July 2022 |access-date=5 November 2022}}</ref> He is a close friend of actor [[Simon Pegg]], who is the godfather of his son.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://crazyformartinfreeman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/rough-transcript-from-hitchhikers-guide.html|title=The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Q&A|date=8 July 2013|publisher=blogspot.co.uk|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> Freeman's personal style follows that of British [[Mod (subculture)|mod subculture]], and he cites [[Paul Weller]] as one of his heroes and influences on his style.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Franklin-Wallis|first=Oliver|date=13 December 2013|title=GQ&A: Martin Freeman on the Hobbit, Sherlock erotica and why he hates stylists|work=GQ|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/martin-freeman-interview-the-hobbit-sherlock|access-date=6 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Holden|first=Michael|date=5 December 2012|title=Martin Freeman Always Looks Sharp|language=en-GB|work=Esquire|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/style/news/a188/martin-freeman-always-looks-sharp/|access-date=6 March 2018}}</ref> 

In 2011, Freeman umpired a charity cricket match to raise money for victims of the [[2011 Christchurch earthquake|Christchurch earthquake]].<ref>{{cite web|author=NZPA and Greer McDonald|title=Charity Match Benefits Christchurch Effort|url=http://therugbycorner.com/2011/04/charity-match-benefits-christchurch-effort.html|work=The Rugby Corner|date=April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140927052147/http://therugbycorner.com/2011/04/charity-match-benefits-christchurch-effort.html|archive-date=27 September 2014}}</ref>

Freeman's brother, singer-songwriter and website designer [[Jamie Freeman]],<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/apr/17/features.magazine|title = Master of the universe|date = 17 April 2005|accessdate = 6 December 2022|work = [[The Guardian]] |last = Sawyer|first = Miranda}}</ref> died of brain cancer in December 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jamie |url=https://adactio.com/journal/19720 |website=Adactio |access-date=6 December 2022 |date=5 December 2022}}</ref>

===Music===
Freeman is a fan of [[Soul music|soul]], [[Motown]] and [[jazz]] music, and presented an episode of [[BBC Two]]'s ''[[The Culture Show]]'' in 2009 titled "Martin Freeman Goes to Motown".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gpb2s|title=Martin Freeman Goes to Motown, 2008/2009, The Culture Show Uncut – BBC Two|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=6 March 2018}}</ref> He also selected music for a 2006 Motown compilation, "Made to Measure",<ref>{{Citation|title=Martin Freeman Presents... Made To Measure|date=2 February 2006|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martin-Freeman-Presents-Made-Measure/dp/B000E0W1IA|publisher=Commercial Marketing|access-date=6 March 2018}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 January 2018|title=Acid Jazz Records {{!}} Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller present Jazz On The Corner|url=http://www.acidjazz.co.uk/martin-freeman-and-eddie-piller-present-jazz-on-the-corner/|access-date=6 March 2018|website=www.acidjazz.co.uk|language=en-US|archive-date=3 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050543/http://www.acidjazz.co.uk/martin-freeman-and-eddie-piller-present-jazz-on-the-corner/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The pair presented [[Craig Charles]]' ''Funk and Soul Show'' on 31 March 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09x8cl5|title=Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller sit in, The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show – BBC Radio 6 Music|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> In 2019, a follow-up album,  "Soul on the Corner", was announced, with tracks by [[Leroy Hutson]] and [[Bobby Womack]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acidjazz.co.uk/martin-freeman-eddie-piller-present-soul-on-the-corner/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405214517/https://www.acidjazz.co.uk/martin-freeman-eddie-piller-present-soul-on-the-corner/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 April 2019|title=Acid Jazz Records {{!}} Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller present Soul On The Corner|website=www.acidjazz.co.uk|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref>

=== Political views ===
Freeman is a supporter of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. As a teenager, he supported the now-defunct political group [[Militant tendency|Militant]] and volunteered with the [[Labour Party Young Socialists]].<ref name="Financial Times"/> In 2015, he appeared in a party political broadcast to endorse the Labour Party ahead of the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 UK general election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/30/hobbit-star-martin-freeman-appears-in-labour-election-broadcast |title=Hobbit star Martin Freeman appears in Labour election broadcast |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena|date=3 April 2015 |website=[[theguardian.com]]|access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, he supported [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s [[2015 Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party leadership campaign|campaign]] in the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|Labour Party leadership election]].<ref name="belfasttelegraph">{{cite news |last=Wylie|first=Catherine|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/sherlock-star-martin-freeman-backs-jeremy-corbyn-as-most-impressive-31483980.html|title=Sherlock star Martin Freeman backs Jeremy Corbyn as 'most impressive'|location=Belfast|newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=28 August 2015|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|1998
|''I Just Want to Kiss You''
|Frank
|Short film
|-
|1999
|''Exhaust''
|The Car Owner
|Short film
|-
|2000
|''The Low Down''
|Solomon
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2001
|''Round About Five''
|The Man
|Short film
|-
|''Fancy Dress''
|Pirate
|
|-
|2002
|''[[Ali G Indahouse]]''
|Richard Cunningham
|
|-
|2003
|''[[Love Actually]]''
|John
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |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 (film)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''
|[[Arthur Dent]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2006
|''[[Confetti (2006 film)|Confetti]]''
|Matt Norris
|
|-
|''[[Breaking and Entering (film)|Breaking and Entering]]''
|Sandy Hoffmann
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |2007
|''[[Dedication (film)|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|Rembrandt van Rijn]]
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Rembrandt's J'Accuse]]''
|Rembrandt van Rijn
|Documentary
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
|''[[Nativity! (film)|Nativity!]]''
|Paul Maddens
|
|-
|''[[Swinging with the Finkels]]''
|Alvin Finkel
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
|''[[Wild Target]]''
|Hector Dixon
|
|-
|''The Girl is Mime''
|Clive Buckle
|Short film<ref name="The 48 Hour Film Project: Behind the Scenes">{{cite web|url=http://www.pixiq.com/article/48-hour-film-project-behind-the-scenes|publisher=Pixiq|title=The 48 Hour Film Project: Behind the Scenes|date=February 2011|access-date=12 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214193628/http://www.pixiq.com/article/48-hour-film-project-behind-the-scenes|archive-date=14 February 2011}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|''[[What's Your Number?]]''
|Simon
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2012
|''[[The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!]]''
|The Pirate with a Scarf
|Voice
|-
|''[[Animals (2012 film)|Animals]]''
|Albert
|
|-
|''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
|[[Bilbo Baggins]]
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2013
|''[[The World's End (film)|The World's End]]''
|Oliver Chamberlain
|
|-
|''[[Svengali (2013 film)|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
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2015
|''Midnight of My Life''
|[[Steve Marriott]]
|Short film
|-
|''[[Tubby Hayes]]: A Man in a Hurry''
|Narrator
|Documentary
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|''[[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (film)|Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]]''
|Iain MacKelpie
|
|-
|''[[Captain America: Civil War]]''
|[[Everett K. Ross (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Everett K. Ross]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2017
|''[[Ghost Stories (2017 film)|Ghost Stories]]''
|Mike Priddle
|
|-
|''[[Cargo (2017 film)|Cargo]]''
|Andy Rose
|
|-
|2018
|''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]''
|Everett K. Ross
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2019
|''[[The Operative (film)|The Operative]]''
|Thomas
|
|-
| ''[[Ode to Joy (film)|Ode to Joy]]''
| Charlie
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[A Christmas Carol (2020 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''
| [[Bob Cratchit]] 
| Voice
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Black Panther: Wakanda Forever]]''
| Everett K. Ross
|
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Queen of Bones]]''
|  Malcolm
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2024
| ''[[Miller's Girl]]''
| Jonathan Miller
|
|-
| ''[[Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| TBA
| ''[[Flavia (film)|Flavia]]''
|
| Post-production 
|}

===Television===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1997
|''[[The Bill]]''
|Craig Parnell
|Episode: "Mantrap"
|-
|''[[This Life (1996 TV series)|This Life]]''
|Stuart
|Episode: "Last Tango in Southwark"
|-
| rowspan="2" |1998
|''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
|Ricky Beck
|Episode: "She Loved the Rain"
|-
|''[[Picking Up the Pieces (TV series)|Picking Up the Pieces]]''
|Brendan
|Episode: "1.7"
|-
| rowspan="3" |2000
|''[[Bruiser (TV series)|Bruiser]]''
|Various roles
|6 episodes
|-
|''[[Lock, Stock...]]''
|Jaap
|2 episodes
|-
|''[[Black Books]]''
|Doctor
|Episode: "Cooking the Books"
|-
| rowspan="2" |2001
|''[[World of Pub]]''
|Various roles
|5 episodes
|-
|''Men Only''
|Jamie
|Television film
|-
|2001–2003
|''[[The Office (UK TV series)|The Office]]''
|[[Tim Canterbury]]
|14 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2002
|''Helen West''
|DC Stone
|3 episodes
|-
|''[[Linda Green]]''
|Matt
|Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go"
|-
| rowspan="3" |2003
|''[[Charles II: The Power and The Passion]]''
|[[Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury|Lord Shaftesbury]]
|Miniseries
|-
|''[[The Debt (2003 film)|The Debt]]''
|Terry Ross
|rowspan=2|Television film
|-
|''[[Margery & Gladys]]''
|D.S. Stringer
|-
|2003–2004
|''[[Hardware (TV series)|Hardware]]''
|Mike
|12 episodes
|-
|2004
|''[[Pride (2004 film)|Pride]]''
|Fleck
|Television film
|-
|2005
|''[[The Robinsons]]''
|Ed Robinson
|6 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007
|''[[Comedy Showcase]]''
|Greg Wilson
|Episode: "Other People"
|-
|''[[The Old Curiosity Shop (2007 film)|The Old Curiosity Shop]]''
|Mr. Codlin
|Television film
|-
|2008
|''[[When Were We Funniest?]]''
|Himself
|4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
|''[[Boy Meets Girl (ITV series)|Boy Meets Girl]]''
|Danny Reed
|Miniseries
|-
|''[[Micro Men]]''
|[[Christopher Curry (businessman)|Chris Curry]]
|Television film
|-
|2010–2017
|''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]''
|[[Dr. Watson|Dr. John Watson]]
|13 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |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 (TV series)|Fargo]]''
|[[Lester Nygaard]] / Narrator
|11 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" |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 (TV series)|StartUp]]''
|Phil Rask
|20 episodes
|-
|2017
|''[[Carnage (2017 film)|Carnage: Swallowing the Past]]''
|Jeff
|rowspan=2|Television film
|-
|2018
|''To Provide All People''
|Consultant Cardiologist
|-
|2019
|''[[A Confession (TV series)|A Confession]]''
|[[Detective Superintendent|Det. Supt.]] [[Murder of Sian O'Callaghan|Steve Fulcher]]
|6 episodes
|-
|2020
|''[[Talking Heads (British TV series)|Talking Heads]]''
|Graham
|Episode: "A Chip in the Sugar"
|-
|2020–2023
|[[Breeders (TV series)|''Breeders'']]
|Paul Worsley
|Also creator & executive producer
|-
|2021
|''[[DuckTales (2017 TV series)|DuckTales]]''
|Poe De Spell
|Voice, episode: "The Life and Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!"
|-
|2022
|''[[Angelyne (miniseries)|Angelyne]]''
|Harold Wallach
|3 episodes
|-
|2022–present
|''[[The Responder]]''
|Chris
|11 episodes
|-
|2023
|''[[Secret Invasion (miniseries)|Secret Invasion]]''
|[[Everett K. Ross (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Everett K. Ross]] / Everett K. Ross [[Skrull]]
|2 episodes
|-
|TBA
|''[[The Seven Dials Mystery (TV series)|The Seven Dials Mystery]]''
|[[Superintendent Battle]]
|Miniseries
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{{BLP sources section|date=January 2019}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Year !! Work !! Award !! Category !! Result
|-
|2002||''[[The Office (UK TV series)|The Office]]''||[[British Comedy Awards]]||Best Comedy Actor||{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="6"|2004|| rowspan="2"|''The Office'' (for "[[The Office Christmas Specials]]")||[[BAFTAs]]||[[British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Performance|Best Comedy Performance]]||{{nom}}
|-
|British Comedy Awards||Best TV Comedy Actor||{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|''[[Love Actually]]''||Phoenix Film Critics Society||Best Cast||{{nom}}
|-
|Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award||Best Ensemble Cast||{{won}}
|-
|[[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]]||Best Acting Ensemble||{{nom}}
|-
|''[[Hardware (TV series)|Hardware]]''||[[Rose d'Or]]||Best Male Comedy Performance||{{won}}
|-
|2011||rowspan="2"|''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]''||rowspan="2"|BAFTAs||rowspan="2"|[[British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]||{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="12"|2012||{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|''Sherlock'' (for "[[A Scandal in Belgravia]]")||[[Primetime Emmy Award]]||[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]]||{{nom}}
|-
|Gold Derby TV Awards||TV movie/Miniseries Supporting Actor ||{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="8"|''Sherlock''||[[Crime Thriller Awards]]||Best Supporting Actor||{{won}}
|-
|Online Film Critics' Awards||Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries||{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |PAAFTJ Awards||Best Cast in a Miniseries or TV Movie||{{won}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie||{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |Tumblr TV Awards||Hottest Male Character in a TV Show||{{nom}}
|-
|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series||{{won}}
|-
|Best Male Character in a TV Series||{{nom}}
|-
|Best Cast in a TV Show||{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="13"|''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''||[[Total Film]] Hotlist Awards||Hottest Actor ||{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="13"|2013||[[Empire Awards]]||[[Empire Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]||{{won}}<ref name=18thEmpireAwards/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/awards2013/winners/bestactor.asp|title=Best Actor&nbsp;– Martin Freeman|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref>
|-
|[[Saturn Award]]||[[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]||{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[MTV Movie Awards]]||Best Scared-as-S**t Performance||{{nom}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130309014727/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2013/best-scared-as-s--t-performance/ "Best Scared-As-S**t Performance"]. MTV Movie Awards. Retrieved 29 May 2013.</ref>
|-
|Best Hero||{{won}}<ref name=2013MTVMovieAwards/>
|-
|SFX Awards||Best Actor||{{nom}}
|-
|Shorts Awards||Visionary Actor||{{won}}
|-
|New Zealand Movie Awards||Hero of the Year ||{{nom}}
|-
|Constellation Awards||Best Male Performance In A 2012 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, Or Mini-Series||{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |Tumblr Movie Awards||Best Leading Actor ||{{nom}}
|-
|Best Ship ||{{nom}}
|-
|Online Film Critics' Awards||Most Cinematic Moment||{{nom}}
|-
|Stella Awards||Best Actor in a Leading Role ||{{won}}
|-
|''The World's End''||Alternative End of Year Film Awards||Best Ensemble Cast||{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="19"|2014||rowspan="7"|''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]''||[[Empire Awards]]||[[Empire Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]||{{nom}}
|-
| MTV Movie Awards||Best Hero||{{nom}}
|-
|Constellation Awards||Best Male Performance In A 2013 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, Or Mini-Series||{{incorrect|2nd Place}}
|-
|YouReviewers Awards||Best Hero||{{nom}}
|-
|Stella Awards||Best Actor in a Leading Role||{{won}}
|-
|Online Film Critics' Awards||Most Cinematic Moment||{{nom}}
|-
|CinEuphoria Awards||Best Ensemble||{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="6"|''Fargo''||[[Critics' Choice Television Awards]]||Best Actor in a Movie or Mini-Series||{{nom}}
|-
|[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]||[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]]||{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |Online Film Critics' Awards||Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries||{{nom}}
|-
|Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries||{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award]]||[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor&nbsp;– Miniseries or Television Film]]||{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|Crime Thriller Awards||rowspan="2"|Best Actor||style="background:#FDD; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|Nominated<ref>[http://www.crimethrillerawards.com/filmtvaward/best-actor-dagger-2014/ "Best Actor Dagger 2014"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323142314/http://www.crimethrillerawards.com/filmtvaward/best-actor-dagger-2014/ |date=23 March 2016 }}. Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards. Retrieved 12 January 2015.</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|''Sherlock''
|-
|Critics' Choice Television Awards||Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Mini-Series||{{nom}}
|-
|Primetime Emmy Awards||[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]]||{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |Online Film Critics' Awards||Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries||{{nom}}
|-
|Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries||{{nom}}
|-
|''The World's End''||MTV Movie Awards||Best Fight||{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015||rowspan="2"|''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies]]''||MTV Movie Awards||Best Hero||{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |Favorite British Artists of the Year||Favourite Actor in a Motion Picture||{{nom}}
|-
|''Fargo''||Favourite Actor in a Television Series||{{nom}}
|-
|''Richard III''||The Mousetrap Awards||Best Male Performancer||{{win}}
|-
|2016||''Stick Man''||British Animation Awards||Best Voice Performance ||{{win}}
|-
|2018||''Labour of Love''||[[WhatsOnStage Awards]]||Best Actor in a Play ||{{nom}}
|-
|2019||''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]''||[[Screen Actors Guild Award]]s||[[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]||{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|2023||rowspan="2"|''[[The Responder]]''||[[British Academy Television Awards]]||[[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]||{{nom}}
|-
| [[51st International Emmy Awards|International Emmy Awards]] || [[International Emmy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] || {{won}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{IMDb name}}
*{{Discogs artist}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Martin Freeman
|list =
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor}}
{{EmmyAward MiniseriesSupportingActor}}
{{Empire Award for Best Actor}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Hero}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Martin}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Award (television) winners]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:English socialists]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Aldershot]]
[[Category:Male actors from Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Belsize Park]]
[[Category:People from Potters Bar]]
[[Category:Actors from Hertsmere]]