"He’s still the same person he was (In AUJ) – not a fighter or adventurer by nature – but he finds a bravery that he didn't know he had and, more importantly, that none of the others knew he had."
QUICK BIO
BIOGRAPHY
Martin Freeman, son of Geoffrey and Philomena, is the youngest of five children. Unfortunately, when Freeman was 10, his parents separated and later, his father died due to a heart attack. He was then raised by a Roman Catholic family, who wasn’t strict in their religious practices, although for Freeman, it had a profound influence on him.
He was schooled at Salesian School in Chertsey, Surrey. Later he studied at Brooklands College to undertake media studies. Keen on the acting career, Freeman then attended the London’s Central School of Speech and Drama.
Freeman has appeared in over 14 theatre productions, several radio shows and 18 television shows including the role of Tim Canterbury in The Office (UK).
He was schooled at Salesian School in Chertsey, Surrey. Later he studied at Brooklands College to undertake media studies. Keen on the acting career, Freeman then attended the London’s Central School of Speech and Drama.
Freeman has appeared in over 14 theatre productions, several radio shows and 18 television shows including the role of Tim Canterbury in The Office (UK).
Freeman is an actor with a difference. He likes to do every take a little bit differently. He says “When a director says ‘that was great can you do the same again” it makes him think, “Why? Why not try something different?”
When The Hobbit was first announced as being made, Freeman was told he should play Bilbo. But he had not read the book so he didn’t give it much thought. He did, thankfully, audition for The Hobbit, while he was filming in the hit show Sherlock, which he was starring alongside Benedict Cumberbatch. Although, when he did do his audition tape, he didn’t think much of it as he knew half the world was going to be auditioning also. Once he knew he was in the frame as the role of Bilbo Baggins, he was excited. It was Guillermo del Toro who was keen on Freeman in the role, but when the film was handed to Sir Peter, Freeman was unsure of the role. But when they met up in the summer of 2010, they were very open to Freeman playing the role. He then had to take careful consideration of the role, as he knew he’d be a long time away from his life and family, and knew it was going to be a huge commitment. Thinking like a husband and a father, was what got Sir Peter and his team liking Freeman more.
When The Hobbit was first announced as being made, Freeman was told he should play Bilbo. But he had not read the book so he didn’t give it much thought. He did, thankfully, audition for The Hobbit, while he was filming in the hit show Sherlock, which he was starring alongside Benedict Cumberbatch. Although, when he did do his audition tape, he didn’t think much of it as he knew half the world was going to be auditioning also. Once he knew he was in the frame as the role of Bilbo Baggins, he was excited. It was Guillermo del Toro who was keen on Freeman in the role, but when the film was handed to Sir Peter, Freeman was unsure of the role. But when they met up in the summer of 2010, they were very open to Freeman playing the role. He then had to take careful consideration of the role, as he knew he’d be a long time away from his life and family, and knew it was going to be a huge commitment. Thinking like a husband and a father, was what got Sir Peter and his team liking Freeman more.
He finally got around to reading The Hobbit, and found it very English and very funny.
He said working with Sir Peter has been an enjoyable experience, and describes his style as ‘fun, informal, direct and very unpretentious.’
Freeman was in the music video ‘I Started A Joke’ by Faith No More
He said working with Sir Peter has been an enjoyable experience, and describes his style as ‘fun, informal, direct and very unpretentious.’
Freeman was in the music video ‘I Started A Joke’ by Faith No More
AWARDS
YEAR
2002
2004 2011 2012 2013 2014 |
WORK
The Office (TV Series)
The Office (TV Series) (for "The Office Christmas Specials") Hardware (TV Series) Sherlock (TV Series) Sherlock (TV Series) (for "A Scandal In Belgravia") Sherlock (TV Series) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Fargo Sherlock |
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MOST NOTABLE MILESTONES
2000:
2003: 2005: 2007: 2009: 2010: 2013: |
Freeman, and partner Abbington, met on Channel 4’s Men Only
Starred in Love Actually Starred in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy as Arthur Dent Appeared alongside Roger Lloyd Pack, Jamie Hogarth and Christopher Mellows in the theatre production, The Last Laugh In an edition of Who Do You Think You Are?, Freeman discovered that his grandfather, Leonard Freeman, was a medic who was killed a couple of days before the Dunkirk evacuation at the beginning of World War II. Leonard's father Richard was born blind and had been a piano tuner and organist at St Andrew's Church, West Tarring and later a music teacher in Kingston upon Hull. On the 25th July, the first episode of Sherlock was aired ‘A Study In Pink’, which rose to critical acclaim. Freeman was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Starred in The Girl Is Mime, which was a short film, part of the 48 Hour Film Project in London Received Best Hero at the MTV Movvie Awards and Best Actor at the 18th Empire Awards for his role as Bilbo on The Hobbit. Starred in the hit movie, The World’s End, with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost |
MARTIN FREEMAN PORTRAYS:
BILBO BAGGINS
The Hobbit Trilogy
The Hobbit Trilogy