Martin Freeman
Birthday: 8 September 1971, Aldershot, Hampshire, England, UK
Birth Name: Martin John Christopher Freeman
Height: 169 cm
Martin Freeman is an English actor, best known for portraying Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy, Tim Canterbury in the original UK version of sitcom mockumentary The Office ...Show More
My mum was Labour-voting, but wanted us to know we were important. Basically, everyone's equal, but Show more
My mum was Labour-voting, but wanted us to know we were important. Basically, everyone's equal, but you, my children, are a bit better. Hide
When I wear jeans I want to look like a man, not a child.
When I wear jeans I want to look like a man, not a child.
I value being able to go into a record shop and people leaving me alone.
I value being able to go into a record shop and people leaving me alone.
I hate the fact that so much of our life is computerized rather than mechanized.
I hate the fact that so much of our life is computerized rather than mechanized.
Sherlock (2010) is one of the biggest things I will do, ever - we could never have predicted that le Show more
Sherlock (2010) is one of the biggest things I will do, ever - we could never have predicted that level of insanity around the series. Hide
I don't write anything off without reading a script, and if it's a good one, I'll consider it, wheth Show more
I don't write anything off without reading a script, and if it's a good one, I'll consider it, whether it's for $20 or a million dollars. Hide
I wanted to be an actor because I saw Dog Day Afternoon (1975) you know what I mean?
I wanted to be an actor because I saw Dog Day Afternoon (1975) you know what I mean?
Half of us are partly German! Half our language and culture, generally, in Anglo-Saxon terms, is Ger Show more
Half of us are partly German! Half our language and culture, generally, in Anglo-Saxon terms, is German. Hide
I like things that are simple, such as an alarm clock.
I like things that are simple, such as an alarm clock.
Name anything - high-definition TV, computer obsolescence - and I'm pretty much annoyed by it.
Name anything - high-definition TV, computer obsolescence - and I'm pretty much annoyed by it.
To my mind there are not enough things that show the Nazis as human, as smart people, charismatic pe Show more
To my mind there are not enough things that show the Nazis as human, as smart people, charismatic people, who are not inhuman naturally. But who are able to be fantastically inhuman when they choose to be. Hide
Some people have that roar in their head, but I'm not sure I ever did. That live-fast-die-young thin Show more
Some people have that roar in their head, but I'm not sure I ever did. That live-fast-die-young thing. No one wants it really - Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin - it's not good. I want to live with Amanda till I'm 70. I was never the kid that went all the way with naughtiness, never got caned or in serious trouble. I always knew when to pull back. Hide
I've always loved Christmas and that's not really gone away from me from being a child to now. It's Show more
I've always loved Christmas and that's not really gone away from me from being a child to now. It's always a magical time and I'm unashamed in my love for Christmas. Hide
Disappointment is an endless wellspring of comedy inspiration.
Disappointment is an endless wellspring of comedy inspiration.
I have a very extreme state of mind. Things are very black or very white.
I have a very extreme state of mind. Things are very black or very white.
I did a play once where a reviewer said, Martin Freeman is too nice to play a bad guy.' And I though Show more
I did a play once where a reviewer said, Martin Freeman is too nice to play a bad guy.' And I thought: 'Well, bad guys aren't always bad guys, you know?' When I see someone play the obvious villain, I know it's false. Hide
I think what 'The Hobbit' and Middle-earth deal in are quite universal and timeless themes of honor Show more
I think what 'The Hobbit' and Middle-earth deal in are quite universal and timeless themes of honor and love and friendship... so they're things that do resonate with people. Hide
I don't think it was a surprise that I ended up as an actor, and it was anything but a disappointmen Show more
I don't think it was a surprise that I ended up as an actor, and it was anything but a disappointment. Hide
I like the quiet life sometimes. I also love a bustling press conference sometimes as well. I love a Show more
I like the quiet life sometimes. I also love a bustling press conference sometimes as well. I love a 600 meter red carpet. Hide
Any pigeonhole is something to be rebelled against.
Any pigeonhole is something to be rebelled against.
I don't think anyone looks into their family tree and expects it to come up smelling of roses.
I don't think anyone looks into their family tree and expects it to come up smelling of roses.
Acting is the only thing I'm even vaguely good at and acting is something that I think I do know abo Show more
Acting is the only thing I'm even vaguely good at and acting is something that I think I do know about. Hide
I've been doing interviews for years, and in all that time, I've virtually never read one and gone, Show more
I've been doing interviews for years, and in all that time, I've virtually never read one and gone, 'Yep, factually and tonally that's exactly what happened.' Pretty much never. Hide
With superheroes and comics and fantasy and Sci-Fi being absolutely the popular currency in cinema, Show more
With superheroes and comics and fantasy and Sci-Fi being absolutely the popular currency in cinema, it's like people have said in endless magazines, it's the revenge of the geeks and all that. There's some truth in that. Hide
There was very little drama and performance at my school, so I've never forgotten the people who did Show more
There was very little drama and performance at my school, so I've never forgotten the people who did encourage me and I've thought whether it would be a good idea to even get in touch with them and just say thanks, because they really opened a door for me mentally and emotionally - that's really important. Hide
I am a fan of the Coen brothers. I'm not a fanatic. I'm a big admirer. They create unique worlds, an Show more
I am a fan of the Coen brothers. I'm not a fanatic. I'm a big admirer. They create unique worlds, and there is a real atmosphere to their films. Not everyone can get that. That's a massive part of their appeal: you can recognize them. Like all the great directors or artists, you know it when you see it. Hide
I think the only directing I'd be any good at is theatre directing. It's the only thing I can see my Show more
I think the only directing I'd be any good at is theatre directing. It's the only thing I can see myself doing. Hide
I'm always interested with other actors in what their process is, and are they still interested in a Show more
I'm always interested with other actors in what their process is, and are they still interested in acting, as opposed to being a star. Hide
I'm one of the few people I know who believes in God.
I'm one of the few people I know who believes in God.
I've got an overly developed sense of what selling out is, and I of course worry about it too much.
I've got an overly developed sense of what selling out is, and I of course worry about it too much.
I'm not a practicing Catholic or I wouldn't be living unwed with a woman, and I don't think all poof Show more
I'm not a practicing Catholic or I wouldn't be living unwed with a woman, and I don't think all poofs are going to hell, and I don't think everyone who's had an abortion is damned, most of my friends are atheists and I understand atheism, I get it, but I happen to be a theist. I believe in our answerableness to something else. Hide
I would wear a full-length cape if I could get away with it - I do love a good swirl in a fog.
I would wear a full-length cape if I could get away with it - I do love a good swirl in a fog.
I'm not posh or common, I'm in between.
I'm not posh or common, I'm in between.
I like uncertainty in roles, and I like uncertainty in art, really.
I like uncertainty in roles, and I like uncertainty in art, really.
I'm geek royalty now.
I'm geek royalty now.
Like any friendship or marriage, familiarity breeds more contempt, and love, and everything.
Like any friendship or marriage, familiarity breeds more contempt, and love, and everything.
If you are a plumber, you can work on a shed, or you can work on a mansion. It's just scale.
If you are a plumber, you can work on a shed, or you can work on a mansion. It's just scale.
God, no. I don't do any of that shit [partying with celebrities]. I've got a stag weekend coming up Show more
God, no. I don't do any of that shit [partying with celebrities]. I've got a stag weekend coming up and I've said I'm not doing anything more than a few drinks. I won't have it. I'll go home and watch Antiques Roadshow (1997). Hide
I've got a stag weekend coming up and I've said I'm not doing anything more than a few drinks. I won Show more
I've got a stag weekend coming up and I've said I'm not doing anything more than a few drinks. I won't have it. I'll go home and watch Antiques Roadshow. Hide
People misunderstand me.
People misunderstand me.
I think people just like seeing friendship. I think people like seeing people who just drive each ot Show more
I think people just like seeing friendship. I think people like seeing people who just drive each other up the wall, but at same time, can't live without each other. Hide
Once you've switched that switch [commitment], then, though you notice that other people are great, Show more
Once you've switched that switch [commitment], then, though you notice that other people are great, you're just not interested. Hide
I'm afraid I don't have a very pragmatic or unromantic view of props. I don't imbue them with any gr Show more
I'm afraid I don't have a very pragmatic or unromantic view of props. I don't imbue them with any great sense of mystery or anything. Hide
I'm not particularly affable in real life, I have to tell you. I've got that side to me, of course, Show more
I'm not particularly affable in real life, I have to tell you. I've got that side to me, of course, but that's not all I am. Hide
My idea of a good night out is staying in.
My idea of a good night out is staying in.
Your slippers last a lot longer in your bedroom. On a film set, they do get very scuffed up.
Your slippers last a lot longer in your bedroom. On a film set, they do get very scuffed up.
I can spot someone with similar fashion sense to me a mile off.
I can spot someone with similar fashion sense to me a mile off.
In London we give ourselves a pat on the back, rightly, for not killing one another, for our prejudi Show more
In London we give ourselves a pat on the back, rightly, for not killing one another, for our prejudice being subtle rather than lethal. Hide
I've always been attracted to darkness.
I've always been attracted to darkness.
What makes Shakespeare eternal is his grasp of psychology. He knew how to nail stuff about us as hum Show more
What makes Shakespeare eternal is his grasp of psychology. He knew how to nail stuff about us as human beings. Hide
I think the hardest part about anything you do for 18 months is just keeping yourself together for 1 Show more
I think the hardest part about anything you do for 18 months is just keeping yourself together for 18 months. Hide
When people bully us, we are complicit in it in some way. We do allow it to happen to some extent.
When people bully us, we are complicit in it in some way. We do allow it to happen to some extent.
I don't want to be poor, of course. But I try not to make that the guiding force behind whether I ch Show more
I don't want to be poor, of course. But I try not to make that the guiding force behind whether I choose to do something or not. Hide
I think I'm less gloomy than I used to be - I've got a very supportive other half.
I think I'm less gloomy than I used to be - I've got a very supportive other half.
I'm a big believer that life changes as much as you want it to.
I'm a big believer that life changes as much as you want it to.
Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay and Al Pacino made me want to act. I've always been interested in men w Show more
Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay and Al Pacino made me want to act. I've always been interested in men with a vulnerable side. Hide
I don't think it was a surprise that I ended up as an actor, and it was anything but a disappointmen Show more
I don't think it was a surprise that I ended up as an actor, and it was anything but a disappointment. My parents gave me the knowledge that reading isn't a bad thing, and admitting to liking a painting doesn't make you an arse-bandit. And that wouldn't have been a problem either. Hide
I love eating. I mean, I really, really love eating.
I love eating. I mean, I really, really love eating.
On Billy Bob Thornton: I love watching Billy Bob, just as a punter anyway. I like his work. But work Show more
On Billy Bob Thornton: I love watching Billy Bob, just as a punter anyway. I like his work. But working with him is really easy and really straight-forward. He's immediately good. He doesn't have to work up to it. He doesn't make your life difficult. He listens. He's a very good listener, in terms of his acting. Hide
I love home. I'd rather be at home than anywhere else.
I love home. I'd rather be at home than anywhere else.
I think the world needs to see more of my face.
I think the world needs to see more of my face.
Being a mod is more of a sensibility than a style.
Being a mod is more of a sensibility than a style.
Humor is - how do I say this without sounding pompous - it's a huge part of my life.
Humor is - how do I say this without sounding pompous - it's a huge part of my life.
If I could get bands to come and play in my house, I'd like that. I've never been to a festival. I'm Show more
If I could get bands to come and play in my house, I'd like that. I've never been to a festival. I'm a creature of habit, mashed-potato comfort, I like rugs. Our sofa's squishy. Maybe too squishy - it's hard to get up sometimes. Hide
Why does everyone have to pretend to be stupid and not know long words?
Why does everyone have to pretend to be stupid and not know long words?
There are lots of things that keep me awake at night, but work isn't one of them. I mean, no-one's g Show more
There are lots of things that keep me awake at night, but work isn't one of them. I mean, no-one's going to die if someone doesn't like what I do. So I don't feel a great pressure. Hide
Martin Freeman's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (202)
Martin Freeman'S roles
The Pirate with a Scarf
Andy
Phil Rask
Declan
Phil Rask
Bernard
Mike Priddle
Himself - Guest
Bilbo Baggins
Everett Ross
Dr. John Watson
Hector Dixon
Everett K. Ross
Bilbo, Himself - Host, Louis the Handyman, Various
Lester Nygaard
Simon
Alvin Finkel
Met Sergeant
Arthur Dent
Himself - Guest
John
