Biography
With a knack for milking comedy gold out of awkward situations, English actor Martin Freeman became a mainstay on the BBC prior to expanding his work to international film. After a number of years spent paying his dues with minor parts, Freeman broke out as the prank-loving Tim Canterbury on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's hit sitcom "The Office" (BBC 1/BBC 2, 2001-03). The increasingly popular actor jumped to the big screen, first with a supporting role in the ensemble romance "Love Actually" (2003), followed by the lead in the inspired adaptation of the cult classic novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005). An exceptionally prolific period followed, during which Freeman divided his time between television work and appearances in such films as the action-comedy "Hot Fuzz" (2007). The actor garnered more acclaim than ever before when he was cast in the role of Dr. John Watson on the modernized interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic creation "Sherlock" (BBC 1, 2010- ) opposite Benedict Cumberbatch as the eccentric super-sleuth. Freeman's scored his biggest role yet as the diminutive Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012), the first in another trilogy based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Freeman continued his work in both comedy and drama, appearing in films ranging from war correspondent satire "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" (2016) to post-apocalyptic thriller "Cargo" (2017), while also appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "Captain America: Civil War" (2016) and "Black Panther" (2018) and gaining critical acclaim in the first series of crime anthology "Fargo" (FX 2015- ). While known for his comedic acumen, Freeman's everyman appeal and impressive range made him one of the more sought after British imports of his day.
