Martin Freeman: ‘I’m one of few people in my family who would ever unironically go into a church’

The cuddly Bilbo and John Watson actor, 50, on squash, lefty politics, having a little faith and reserving the right to be difficult.

I was academically quite unengaged at school. I was a smartass and spent a lot of time in detention for petty things. I really do wish I’d applied myself a bit more.

I’m not a practising Catholic, but I still like popping into churches to offer one up, light a candle, do all that stuff. I’m certainly one of the only people in my family who would ever unironically go into a church.

I was into politics at a young age. It’s not like at 10 I was recording Question Time on the VHS. It was more the music I was listening to. I loved two-tone – politics via Linton Kwesi Johnson. I was a little lefty, but with more passion than rigour, more into the T-shirts and badges than trying to think up a transport policy.

I played squash from nine and had a real natural aptitude, so I assumed I’d be a squash player, but then I fell out of love with it. I was worried that 14 was quite old not to know what I wanted to do.

Turning 50 seems quite serious. There’s no way around it. It’s grown up. I can’t believe how old I am. In my head I’m still 14 or 16. So it’s always a bit of a shock when you see the numbers rack up or an unflattering photograph. But it’s so much better than the alternative. I’ll take it.

I’ve looked in the mirror a lot since I was a kid. I just find it fascinating. It’s not because I think I’m gorgeous. Sometimes I’ll look and think: “I’m looking right. This looks OK.” Then other days I think: “Jesus Christ, what’s happened there?”

The dream used to be that people shouted more than one thing at me in the street. There was a time when I thought: “Shit. Am I going to be Tim from The Office until I’m 60?” I don’t think I’ve ever been called Bilbo or John Watson.

I don’t objectively think I’m horrible, but because I became known to the public for a certain performance, I suppose I always want to prepare people to be disappointed if you think that’s all you’re going to get. I reserve the right to be difficult if people just expect me to be nice and cuddly.

Working in America, I didn’t want to be the Englishman who couldn’t drive. They wouldn’t find it charming. They’d find it like an illness. So I learned in a week, then a week later I was driving on the wrong side of the road in snow in Canada.

Do I cry? I’ll tear up watching or listening to something. It’s more rare that I’d really go for it and have a huge cry. But getting choked up is quite common.

I have real friends, some of whom might be famous. I’m friendly with people who are creative because I suppose I know more creative people than I know accountants. Although my accountant’s pretty creative. No, don’t write that, Jesus Christ!

How they’ve grown! The kids’ friends? The caption only suggests that they are MF’s troupe’s guests.

8 Sept 2020 ❤️

Nobody hurts you more than the ones you love the most.

“In Aldershot, even if you say you want to be an actor or a painter, some of your contemporaries will question your sexuality but, fortunately, I had enough backbone not (to) be concerned by those people (boldface mine), and thank the Lord for it. But when you see your mates out in the playground playing football and you’re rehearsing ‘Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ it’s not easy but, with the help of my family, who were really supportive and still are, I got over it.”

—Martin Freeman, The Chap Magazine, Autumn 2020 issue

One of Sherlock’s foremost directors, the one who shaped the series’ style, Paul McGuigan, has something to say about MF.

“When you get to work with someone like Martin and Benedict, you realize you’re playing at a very high level,” says McGuigan.

“[Benedict] totally understood the character,” continues McGuigan. “He totally understood what he needed to do. I would get him to memorize 10-page dialogue scenes and I would say to him, ‘I’m probably not going to cut this so you’ve got to know every single word verbatim.’ Of course I did cut it, but I was kind of like, that would be my ideal. He did, god bless him, he learnt it.”

While Cumberbatch’s performance as Sherlock is wonderfully loud and kinetic in scope and quality, Freeman’s portrayal of John Watson is much quieter—no less important to a show that is technically called Sherlock, but very much has two leads.

“Interestingly enough, Martin was the first person who won an award for Sherlock,” says McGuigan. “I totally understand it because his job, his character’s job, was always the voice of reason for the audience.” This allowed the character of Sherlock to be “a real asshole,” says McGuigan.

“Everyone was really worried,” says McGuigan. “BBC were really worried about: is he too much of an asshole? My reply to that was: no, because you’ve got Watson saying, ‘You’re an asshole.’ The audience goes, ‘OK, at least somebody said it. Then I’m happy for him to be an asshole.’ So Watson was always the kind of moral compass for the audience.”

McGuigan remembers Freeman, who was previously best known for his comedic turn as Tim in The Office, being worried about being too funny in his initial portrayal of John Watson.

“Martin and I would often talk about now you’re the soldier, you’re not being funny anymore,” says McGuigan, using the example of John’s first meeting with Mycroft in “A Study in Pink.” “Martin started kind of messing about and trying to be funny. I said, ‘No, no. This is the moment that you’re the soldier. This is the moment you go toe to toe with him. This is the moment the audience understands this is much more interesting than you just being the funny guy. You actually are very protective towards him and as this season goes on you’ll be much more.’”

Reflecting on Freeman’s contributions to the project, McGuigan says: “Of course Benedict got all the plaudits for it, and quite rightly so, he was just extraordinary. But I also had a very soft spot for what Martin was doing because, to me, Martin was carrying him on his shoulders. I thought that was interesting.” (Boldfaced mine)