Iconic Roles: Martin Freeman’s Best Performances

This weekend, Jade Bartlett’s Miller’s Girl, a thriller starring Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega, hits theaters. The plot follows a gifted young writer (Ortega) who starts a creative journey when her teacher (Freeman) assigns a project that pulls them into a growingly intricate web. As boundaries fade and their lives become intertwined, the professor and protégé must face their inner demons while striving to safeguard their unique sense of purpose and the things they cherish the most.

Hopefully, this Seth Rogen-produced effort can offer a bit of spark in the doldrums of January — with Freeman and Ortega at the helm, how could it miss? That said, to celebrate the film’s release, we wanted to look back at Martin Freeman’s best performances.

The Office

Before Steve Carrell took the world by storm as Michael Scott, Ricky Gervais starred as the loathsome David Brent, head of Wernham Hogg paper company, on BBC’s The Office. Ostensibly playing the Jim Halpert role, Freeman is perfectly cast as the meek, lovable Tim Canterbury, a world-weary sales representative who despises his job and has eyes for the plucky receptionist (Lucy Davis).

While not quite as refined as the American version, The Office is still a blast to watch, even if it only lasted 14 quick episodes. At the very least, the show gave a talented group of rising stars room to show off their natural comedic abilities, leading to bigger and better projects.

The World’s End

The finale to Edgar Wright’s Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy, which began with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, The World’s End follows a group of old mates who reunite for an all-night drinking binge. Unfortunately, their adventure is interrupted by an alien invasion, leading to a wild night of chaos, during which the group reconciles with their past mistakes.

Directed with Wright’s customary flare, The World’s End entertains with its creative set pieces, witty dialogue, and an all-star cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, and Martin Freeman. It may not reach the same heights as its predecessors, but The World’s End remains a flavorful cinematic treat.

The Hobbit Trilogy

Peter Jackson’s return to Middle Earth resulted in a bloated epic that lacked the heart and soul of the iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy. Still, The Hobbit series is solid enough to warrant a watch, primarily due to Martin Freeman’s earnest performance as Bilbo Baggins, the reluctant Hobbit who is whisked away on a grand adventure to reclaim a mountain from a terrifying dragon.

Freeman hits all the right beats in the role, providing a bit of much-needed gravitas to the outlandish visuals and zany spectacle. Jackson, for his part, tries to imbue the series with the same epic scope as LOTR. While he occasionally delivers the goods, one can’t help but feel this nine-hour saga needed more humanity alongside the extravagance.

Sherlock

Freeman’s most memorable performance came as the pragmatic Dr. John Watson alongside Benedict Cumberbatch’s brilliant Sherlock Holmes in the BBC’s popular mystery series Sherlock. Offering a new spin on the classic detective, this Steven Moffat production moves the action to modern-day London, where our heroes tackle the mysteries presented in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stores.

As Watson, Freeman again delivers a grounded, humorous performance that perfectly counters Cumberbatch’s eccentric Holmes. The duo makes a terrific team, leading to a compelling, often thrilling TV series that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its wild 13-episode run.

Fargo Season 1

Freeman often plays gentle, kind-hearted chaps who get in over their heads or end up paired alongside overtly eccentric personalities. In Fargo, the actor goes against type as Lester Nygaard, the malevolent but ultimately violent insurance salesman who murders his wife and ends up diving into the terrifying world of hitman Lorne Malvo (a brilliant Billy Bob Thornton).

Darkly humorous in the vein of Joel and Ethan Coen’s brilliant film, Fargo Season 1 packs quite the punch and takes viewers on a twisted ride through the darker corners of America. You won’t like Freeman in this one, but you can’t take your eyes off the man.

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