You know that guy you always see down the pub or the one you’re constantly bumping into in town, yet you can never put your finger on where you know them from or what their name is? Most of us have settled with the fact they’ll forever remain an enigma, a mystery. Think again, that guy looks like that man, that man on that show, or in that movie… that guy is Martin Freeman. He’s the secret ingredient; without him, the dish just wouldn’t taste right.

Martin Freeman has become a well-established, highly-considered actor in the film industry. He’s demonstrated his multifaceted and adaptable ability in several blockbusters, especially in recent years, featuring in Black Panther as Everett K. Ross, a role he’s reprising in the sequel Wakanda Forever as well as the highly-anticipated Secret Invasion.

His early breakout role was in the original British show The Office, the show Ricky Gervais created with Stephen Merchant that gained cult status, and gave Freeman a solid foundation to build a magnificent career in film and television, including a brilliant turn in the first season of Fargo. Here are some of the best Martin Freeman movies and TV shows.

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5 The World’s End

     Universal Pictures

The World’s End was the final installment of Edgar Wright’s brilliant Cornetto Trilogy, preceded by Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The World’s End signaled the end of the cherished collaboration of Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost. Martin Freeman stars as the uptight Oliver Chamberlain; together with four friends, the group embark on a legendary pub crawl in their hometown of Newton Haven, nicknamed “The Golden Mile.”

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Freeman plays the role of the stiff-upper-lipped, rigid, and somewhat characterless Oliver supremely well; his efficacy in sapping the life out of exciting proposals, and being what can only be described as a killjoy, add another dimension to the mishmash friendship group.

4 The Hobbit Trilogy

     Warner Bros. Pictures

In 2012, Freeman took on arguably one of the biggest roles in film at the time, Bilbo Baggins. After the vast success of Lord of the Rings films a decade prior, The Hobbit prequel was understandably hotly anticipated, and it didn’t disappoint. While perhaps not reaching the unworldly stratospheric heights of its predecessors, The Hobbit enjoyed much success in consolidating its position as a well-respected trilogy.

Comprised of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the trilogy explores the trials and tribulations of Bilbo and his accomplices as they travel through the treacherous territories of middle-earth in search of treasure. While the CGI is often overwhelming and bombastic, and the massive 45-minute battle sequence is representative of the general bloat of the film, the performances are magnetic. None more so than the brave, valiant, and resilient Bilbo, who is perfectly portrayed through a glowing, charmingly tentative, and unassuming performance by Martin Freeman.

3 Black Panther

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

From Marvel Studios, came 2018’s box office smash-hit, Black Panther. Featuring Martin Freeman amongst a stellar ensemble cast, Black Panther’s commercial success placed it in the top 100 highest-grossing films in a single day with a staggering $40 million worldwide. Freeman stars as Everett K. Ross, a CIA operative for the Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre.

While Freeman’s role is that of a supporting kind, Freeman’s delivery is as polished and professional as ever, fitting into the smoothly constructed film that Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian called, “a wide-eyed fantasy romance: exciting, subversive and funny.” Freeman is making an MCU return with the sequel, Wakanda Forever, as well as the Secret Invasion series on Disney+.

2 The Office

     BBC

The Office’s fortunes extended beyond the UK and across the Atlantic to the States. The show was conceived by the comedy genius, Ricky Gervais, as one of the first and the best mockumentaries on TV, providing hilarious insight into the lives of office workers in Slough, England. Gervais plays the self-unaware enigma that is David Brent, who’s the general manager of Wernham and Hogg paper merchants, alongside Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman), the likable, methodic, and witty sales representative (played by John Krasinski in the American remake). Freeman excels as the voice of reason, composure, and normality in a frenetic office environment full of idiots.

1 Sherlock

Martin Freeman stars alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock the BBC’s 21st-century adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic book series about Sherlock Holmes. Freeman stars as Dr. John Watson, Sherlock’s (Cumberbatch) closest companion. Intelligent, perceptive, and fiercely loyal to his intellectually superior best friend, Watson ostensibly plays second-fiddle to Sherlock, yet his modest contributions and patience provide the often flamboyant, sharp-witted Sherlock a solid foundation to carry out his detective work.

Freeman is cast perfectly; his calming yet bright on-screen presence compliments that of Watson’s observant, pacifying persona. Sherlock proudly sits in IMDb’s top 20 TV shows of all time and is most certainly a testament to Cumberbatch and Freeman’s brilliant on-screen endeavors. There hasn’t been any new episodes since 2017, but there should be a movie to provide final closure to these great characters.