Martin Freeman Martin Freeman Martin John Christopher Freeman (born 8 September 1971) is an English actor and comedian, who became known for portraying Tim Canterbury in the original UK version of sitcom mockumentary "The Office", Dr. John Watson in the British crime drama "Sherlock", Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" film trilogy, and Lester Nygaard in the dark comedy-crime drama TV series "Fargo". His other notable film roles include the romantic comedy "Love Actually" (2003), the comic science fiction film "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005), the semi-improvised comedy "Nativity!" (2009), the comedic "Three Flavours Cornetto" trilogy, most prominently in
The Lord of the Rings Nazgûl, to seize it. The story begins in the Shire, where the hobbit Frodo Baggins inherits the Ring from Bilbo Baggins, his cousin and guardian. Neither hobbit is aware of the Ring's nature, but Gandalf the Grey, a wizard and an old friend of Bilbo, suspects it to be Sauron's Ring. Seventeen years later, after Gandalf confirms his guess, he tells Frodo the history of the Ring and counsels him to take it away from the Shire. Frodo sets out, accompanied by his gardener, servant and friend, Samwise "Sam" Gamgee, and two cousins, Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck and Peregrin "Pippin" Took.