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 Hobbit "Beowulf", including a monstrous, intelligent dragon. Certain descriptions in "The Hobbit" seem to have been lifted straight out of "Beowulf" with some minor rewording, such as when the dragon stretches its neck out to sniff for intruders. Likewise, Tolkien's descriptions of the lair as accessed through a secret passage mirror those in "Beowulf". Other specific plot elements and features in "The Hobbit" that show similarities to "Beowulf" include the title "thief", as Bilbo is called by Gollum and later by Smaug, and Smaug's personality, which leads to the destruction of Lake-town. Tolkien refines parts of "Beowulf" plot that he appears