MARTIN FREEMAN PLAYS DETECTIVE
MARTIN FREEMAN ON SMOKING, SMALL CARS AND PLAYING A DETECTIVE
From small-screen beginnings as Tim on The Office to The Hobbit and Sherlock’s Dr Watson, there’s no denying that Martin Freeman is one of Britain’s best-loved actors. But despite his monumental success, Martin, who shares children Joe, 13, and Grace, 11, with former partner Amanda Abbington, previously revealed he’s happiest ‘in Italy with the family, not thinking about work’.
Far from Italy, his latest show
A Confession was set in not-sosunny Wiltshire. The ITV drama, based on true events, sees Martin star as DS Steve Fulcher, who breached police protocol in order to catch a killer, leading to devastating consequences.
After OK! caught the first two episodes of the gripping show at an early screening, Martin, 47, joined us to chat about why he hates playing smokers and what he avoids when choosing new projects…
Did you immediately say yes to A Confession?
I wasn’t familiar with the story, but when I read the script and watched some interviews with Steve, I thought it was fascinating and I thought it seemed unjust what had happened to him. It’s primarily a story of two girls who are kidnapped, but then it broadens to a story about a detective who tries his best to get them back for their families. Something has to pique my interest and it did.
Have you played a detective before? I don’t think I have. I’ve been a detective’s assistant [in Sherlock]. That wasn’t an intentional decision. I didn’t intentionally avoid anything apart from bad writing. I try not to do things that I wouldn’t want to watch. It’s a very intense story. Was it draining to perform? Some of it was draining. I have a ‘no acting’ policy, I just wanted to react to the actresses Siobhan Finneran and Imelda Staunton and their grief. The writing is really good, but you can f*** up good writing. Reacting is the most effective acting, and there was a lot to react to. It’s a very powerful story. You didn’t need to bring anything, you just had to be present. The truth is awful enough without needing to add to it. You don’t need to lay it on. I wanted to be respectful to the people who went through it, and are still going through it. Did you enjoy driving a Jaguar and chain smoking for the role? I hate smoking so I hate acting smoking, but the car I loved. I couldn’t get in or out of the car without swearing, though. The windscreen wipers or the indicators would go off. It was a small car even for me, so imagine a normal sized human in it?
Did Steve offer you any advice on playing him?
I met him before we started shooting. I came away with my own feeling about him. I got decency from him. He seemed like he was a good copper. We swapped numbers and I occasionally texted him when there was a scene coming up to ask him how he was feeling in different situations. The director would say: ‘Can you walk left?’ and then I could reply: ‘I don’t think Steve would have done that!’ [laughs]. He also came down to set, but he wasn’t in charge.
What do you think of Steve’s treatment by the police force? His internal question is, what should I have done? I think he’s genuinely asking. I doubt any person would want him to behave any differently were it their child. We don’t want to go back to the old days of policing, but there should be some light and shade. It seems morally unjust that he lost his livelihood.
‘A CONFESSION’ IS COMING SOON TO ITV.