Martin Freeman's portrayal of Dr John Watson in BBC drama Sherlock has been voted his greatest role ever, in a poll celebrating a screen-career spanning 15 years.
To mark the arrival of The Hobbit in cinemas and to celebrate Freeman's silver screen success to date, LOVEFiLM asked more than 1,000 fans to vote for their favourite Freeman character with down-to-earth Watson coming out top with 37 per cent of votes.
Recognised across the globe, Freeman is one of Britain's best loved actors and has appeared in more than 60 films and TV series. Freeman will appear on cinema screens across the UK from Friday 14th December as Bilbo Baggins in the eagerly anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey but until now he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Tim Canterbury in the award winning The Office.
Tim charmed his colleagues at Wernham and Hogg with his self-deprecating humour, eventually winning the heart of receptionist Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis). He also won the hearts of voters, with 25 per cent seeing him into second place.
Tim Canterbury had plenty of bad days at work, but the destruction of planet earth made for a really bad day for Arthur Dent in surreal comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It was a good day for Freeman whose satirical portrayal of an ordinary British gentleman with an alien 'BFF' won him ten per cent of the votes and transported him into third place.
It may have only been a cameo appearance for Martin in cop comedy Hot Fuzz but his Metropolitan Police Sergeant was arresting enough to put him in fourth place (eight per cent).
Film fans' love for character John in Christmas smash-hit Love Actually was so great, that even the sight of Mr F's bare bottom couldn't discourage seven per cent of them from voting him into the top five. As the ironically shy movie body-double, John's self-effacing manner paid off in the film too and he got the girl, played by Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page.
Martin Freeman may not have had much to say playing Declan in Shaun of the Dead, but his non-speaking part still struck a chord with five per cent of die-hard fans whose votes made sixth place a cert.
From scary zombies to a class full of screaming children, Freeman's role as teacher Mr Maddens in the feel-good Brit-flick Nativity! turned four per cent of voters into teachers' pets, putting him in seventh place.
It's not-so-lucky number eight for Freeman's character Simon in What's Your Number? Anna Faris plays lovesick Ally Darling who decides to look back over 20 previous relationships to decide if any were 'the one.' Simon wasn't 'the one' for Ms Darling or for fans and Freeman's portrayal only managed to secure two per cent of votes.
Freeman had worked with Nativity! director Debbie Isitt before in her 2006 improvised mock-umentary Confetti. His portrayal of Matt - one half of a couple trying to win a competition for the most original wedding - only managed to win over one per cent of voters, putting him in ninth place.
The score's on the door for Freeman's character Chris, a frustrated TV producer who makes the worst mistake of his life by leaving flatmate Bob in charge of greeting estate agents in comedy The All Together. Things don't get any better as with less than one per cent of the vote, Freeman's depiction of Chris could only muster tenth place.
Martin Freeman's top ten roles are:
1. Dr John Watson: Sherlock - 37 per cent
2. Tim Canterbury: The Office - 25 per cent
3. Arthur Dent: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: 10 per cent
4. Met Police Sergeant: Hot Fuzz: 8 per cent
5. John: Love Actually: 7 per cent
6. Declan: Shaun of the Dead: 5 per cent
7. Paul Maddens: Nativity: 4 per cent
8. Simon: What's Your Number: 2 per cent
9. Matt: Confetti: 1 per cent
10. Chris: The All Together: 0.5 per cent
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