Martin Freeman's Wife: The Actor Has Been Dating Rachel Mariam Though They Are Not Married

Martin Freeman has not taken a wife, but the actor has been involved in lengthy romantic relationships. His longest-known relationship was with a former co-star who became the mother of his children before he started dating actress Rachel Mariam in 2020.

English native Martin Freeman has been gracing screens since the late 1990s, and the star has left an indelible mark on the industry. As with many actors, his first few appearances were minor roles in TV shows. They included "Casualty," "This Life," and "The Bill."

He gradually transitioned into film, appearing as Solomon in "The Low Down," D.S. Stringer in "Margery and Gladys," and Ricky C in "Ali G Indahouse." He starred as Tim Canterbury in what is considered the U.K. version of "The Office" between 2001 and 2003.

In 2003, he joined a star-studded cast in what became a multi-award-winning romantic comedy, "Love Actually." Freeman shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights Hugh Grant, Emma Thomspon, Liam Neeson, and many more.

However, what cemented his place in the industry was his role as Bilbo Baggins in the beloved film series "The Hobbit." He remains a familiar face in high-profile productions of various genres, all while nurturing his personal life and relationships.

Martin Freeman Had Been with Amanda Abbington for 16 Years, Though They Have Never Been Married

Freeman met his former longtime partner Amanda Abbington in the early 2000s while working on the TV drama "Men Only." Their romance ensued afterward, and they kept it relatively private throughout the years.

The couple would co-star in several more productions, including the acclaimed detective show "Sherlock," with Benedict Cumberbatch and the comedy series "The Robinsons."

Freeman and Abbington would also attend public events together but rarely spoke of their relationship during interviews. They announced their separation in December 2016 but had ended their romance months before.

Abbington opened up about how devastating their split, though amicable, was. "I had thought Martin was the love of my life. This wasn't meant to happen to us," she lamented.

She called the breakup the "darkest moment" of her life. During an appearance on Apple's "Full Disclosure," Abbington revealed she even reached the point of suicidal ideation. But this hardship had a silver lining.

As difficult as it was to grieve her relationship with Freeman, their split led to her developing a deeper bond with herself. She and Freeman remained on good terms and moved on to new loves. Abbington is currently engaged to marry Jonathan Goodwin.

Martin Freeman Found Love Again with Much Younger Actress Rachel Mariam

In November 2020, news broke that Freeman had found new love with actress and aspiring writer Rachel Mariam, whose birth name is Rachel Benaissa. Mariam was born in Toulouse, France, but relocated to London to further her career.

She is known for her appearances in the TV shows "Murder in Providence," "Normal People," and "This Way Up." She also has writing credits for "Call It a Day," "I Am," and "Dare to Say Yes."

Since her romance with Freeman became public knowledge, Mariam has shared a few photos with him on her Instagram page. She has also occasionally walked the red carpet with Freeman, but the couple still guards their privacy.

Martin Freeman Has Two Children from His Previous Relationship

Freeman welcomed his son, Joe, and his daughter, Grace, with Abbington. The former couple did their best to protect their children, now teenagers, from the spotlight and rarely appeared with them in public.

They've both admitted that being parents has been a learning experience. Having kids for Freeman taught him that he wasn't as nice as he imagined and was "quick to anger." Still, he knew he had to get his temper under better control.

In a candid Instagram live for the It's Ok mental health campaign, Abbington spoke about how her split from Freeman might have affected their kids, saying, "I'm sure I've given them irreparable damage and they will be going to therapy because of me and Martin at some point."

However, despite their mistakes and overall co-parenting difficulties, Abbington and Freeman wanted their children to feel safe to express themselves without shame.

In a rare public appearance in November 2022, the teenagers stepped out with their dad for the premiere of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," starring Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'O. It was a family affair, as Mariam joined them at the event.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.