Martin Freeman talks 'loneliness' in relationships in rare comments

Martin Freeman is opening up about his personal life, particularly about feeling "lonely" while in relationships.

Appearing on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, Martin said, "What I do know about myself is that if you start to feel lonely in a relationship, or like, I'm on my own here somewhere in ways that you can't explain or ways that you can't sort of broach with your other half, it indicates something."

The Hobbit star spent 16 years of his life in a relationship with Amanda Abbington, 51, and co-starred with her in The Debt, The Robinsons, and most notably Benedict Cumberbatch-led Sherlock, where she played his girlfriend and then wife. They welcomed son Joe, 19, and daughter Grace, 17.

He explained that most people don’t talk about their worries about theri relationship due to the concept of loyalty.

"I think sometimes we complicate things in our own minds," the Fargo star said, "because we think anything that approaches a questioning of our current state with our relationship, say, is a bit disloyal or something - or is a bit verboten. 'I shouldn't even be thinking about it."'

Martin, who’s been dating French actress Rachel Benaissa, 31, since 2020, also reflected that uncomfortable thoughts are bound to happen in any relationship.

"You're bound to have feelings and thoughts and memories and whatever that might be uncomfortable" he said, noting that he’s practiced understanding that his partner can be going through the same.

"That's the other thing you forget," he said, "...all the stuff that I'm feeling, so is she. She's got this entire universe in her head that I am not literally part of."

Martin Freeman most recently appearedin Netflix's Agatha Christie's Seven Dials.