Movies
Martin Freeman just dropped an unexpected bombshell life update for his fans. As it turns out, The Hobbit star, who was previously in a relationship with Amanda Abbington, has now secretly tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Rachel Benaissa.
This news was confirmed by Freeman’s rep to People on Friday, with the outlet noting that the pair’s wedding had taken place earlier this year.
In hindsight, though, there were signs. For one, The Sun was the first to report that the newlyweds were seen wearing their respective wedding rings while attending a screening of A Long Winter, Freeman’s new film, at the BFI London Film Festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Wednesday.
Even before that, Benaissa was also reportedly seen sporting the band on her ring finger at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Martin Freeman’s marriage comes after a very different long-term relationship
Freeman’s marriage to Benaissa comes after a very different long-term relationship. The two had been dating since 2020. While the Marvel actor is profoundly private about his personal life, he did note on the Table Manners podcast last year that he and Benaissa “like cooking.”
The English actor and the French writer and producer are notably cofounders of the independent film and television production company One Trick Poné.
Prior to this, he was in a longtime relationship with his former Sherlock co-star Amanda Abbington. The two were together for around 16 years, and even share two children: Joe and Grace. But while the pair played the on-screen couple of John and Mary Watson in the hit series, they never legally married in real life.
In 2016, the two amicably parted ways, with Abbington citing long periods apart due to filming schedules as a major contributing factor, per The Independent.
Earlier this year, on the How to Fail With Elizabeth Day podcastthe actor reflected on relationships, noting that loneliness is a sign that something is not working. He 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.”
He added of romantic partners, “That’s the other thing you forget. 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.”