Martin Freeman’s son Joe will be following in his acting father’s footsteps as he prepares to take the stage in a production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in Tunbridge Wells.
With Martin, 51, starring in The Office, The Hobbit and Fargo, and his mother Amanda Abbington, 48, appearing in Sherlock and West End hit The Unfriend, it’s probably no surprise that Joe Freeman pursued a career in The Office starts show business.
The 17-year-old is currently a cast member in a version of the gender-biased musical specially adapted for a teenage cast in the city of Kent, and is reportedly set to follow in their footsteps professionally.
Inspired by the 2011 British television documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie follows the real-life story of a 16-year-old British schoolboy named Jamie Campbell, who lives on a council estate in Sheffield.
Jamie overcomes prejudice and bullying to pursue his dream of becoming a drag queen.
Step into the spotlight: Martin Freeman’s son Joe, 17, will be following in his actor father’s footsteps as he prepares to star in a production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
The teenager has made it his goal to attend year-end prom in a dress, eyeliner and lipstick.
His mother buys him red heels and a dress of his choice from an ex-drag queen’s shop.
But while Jamie may have support from a parent, his father cruelly rejects his effeminate son, while a classroom bully taunts him about his desires and school itself gets in the way.
Screen star Martin shares his two children – Joe and his sister Grace, 14 – with ex-partner Amanda.
The former couple are co-parents of their offspring after their split in 2016 after 16 years together.
While Martin may be happy his son is coming after him, he previously admitted struggling with the prospect of his children nest flying.
The star admitted that it’s “completely natural” for the teenagers to want to spend time away from him, but it’s difficult not to get upset about it.
When asked if his kids are flying the nest, he told Radio Times: “Me and their mum [Amanda] don’t live together, so there are times when they inevitably won’t be with you, or when they say, “Maybe not this weekend.”
In his blood? With Martin, 51, starring in The Office, The Hobbit and Fargo, it’s probably no surprise that Joe Freeman is embarking on a career in show business (LR: Joe, Martin’s current partner Rachel Mariam, Martin and Martin’s daughter Anmut)
On Stage: Joe is currently a cast member in a version of the gender-biased musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, adapted specifically for a teenage cast in Kent
“It’s hard not to feel hurt when they start doing things that don’t concern you, even if you understand and appreciate it because it’s completely natural.”
Martin admitted parenthood has “surprised” him how “amazingly quick” he can get angry, so he’s always tried to be “better.”
He said: “I found I got angry amazingly quickly. I always knew it, but it was like a rocket — nothing to call social services about, but I knew I could and should get better. That surprised me and taught me to try not to be.”
Martin – who is now dating actress Rachel Mariam – doesn’t like the “constant doom” surrounding parenthood because he thinks it’s a much more pleasant experience than people realise.
He said: “One of my least favorite things is people going, ‘Oh wait! Oh, you’re in trouble now…’
“This constant sinking, like they didn’t enjoy a part of their parenthood. Let’s enjoy!’
Former partner: Joe’s actress mother Amanda Abbington, 48, has been in Sherlock and West End hit The Unfriend. She and Martin split in late 2016 after a 16-year romance (pictured in 2015)
Martin and Amanda previously worked together on Sherlock, and the actress – who is now in a relationship with Jonathan Goodwin – has spoken in the past about how they kept their split a secret six months before the news broke.
She told The Sunday Times magazine: “When we split nobody knew, we didn’t tell anyone except a few key people because they needed to know because of the logistics of hotels and stuff.
“It took six months to release and a lot of that was while we were working on Sherlock… We were professional and we wanted to hit it off and put on a show and be civil to each other.
“We still get along really well, we both still admire each other a lot as actors … he’s a great guy, but we just couldn’t live together anymore.”
Co-stars: Sherlock’s Martin and Amanda starred as the on-screen couple Dr. John Watson and Mary Watson in the BBC series (pictured in the 2016 season after their split)