Martin Freeman secretly marries younger girlfriend Rachel Benaissa

Martin Freeman has secretly married his long-term partner Rachel Benaissa after six years together, with the couple quietly revealing their wedding rings during a rare public appearance at the London Film Festival.

The 55-year-old actor, best known for playing Tim Canterbury in The Office, Dr John Watson in Sherlock and Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit trilogy, is said to have got hitched to French writer and actress Rachel, 34, earlier this year.

The Sun declared their marriage became public after they attended the London Film Festival together on Wednesday (14.10.26) evening, where Martin was promoting his new film A Long Winter alongside fellow cast members Fred Hechinger, 26, and Caitríona Balfe, 47.

And a spokesperson for Martin confirmed the marriage to The Sun following the couple's appearance at the event.

Rachel was photographed wearing a large emerald engagement ring, flanked by two diamonds on a gold band, while posing alongside her husband.

Martin was also seen wearing a gold wedding band as he attended the premiere and joined his co-stars for photographs.

The couple have generally kept their relationship away from public attention since they began dating in 2020, making relatively few appearances together at entertainment industry events.

Rachel has appeared in several television and film productions, including the acclaimed BBC and Hulu drama Normal People, the comedy series This Way Up and the Netflix romantic comedy Irish Wish.

Martin's latest film, A Long Winter, also features Fred, known for his appearances in The White Lotus and Gladiator II, and Caitríona, who plays Claire Fraser in the historical drama Outlander.

The actor's marriage comes a decade after the breakdown of his long-term relationship with actress Amanda Abbington, 52.

Martin and Amanda were together for 16 years before separating in 2016, having established themselves as one of British television's best-known acting couples.

They appeared together in the BBC detective drama Sherlock, in which Martin portrayed John Watson and Amanda played his wife, Mary Watson.

The series starred Benedict Cumberbatch, 50, as Sherlock Holmes and became an international success following its launch in 2010.

Martin and Amanda share two children, son Joe, 20, and daughter Grace, 18.