Movies

Martin Freeman, 53, shops for rings at a London jewellers amid romance with French actress girlfriend Rachel Benaissa, 30

BBG News

Martin Freeman was recently seen browsing rings at an upscale jewelry store in London, fueling speculation that his relationship with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa is growing stronger.

53-year-old actor who plays Sherlock Holmes, has been in a relationship with a 30-year-old French actress since 2020. On Saturday, he was spotted browsing the items available at a Dinny Hall shop located in north London.

Onlookers report that Martin spent approximately £4,500 on an aquamarine and diamond ring, while The Hobbit, wearing a baseball cap, apparently tried to remain inconspicuous.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’ve recently picked up an intriguing tidbit from my sources. It seems that Martin was quite captivated by a striking piece of jewelry, specifically a show-stopping ring, strategically placed right at the heart of a store’s window display.

He asked for assistance from the shop assistant to help pick out an item and wore a hat to remain unnoticed.)

During the Table Manners podcast hosted by Jessie and Lennie Ware in April, Martin revealed some details about his bond with Rachel. He mentioned that they enjoy preparing meals together when they have free time.

Lennie asked: ‘She’s French. Is she [Rachel] Cordon Bleu?’

Martin replied: ‘She’s not a Cordon Bleu… she’s a massive cheese and wine w****. 

‘That’s what she would say about herself. 

She describes herself as a “cheese and wine connoisseur.” While this aspect of her personality is significant, it doesn’t fully encompass who she is. However, it’s true that she enjoys exploring the world of cheese and wine. We also share a common interest in cooking.

Previously in the year, Martin shared uncommon insights into his personal family matters during a guest spot on The Jonathan Ross Show.

The actor’s teenage children, Joe (18) and Grace (16), are shared with his ex-partner, Amanda Abbington, who is 51 years old.)

In conversation with host Jonathan, Martin mentioned visiting an escape room themed around the Sherlock series, where he portrays John Watson.

Martin revealed that he and his family did not escape in good time: ‘It did take us a while. 

‘My partner, the children, and I went out together… It wasn’t your typical Sherlock Holmes story by Conan Doyle; instead, we watched BBC One. I must admit, it felt a bit odd to attend something on my own… but the kids promised it would be entertaining. Turns out, they were right; it was excellent!’

Following Romesh Ranganathan asking why Martin had attended that event, Martin jokingly replied, “Because my voice is part of it… After a week without seeing or hearing myself enough, I felt compelled… And I wasn’t obligated, I simply wanted to linger inside for a while longer.

For approximately five years now, this duo has been together. This relationship started after he parted ways with his ex-spouse Amanda, who confessed to being disorganized following their separation in 2016. Their split occurred because they found it unbearable to live together anymore.

In the year 2020, I came across the sight of Martin sharing affectionate moments with Rachel, though the timeline of when their love rekindled remains uncertain. Yet, it’s clear that Rachel has forged a profound connection with Martin’s kids, Joe and Grace.

In 2021, Martin made their relationship with the actress from Toulouse known to the public, yet this couple values privacy intensely. Recently, she removed her Instagram account, offering fans limited insights into their romantic bond.

Instead, Rachel frequently embraces her role as a supportive partner and can often be seen accompanying Martin on the red carpet, helping promote his movie and television ventures.

However, a TikTok video posted by Martin’s daughter Grace reveals Rachel’s close bond within the family, as she joyfully dances together with Martin, Joe, and their dachshunds to “She’s The Brightest Star” from Martin’s popular Christmas movie Nativity.

She titled the video “Merry Christmas,” mirroring a character portrayed by her father in the popular movie.

In the popular BBC series Normal People, Rachel played a minor character, an unnamed teaching assistant, sharing screen time with prominent actors Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Besides her work on Lindsay Lohan’s Netflix movie “Irish Wish” and Aisling Bea’s TV series “This Way Up, the actress has also taken on roles in advertisements for brands like Heineken, Santander, and Dublin Airport.

As someone deeply rooted in understanding the art of living well, my strong affinity for Ireland can be traced back to my formative years spent learning my craft at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin. It’s an esteemed institution where stars like Colin Farrell, Aidan Turner, and Olivia Wilde honed their talents, making it a veritable breeding ground for artistic excellence.

Beyond her acting roles, Rachel is a talented writer who has penned screenplays, even making it to the second place in a TV pilot screenplay contest for outstanding writing.

Her writing style is described as combining dramatic elements with a touch of dark humor, and at present, she’s busy developing the script for a dark comedy-horror television show titled “SELF CARE GIRLIE.

For the first time, they were seen together as a pair at the opening night gala screening of Best Sellers at the Raindance Film Festival, held at The Dorchester, where they made a striking entrance on the red carpet.

As for Martin’s ex partner Amanda, she has insisted that they are on good terms and remain friends.

Yet, some reports indicate that she found it challenging to witness him prospering with a significantly younger partner, as his professional success has continued to flourish as well.

Back in March 2023, Amanda openly disclosed that following their challenging separation, she had contemplated taking her own life due to intense self-loathing.

During an interview on the Full Disclosure podcast, Amanda opened up about considering suicide as a real possibility during a difficult phase in her life. She also mentioned that she had recently entertained a similar thought following an argument with her daughter.

She shared that she parted ways with Martin, which led her to recognize the need for self-improvement as she found herself in disarray. She despised herself during this period.

The other day, I had an amusing incident that I’ve kept to myself, not sharing it with anyone, not even my therapist. It was a dispute with Grace over her missing uniform that made her late for school.

Ultimately, I ended up driving her to school rather than letting her take the bus. While I was sitting in the car, I scolded her, but she didn’t respond because at 15, she’s dealing with a lot of things.

‘She is a young girl, I am her mother; anger, worry are overwhelming me. While I was driving, these feelings built up in my mind, and for the first time since I started therapy six years ago, I thought to myself, “Maybe she could end her life.”‘

Previously, I would often say this: ‘If you disappoint others, hurt someone’s feelings, fail to reach your full potential, or make mistakes as a parent, or fall short in your acting, consider taking your own life.’

‘In the past, I used to think that if you’ve let people down, hurt someone, didn’t meet expectations, weren’t a good parent, or struggled with acting, the solution was always to end your own life.’

Amanda mentioned that contemplating suicide was something she had considered in the past, but it had been over six years since she last entertained such thoughts, approximately when she separated from Martin.

She added: ‘On numerous occasions throughout my life, that choice felt authentic for me. It meant I didn’t have to continue being a negative person, as I wouldn’t have to stay in existence any longer.’

‘And I thought about that and I thought, “Oh my God I haven’t thought about that in six years”.’

Read More

2025-06-22 13:21

Previous post eFootball 2025 ‘Club International Cup Selection’ June 2025 Nominating Contract Review
Next post You should binge-watch Anna Maxwell Martin’s beloved sitcom branded ‘one of the best in last 10 years’