Sherlock actor Martin Freeman has said he will not take a high-profile political stance in the media – unlike his co-star Benedict Cumberbatch, who used his role as Hamlet to make anti-government speeches to theatre-goers.
Freeman shares his co-star’s views, but told the Radio Times he draws the line at pushing them on Facebook or Twitter, or acting as a pundit on Newsnight or Question Time.
Cumberbatch gave nightly speeches after his curtain call at the Barbican in London to ask for donations to help Syrian refugees.
During one of the speeches he vented his frustration over the migration crisis, reportedly saying “fuck the politicians”.
“Actors can be pompous and we can overestimate our importance, but it’s not a mistake to have a social conscience,” said Freeman, who fronted a Labour party video ad in March.
Freeman is political – he used to sell Militant, a magazine connected to the Socialist party, on the streets – but said he doesn’t believe in pushing his views too hard.
“I won’t overdo it, go on Newsnight or Question Time and become a ‘pundit for hire’,” he said. “It’s a deeply annoying to hear someone like me, who doesn’t know everything, bang on. [It’s] the quickest and most justifiable way for for people to hate me.”
He added that he would not use Twitter or Facebook to promote his opinions as views punted on social media can too easily be misconstrued or lack context.
“The trouble is I’m gobby and my life would be over in five minutes if I went on Twitter or Facebook because there is no nuance,” he said. “[People] will say ‘if you believe this, you must hate that.’ No. There are grey areas.”
