Martin Freeman gives up vegetarianism after 38 years

Martin Freeman has revealed that he has given up his vegetarianism after 38 years, citing the increase in processed non-meat products.

The star of The Office and Fargo opted to stop eating meat in 1986 at the age of 14, explaining that he was “never really comfortable with the idea of eating animals”.

He discussed the subject during his recent appearance on the Dish podcast, where he said: “In the last several months, it’s really new going back to being an omnivore, just sort of eating what I like.”

“It’s a funny one, because I like meat replacement things, but my reservation about them is they can be very, very processed and I’m trying to eat less processed food,” he added.

Freeman then went on to extol the virtues of scotch eggs and pork pies as the “food of the gods”, apparently contradicting his previous views on processed goods.

In other Freeman news, he has responded to some of the criticism that his recent film Miller’s Girl has received.

The movie came out in January, with Freeman playing the professor of an 18-year-old student, played by Jenna Ortega. It has been described as an erotic thriller and explores the complex and intimate relationship between the student and her teacher, as well as involving some sexual scenes. However, the film has received some backlash as the two actors are 31 years apart in age.

In an interview with The Times, The Hobbit star defended Miller’s Girl, describing it as “grown-up and nuanced”. He also stated that the film’s depiction of the relationship does not necessarily mean he condones it.

“It’s not saying, ‘Isn’t this great?’” he said. “Are we going to have a go at Liam Neeson for being in a film about the Holocaust?”

Following the release of Miller’s Girl, the movie’s intimacy coordinator Kristina Arjona explained that the actors worked in a comfortable environment.

“There were many, many people throughout this process, engaging with [Ortega] to make sure that it was consistent with what she was comfortable with, and she was very determined and very sure of what she wanted to do,” she shared.