Martin Freeman: Only a ‘certified lunatic’ would seek celebrity fame (exclusive)

Martin Freeman, the star of ‘The Office’, ‘Sherlock’, and ‘The Hobbit’, says he’d rather be at work acting than seeking a celebrity lifestyle.

"I would hope most actors are [more comfortable on set, than in the celebrity side of the job],” Freeman told Yahoo, "Unless you are an actual certified lunatic, I don’t know why, as an actor, you wouldn’t be like that.”

[Watch Orlando Bloom rehearse fight scene on 'The Hobbit']

The actor, whose new 10-part series ‘Fargo’ starts on Channel 4 this Sunday at 9pm, says he likes to keep a fairly low public profile, unless its in the line of work.

"I think some people handle fame better than others, and I know some people handle it better than I do. The way you want to be is at work with your colleagues.

"Of course you want a bit of enjoyment, a premiere doesn’t go amiss, so you can pat yourself and each other on the back – that’s fine. But living your life like that, is not cool.

"That’s not for me.”

[Jennifer Lawrence 'not OK' with fame]

His latest project ‘Fargo’ sees Freeman playing Lester Nygaard, a mild-mannered hen-pecked insurance salesman.

A chance encounter with Billy Bob Thornton's mysterious Lorne Malvo sees Lester embroiled in a dark and violent plot that soon gets out of control.

Although based on the Coen brothers film of the same name, albeit with new characters and a hugely-expanded plot, Freeman says the new show has more in common with another recent hit TV show than perhaps the source material.

We suggested that Lester’s story arc seems similar to Walter White’s in AMC’s ‘Breaking Bad’, and Freeman agreed.

['Star Wars' kid reveals 'dark side' of online fame]

"We should be so lucky that it’s like Walter White, because Breaking Bad was a pretty good TV show. I saw those comparisons as well when I was reading it [the script].

"In the way that you see a very recognisable, decent civilised person, pushed to the brink of becoming a wild animal. Doing things that are very animalistic, very selfish and very dishonest, and violent.”

‘Fargo' launches on 20 April at 9pm on Channel 4.