Partner of Hobbit star Martin Freeman goes bankrupt 'over £120,000 tax bill' despite him being worth £10m

Mr Selfridge actress Amanda Abbington, 41, declared insolvent in London's High Court

She has two children with Mr Freeman and they share a £900,000 house in Hertfordshire



Her partner is the multi-million-pound star of The Hobbit, but actress Amanda Abbington appears to have been less fortunate with her own finances.

Miss Abbington, who featured in ITV period drama Mr Selfridge, has been forced to declare herself bankrupt over a £120,000 tax bill, it emerged yesterday.

The 41-year-old mother of two’s bankruptcy order was registered in the High Court under her birth name Amanda Jane Smith.

Scroll down for video



Amanda Abbington, seen here with her long-time partner Martin Freeman, has been declared bankrupt

Despite her partner Martin Freeman’s fortune – most of it accumulated after landing the role of Bilbo Baggins in the three Hobbit films – Miss Abbington will have to pay off only a fraction of her debt.

A source told The Sun: ‘Amanda has done nothing legally wrong, but I am sure Revenue & Customs officials will be fuming on missing out on her cash, especially given her common-law husband is a very successful actor.

‘Bankruptcy laws recognise individuals rather than couples, so the penniless partner of a wealthy person is free to go bust like anyone else.’

Miss Abbington and Freeman – whose TV roles include Watson in the BBC series Sherlock and Tim Canterbury in The Office – have been together for 11 years and have a six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter. They are said to have met on the set of Channel 4’s Men Only in 2000.

Hollywood star: Martin Freeman is said to have earned millions for his starring role in The Hobbit, pictured Amanda Abbington stars as the head of accessories Miss Mardle in ITV1's hit show Mr Selfridge

'She is my rock in all things': Amanda Abbington and Martin Freeman have been together for 12 years

They refer to each other as husband and wife and live in a £900,000 house in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

Last night a spokesman for Miss Abbington said: ‘We do not comment on any aspect of our clients’ personal lives.’

Freeman secured the starring role in The Hobbit trilogy. The first of the three films based on JRR Tolkien’s novel of the same name was released in December and is already thought to have grossed more than $1billion (£660million) at the box office.

The second film is due to be released in December this year.

Miss Abbington’s bankruptcy declaration comes only a few weeks after that of 36-year-old former EastEnders star Martine McCutcheon, with debts of £187,000.



The actress, who is believed to have earned up to £250,000 a year at the height of her popularity in the BBC 1 soap, made the petition in her given name, Martine Kimberley Sherrie Ponting.

Her discharge from bankruptcy is set for January next year and KPMG has been appointed as her trustee.

Her bankruptcy came a few months after she married musician Jack McManus, 29, on the shores of Lake Como in Italy.



In 2003 it was reported that she was worth £1.5million and was living in upmarket Kensington, West London.



