With Sherlock star Martin Freeman his father and Mr Selfridge actress Amanda Abbington his mother, he shouldn’t lack a helping hand in showbusiness.

But Joe Freeman, 19, is no ‘nepo baby’, insists Amanda, 51, who split from actor Martin Freeman in 2016 after a 16-year relationship.

Joe is set to make his acting debut in a new MGM+ show called The Institute, an adaption of Stephen King’s novel, but despite his very famous parents’ successful acting careers, Amanda has strongly defended her son and claimed he hasn’t had a helping hand in showbiz.

Amanda told the Mail’s Richard Eden: He’s just done a massive Stephen King show called The Institute, which comes out next year.

‘He spent four months in Canada playing the lead in that. He got it all on his own, without anyone’s help – there was no nepotism there, which was good. None at all.’

And yet, while his mother insists that his famous surname didn’t help him land his latest TV role, Joe’s profile on his agent’s website makes no secret of his background.

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Amanda Abbington, 51, and ex Martin Freeman, 53, have insisted their son Joe, 19, is ‘not a nepo baby’, as the Strictly star demanded ‘he got it all on his own’ (pictured with sister Grace)

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The actress and the Sherlock star, who split in 2016 after a 16-year relationship, share son Joe and daughter Grace, 16 (pictured with Martin’s girlfriend Rachel Mariam)

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Joe is set to star in the Stephen King adaptation The Institute, which will air on MGM+ later this year

‘Growing up with well known acting parents, Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington, Joe has spent much of his life backstage or on a studio set,’ Scott Cole management declares.

‘He has inherited the natural and engaging talents of both his parents and is well versed in dealing with the publicity that has followed his family.’

In 2023, Joe was a cast member in the production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in Tunbridge Wells. He’s also appeared in an episode of Doctors and starred in a Paul Weller music video.

However, the teenager, who has a sister Grace, 16, decided to ‘finish his studies’ before embarking on an acting career full time.

While Martin may be happy his son is taking after him, he previously admitted to struggling with the prospect of his children flying the nest.

The star acknowledged it is ‘totally natural’ for the teenagers to want to spend time without him but it’s difficult not to get upset about it.

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The teenager decided to finish school before embarking on a career as an actor

Asked about his kids flying the nest, he told the Radio Times: ‘Me and their mum [Amanda] don’t live together so there are times where they’re inevitably going to not be with you, or when they say, “Maybe not this weekend.”

‘It’s hard not to feel hurt when they start doing things that don’t involve you, even though you understand it and welcome it because it’s totally natural.’

Martin and Amanda’s lookalike children recently shared a glimpse into the family’s life at home.

Last year, Grace took to TikTok to share some insight into her and Joe’s festivities with dad Martin at the home he shares with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa and their two sausage dogs.

The hilarious clip showed the family lip-syncing to the boyband song from Martin’s iconic Christmas film Nativity, called She’s The Brightest Star.

It gave fans a small glimpse into the actor’s lavish home, as he and daughter Grace danced in front of a grand fireplace and huge patterned rug.

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Despite his very famous parent’s successful acting career, Amanda has strongly defended her son and claimed he hasn’t had a helping hand in showbiz (pictured with Amanda’s fiancé Jonathan Goodwin)

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Joe is set to make his acting debut in a new show called The Institute, an adaption of Stephen King’s novel (pictured in 2023)

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Sherlock’s Martin and Amanda starred as on-screen couple Dr. John Watson and Mary Watson in the BBC series (pictured in 2016’s season after their split)

In another part of the video, Martin was seen relaxing on an expensive-looking blue quilted velvet couch as he petted one of his dachshunds and lip-synced along to the track.

A particularly funny part of the video saw Grace standing in front of a glittering Christmas tree as she lip-synced, before her brother Joe and dad Martin popped into frame to be her backing singers.

Martin’s French actress partner Rachel, 31, was seen getting fully involved as she sang and danced with his son Joe as they both cuddled the dogs.

Martin and Amanda met on the set of the film Men Only in 2000 and went on to play formidable duo John and Mary Watson in Sherlock.

He has since gone on to date French actress Rachel, who has featured in many roles including BBC‘s smash hit Normal People.

Meanwhile Amanda is now in a relationship with former daredevil Jonathan Goodwin. The couple were friends for years before they began dating.

However they were only together two months before Jonathan became permanently paralysed when he was crushed during a stunt – leaving him in a wheelchair.