“What attracted me to play Bilbo Baggins? In The Hobbit?” The ever deadpan Martin Freeman throws the question back at us and waits for it to sink in. Okay, you got us there.

Truth is, they probably couldn’t have gotten anyone more suitable to play the titular character in Peter Jackson’s franchise prequel to the blockbuster hit The Lord Of The Rings.

Sure, he’s no Orlando Bloom or Viggo Mortensen in the looks or sex appeal department, but if you wanted someone to play that quintessential loner with a perpetually flustered “What the hell am I doing here with 13 dwarves?” vibe, then Freeman’s the man.

He has, after all, played similar characters in Ricky Gervais’ The Office (Tim Canterbury), the film version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (Arthur Dent), and currently, the hit show Sherlock as John Watson, opposite the loopy detective.

The 41-year-old actor may have only been a recent Tolkien convert but his portrayal has already earned him plaudits from everyone.

“He’s the most incredibly inventive actor,” recalled Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum opposite Freeman in one penultimate verbal joust in the movie.

Director Peter Jackson, too, has been impressed. “I think it’s the gentle comedy, the British comedy that Martin brings to the character of Bilbo. He’s not a funny character but his reactions to what’s happening around him are what’s funny. And Martin’s brilliant at it.”

With his face plastered all over cinemas right now, it’s time to meet Mr Billboard Baggins.

Peter Jackson said your Bilbo was very British. How did you bring that into the character?

Martin Freeman: Well, I dug deep and thought … how would a British person do this? And then I remembered that I am one.

I mean I know how foreigners see English people, and some of the national characteristics are true — and I guess those English things are stuffiness, tightness ... but also vulnerability and a sense of decency.

How demanding was the role?

It’s a very physical role. Obviously Bilbo is not a superhero so I wasn’t benchpressing 200 pounds every hour. But as an actor you have to be ready. It’s a war of attrition if you’re doing a film for 18 months. You don’t want to get ill or get a sprained back. You know, fit and strong. For a hobbit.

Can you give us a clue as to your character’s journey through The Hobbit films?

From the beginning to the end of the third film, he will change a lot. He will start as someone who has never really seen anything outside of Hobbiton to someone who has seen terrible things. Like Tolkien who went to war in the First World War. I think

that’s echoed a bit in Bilbo. Some of that nerviness goes and that meerkat presence goes.

So are you a person who likes adventures?

Yeah, some of it. Depending on the adventure! I wouldn’t go into life and death (situations) easily — nor would anyone. Unless you’re a f****** moron.

(But) I’m an actor — I’ve chosen a job where there is no security, no pension … So for a start, that’s braver than most people who’ve had to work in a bank, in my opinion.

You’ve been getting some great gigs, especially on television with Sherlock and The Office.

Sherlock is one of the best-written things that I will ever do. If I live to be a hundred I won’t be able to do many things that are better than Sherlock. Same with The Office — it was the perfect half hour comedy for me.

I never wanted to be an actor who was just in explosions or crashing cars. If I can be sitting down saying great dialogue that’s great. But if I can be riding a horse, firing a gun and saying great dialogue that’s great, too.

They don’t come very often. The things that hit you when they do are very precious.

I saw what you did there, Mr Baggins. Are you nervous about the kind of attention you’re sure to get now?

No ’cause I’ve been living with that for over 10 years in Britain. I mean, people have been annoying me in restaurants for a long time. So now it’ll just be all over the world!

Obviously that level of fame is something very different than most people will get to experience. But it’s hard talking about that ’cause that’s not the prize. “Great! I’m famous everywhere!” — that was never the point.

So do you read your own reviews?

Occasionally, yeah. It’s human nature, man. Like if you know someone’s talking about you in the other room, you would put a f****** glass to the wall.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is out in cinemas now.