Ben Freeman
| Ben Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 April 1980 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse(s) | Jennifer Biddall (2010–present) |
| Children | Joseph Freeman |
Benedict "Ben" Freeman (born 8 April 1980) is an English television actor, best known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as Scott Windsor.
Personal life
As of May 2009 Ben has recently been linked to former Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Biddall, who played Jessica Harris in the soap.
It was reported on Sunday 6 December 2009 that Ben and Jennifer Biddall had got engaged after enjoying a whirlwind 8 month romance.
On 10 September 2010 Ben married Jennifer Biddall at The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe. Guests at the wedding included Kelvin Fletcher (Emmerdale), Kieron Norfield and cast members from Dreamboats and Petticoats.
Biography
The eldest of five siblings (three younger sisters and a younger brother), living in Slough, Berkshire, Freeman went to St. Bernard's Convent School (now St. Bernard's Catholic Grammar School). While at school Freeman took a part-time acting course over a school half-term holiday and was spotted by an agent from Redroofs Theatre School, who signed him up. Freeman also trained at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead. Freeman's first role was playing Chris Longworth in children's school soap Grange Hill.
After leaving Grange Hill, when Emmerdale decided to recast the character of Scott Windsor from incumbent Toby Cockerell in 1998, Freeman won the role of the womanising car mechanic Scott.
Following Emmerdale, Freeman took to the stage, playing the part of The Prince in Romeo and Juliet, Warner in the final cast of Legally Blonde and Norman in Dreamboats and Petticoats, both in London's West End. From 29 October 2012, he takes over as Fiyero from Matt Willis in the London production of hit musical Wicked.
Rape trial
On 3 December 2006, the British Foreign Office confirmed that Freeman had been charged with raping a British 16 year old girl, while on holiday on the Caribbean island of Barbados.[1] Freeman, his stepfather and other members of his family had been staying at the Almond Beach Village resort, where the girl was also staying.
In December 2007, an ITV spokesperson confirmed that Freeman would not be renewing his contract for practical reasons, as it expired at the end of 2007. The ITV spokesperson said: "Due to the uncertainty of the process of law and the lead times in writing a character in and out of a soap we cannot be sure of Ben’s availability for work, so we cannot renew his contract at this stage." According to the website, Freeman would like to talk to ITV about a contract renewal, after this situation is over.[2]
Freeman was found not guilty of rape on 17 October 2008.[3]
References
- ↑ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Soap star on holiday rape charge
- ↑ Emmerdale | News & Gossip | Ben Freeman leaves show - ITV Soaps
- ↑ Irvine, Chris (18 October 2008). "Former Emmerdale actor Ben Freeman cleared of rape". London: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
External links
- Ben Freeman at the Internet Movie Database
- 2003 interview at emmerdale.org