One of Britain's most versatile character actors, Paul Freeman's dark, hypnotic good looks and talent for accents have often seen him cast as villains. He originally worked first in advertising and then he trained as a teacher, while he participated in amateur dramatics as a pastime. As a professional actor he gained extensive experience performing in repertory in England and Scotland and landed small roles at the Royal Court Theatre. He is also a founding member of the Joint Stock Theatre Company.

He acted at the National Theatre and began to get roles on British television. Films included The Long Good Friday (starring Bob Hoskins) and _Dogs of War, The (1980)_ (starring Christopher Walken). His work was noticed by American director Steven Spielberg, who cast Freeman as French archaeologist Rene Belloq, Harrison Ford's charismatic but utterly selfish rival in the blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark. He had expected to appear in the next Indiana Jones movie, but Spielberg and George Lucas decided on a different story. Nevertheless, his portrayal of Belloq guaranteed him good work in the following years, during which he continued to showcase his command of dialects and chameleonlike ability to disappear into roles, such as the deliciously evil Professor Moriarty in the Michael Caine comedy, Without a Clue.

His notable television appearances have included _"Life of Shakespeare" (1978)_ , Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, Falcon Crest, Inspector Morseand ER. He has also continued to work as a stage actor.


He has played leading roles at the National Theatre, Royal Court and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Claimed he had never heard of The Power Rangers when he was cast as Ivan Ooze in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) Appears in Hot Fuzz (2007), along with Jim Broadbent and an uncredited Cate Blanchett. Freeman appeared in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), while Broadbent and Blanchett appeared together in one of the sequels, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).