Martin Freeman has responded to criticism surrounding his recent movie Miller’s Girl.

The film, which was released in the US this January, stars Freeman as the professor of an 18-year-old student, played by Jenna Ortega.

The movie has been described as an erotic thriller and explores the complex and intimate relationship between the student and her teacher, as well as involving some sexual scenes. However, the film has received some backlash as the two actors are 31 years apart in age.

Now, in a new interview with The Times, The Hobbit star has defended Miller’s Girl, and described it as both “grown-up and nuanced”. He also stated that the film’s depiction of the relationship does not necessarily mean he condones it.

“It’s not saying, ‘Isn’t this great?’” shared The Office star.

Freeman then went onto cite Steven Spielberg’s 1993 war film Schindler’s List, discussing how actors shouldn’t take the blame for portraying complex and sometimes controversial roles.

“Are we going to have a go at Liam Neeson for being in a film about the Holocaust?” he proposed.

Following the release of Miller’s Girl, the movie’s intimacy coordinator Kristina Arjona explained that the actors worked in a comfortable environment.

[embedded content]

“There were many, many people throughout this process, engaging with [Ortega] to make sure that it was consistent with what she was comfortable with, and she was very determined and very sure of what she wanted to do,” she shared.

“Part of my job too is supporting her decisions. I adapt to whatever is the comfort level of my actors, especially on a production like this where there is a large age gap between the actors,” she continued.

“I’m hyper aware of both of my talent and making sure that we’re consistently checking in and that at no point are any of their boundaries being surpassed.”

In other news, earlier this year Ortega revealed who her favourite actor of all time is.