1. Sherlock (2010-11)
It was going to take something truly special to steal the limelight from old Bendybobs Winklesnatch, but the fact that it's Freeman who walked off with the 2010 Bafta tells you a lot about his re-imagining of the quintessential sidekick. Again, the secret is about down-playing the role. He knows that Sherlock is a mad genius, so he adds the moral compass, the compassion, and the anchor that the great detective needs. His devotion to his friend, particularly by the time he's willing to blow himself up to save his partner after just 3 episodes, is wonderful. And in terms of balancing the comic with the dramatic, it's Freeman's perfect role to date. Let's hope the repairing of the two, as enemies, makes The Hobbit half as enjoyable. Don't agree? You clearly haven't watched Sherlock then. Go away now, resolve that, and we can be friends. And now on the five performances we'd prefer to forget...