Amanda Abbington, Martin Freeman Co-Parenting: 'Sherlock' Pair Talks Playing New Parents Vs. Real Life Parenting After Split

"Sherlock" actors Amanda Abbington (Mary Watson) and Martin Freeman (John Watson) play a couple on the popular series. But the pair have recently announced they have split in real life following a 15-year relationship.

The ex-couple have two children together and on the show, their characters have just become new parents. They reflect on the differences between becoming parents on "Sherlock" and co-parenting now that they are living apart.

The stars both agree that having a newborn on "Sherlock" brought back old feelings of what it was like when they became first-time parents. The actress told Daily Mail that it had been weird on the set.

"We were effectively revisiting how it was when we first got together," Abbington said, describing her "Sherlock" scenes with her ex-partner regarding feeding and getting up late at night to soothe a crying baby. Freeman, on the other hand, told The Guardian the same thing. "It wasn't lost on me and Amanda that, 'Oh look, we're holding our fictional baby. Remember this?'" the actor said.

Abbington and Freeman publicly announced their split just before the holidays kicked in. They have apparently been separated for a while now, even as they pretended to be a couple on "Sherlock."

Despite the split, the ex-couple supposedly spent Christmas together with their children Joe, 10, and Grace, 8. The actress admitted that their kids were upset and vulnerable about the breakup. But because she and Freeman remained friends, they are better parents now than they were together.

I Didn't Quit my Marriage. I Survived It. https://t.co/ldOyvfFBom via @elephantjournal

— amanda abbington (@CHIMPSINSOCKS) December 28, 2016

Abbington said that their separation had "no hostility" and thus, they can continue to co-parent the kids harmoniously. Their arrangement has been OK with the family so far. "He sees the children as much as he wants to," the actress revealed via Telegraph.

Abbington and Freeman, who never walked down the aisle, have apparently split because of work. The actor was away a lot while filming "The Hobbit" and his other commitments in Hollywood, and this made them lose touch of each other.

The actress, however, said that she would work with her ex again if the opportunity came. Meanwhile, Freeman has expressed in interviews that he will always love the mother of his kids.