Biography
Date of Birth
14 December 1992, Camden Town, London, England, UK
Birth Name
Alfred Thomas Highmore
Height
5' 11" (1.8 m)
Mini Biography
Freddie Highmore is an English actor who came to prominence for his roles in Five Children and It (2004), Finding Neverland (2004), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
He was born Alfred Thomas Highmore in Camden Town, London, England, to Sue (Latimer), a talent agent, and Edward Thomas Highmore, an actor. Highmore has a younger brother, Albert "Bertie" Highmore. He attended Highgate School, and later earned a double-first degree in Spanish and Arabic from Cambridge University's Emmanuel College.
In 1999, Highmore made his big screen debut in the comedy Women Talking Dirty (1999), portraying Helena Bonham Carter's son. His next prominent role was in the family drama Two Brothers (2004). Highmore's breakout role came when he was cast in Finding Neverland (2004), alongside Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. He was then cast in the title role of Charlie Bucket in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), and was reportedly recommended by co-star Johnny Depp. Roles in A Good Year (2006) and Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) soon followed, before he portrayed the title role in August Rush (2007), opposite Keri Russell and Robin Williams.
In 2013, he began starring as the iconic Norman Bates in the drama thriller series Bates Motel (2013), alongside Vera Farmiga as his mother. Highmore received much acclaim for his performance throughout the series' run, and was nominated for multiple Saturn Awards and Critics' Choice Television Awards.
2017- Stars in The Good Doctor as Shaun Murphy -a young autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join the surgical unit at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Shaun is alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, but he finds his niche using his extraordinary medical skill and intuition to save lives and challenge the skepticism of his colleagues.
Trivia
Johnny Depp requested him to play Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
Finding Neverland (2004) director Marc Forster decided to schedule one of Highmore's toughest scenes (where he tears up a book and demolishes a playhouse) on his second day of filming, deliberately so other cast members could see the child act and change their attitude towards working with him.
Is a soccer fan.
His real father, Edward Highmore, played his father in Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001).
During the shooting of Finding Neverland (2004), his favorite action was the demolition of the playhouse.
Said it was hard to concentrate during filming of the final scene of Finding Neverland (2004) with Johnny Depp in London because fans were standing off-camera screaming "We love you Johnny!"
Won an Empire Award for Best Newcomer for his role in Finding Neverland (2004).
His real brother, Bertie Highmore, played his brother in Women Talking Dirty (1999).
Plays the clarinet and enjoys soccer and video games. Learning to play the guitar.
Is fluent in English, French and Spanish and Arabic.
Began acting in small parts on TV shows when he was 7.
Actress Helena Bonham Carter has played his mother three times: in his first film Women Talking Dirty (1999), his most famous role Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), and (as his stepmother) in the BBC film Toast (2010).
His mother Sue Latimer is his agent. One of her clients is Imelda Staunton. She also represents his friend Daniel Radcliffe.
Was originally supposed to star in December Boys (2007) but had to pull out because his grandmother was sick and he couldn't go to Australia to film.
His favorite actor is Johnny Depp, his co-star in Finding Neverland (2004) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
The voice of 'Pantalaimon' in The Golden Compass (2007) was originally recorded by an adult actor but the filmmakers decided it made the character sound too old, so they cast Freddie instead. 'Pantalaimon' was originally going to be voiced by his co-star from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Adam Godley.
Is fluent in French and Spanish.
Has played the son of two Ophelias: Helena Bonham Carter in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Kate Winslet in Finding Neverland (2004).
Freddie has achieved 10 A* grades on his GCSEs (English language, English literature, maths, Spanish, French, Latin, geography, biology, chemistry and physics).
He is a supporter of the Arsenal Football Club.
[2008] He sat his AS Levels in English Language, English Literature, Maths, Spanish, French, Latin, Geography, Biology, Chemistry and Physics for his GCSE.
Friends with the Narnia actor Skandar Keynes.
Graduated from The University of Cambridge with a double first in Arabic and Spanish.
For his third year of the Cambridge course he has been working at a law firm in Madrid translating documents.
Has scored four A* grades in A-levels (maths, further maths, French and Spanish).
Has worked at Gulf Bank in Kuwait in 2012 as an intern.
Attended LSE Summer School in 2011.
Freddie Highmore was born in 1992 just seven months before the death of Anthony Perkins. Both actors played Norman Bates in Bates Motel (2013) and Psycho (1960).
Would often stay at Vera Farmiga and Renn Hawkey's house in Vancouver during the filming of Bates Motel (2013).
Favorite Hitchcock film after Psycho (1960) is Rear Window (1954).
Is godfather to Vera Farmiga's son, Fynn Hawkey.
Quotes
When I left the set of Finding Neverland (2004), I was quite upset, because I thought I wouldn't see Johnny again. And Charlie wants to go back to the chocolate factory. We both got our wishes.
Well, you just sort of think about what the character's thinking, and then you're in the character.
I'm not sure what I would like to do when I'm older. I might want to travel and see the world. That would be quite fun.
I try to stay a normal boy as much as possible. I play soccer on the weekend with my friend. I play video games, but not as much as Mike Teavee [the video-game addict in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)]. I quite enjoy soccer games. I support the team called Arsenal. They just won the [English Football Association] Cup.
[Talking about being treated like an adult] That was really important for me, although I think I am a bit more mature than some kids my age because I've spent more time with adults. And I haven't grown my hair over my eyes or anything.
It's nice to pick up the guitar now and again and play back the songs and be reminded of the film -- but if you gave me any other songs to play, I wouldn't be very good at them.
[Talking about his dressing room demands] Because I'm a spoiled little brat, I absolutely always insist on a table and chair and lighting. This February I'm even going to demand heating.
Scary is good. Kids like going to a movie and being really scared rather than fake scared.
When I work on something it becomes all-consuming for me.
[on celebrity] As long as you don't stand on the corner and wave your arms about, people don't notice you too much.
There's no point playing a scene if, by the end, everyone's in the same state they were in at the start.
Part of the appeal of procedurals, in general, is that there's a continuity and consistency week after week; that you can come to the show and know what you're going to get.
