Alfred Thomas Highmore was born in England on February 14th, 1992, making him 15 years old today. His first acting role was in the film, Women Talking Dirty where he played the role of Sam, the son of a single mother in Edinburgh, Scotland, who develops an unlikely friendship with a shy cartoonist. Freddie followed up this performance with the Television special, Happy Birthday Shakespeare in which he played Steven Green, The Mist of Avalon where he played the role of the Young King Arthur, Jack and The Beanstalk: The Real Story and I Saw You where he played the part of Oscar Bingley.
Freddie's first big film however was Two Brothers, which tells the story of two tiger cubs that are separated and taken into captivity, only to then be reunited years later as enemies by an explorer who inadvertently forces them to fight each other. Freddie plays the part of 'Young Raoul' in the film and had an amazing time filming in Cambodia with new born tiger cubs.
Freddie soon followed up with an outstanding performance in the film Finding Neverland where he plays the part of Peter Llewelyn Davies, the boy who inspired the book 'Peter Pan' by J.M Barrie. Freddie received much praise for his performance in this film and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance and won a Critics Choice Award and Golden Satellite Award. The biggest complement perhaps though, was getting the part of Charlie Bucket in the new film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after his Finding Neverland co-star, Johnny Depp (who plays Willy Wonka in the film), personally recommended him for the role after being so impressed with him during filming 'Finding Neverland' together. Freddie also starred in another book adaptation, in the movie 5 Children and It based on the book by E. Nesbitt, playing one of the lead roles of Robert.
In 2006, Freddie was seen in two more films; A Good Year in which he played the younger version of Russel Crowe's character, earning him a Broadcast Critics Awards nomination for Best Young Actor; and Arthur and the Invisibles based on the books by Luc Besson and directed by him himself. The film was a new challenge for Freddie with part of it being live action and part of it animation, which meant Freddie had to do some voice over work.
In 2007, Freddie was seen in August Rush, in which he played the part of Evan Taylor, an oprhan who finds his parents through music. He was also heard in The Golden Compass, based on the popular book by Phillip Pullman, as the voice of Pantalaimon.
In 2008, Freddie was seen in what was perhaps one of his most challening roles to date when he appeared in The Spiderwick Chronicles. The film was based on the books by Tonu Di Terlizzi and Holly Black, and Freddie played twins in the film!
Freddie has completed filming parts 2 and 3 of the 'Arthur and the Invisibles' series by Luc Besson, which are set for release in 2009 and 2010. He will also be offering his vocal talents once again in 2009 as he will be providing the voice of Astro Boy in a film of the same name, based on the popular Anime television series.
Freddie recently booked the lead role in The Beautiful Miscellaneous, based on a novel by Dominic Smith, which is a coming-of-age drama following 17-year-old Nathan Nelson, who awakens from a coma with an exceptional memory and synesthesia, in which words, shapes or numbers become colors, smells or flavors. His father, a demanding physics professor, sends him to a research institute for savants to find a use for his new gifts. The film will be a really interesting one for Freddie as it will be the first time he will be playing a character the same age as his real self, having previously taken on younger roles.
When Freddie isn't busy filming, he enjoys playing soccer with his friends in the park and he supports the football team, Arsenal. He is also learning to play the guitar.
Not Yet Released:
♥ Arthur & the Two Worlds (2010) ... Arthur
♥ The Beautiful Miscellaneous (2009) ... Nathan Nelson
♥ Astro Boy (2009) ... Astro Boy (V)
♥ Arthur & the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) ... Arthur
Released:
♥ The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) ... Jared Grace/Simon Grace
♥ His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (2007) ... Pantalaimon (V)
♥ August Rush (2007) ... August Rush
♥ Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) ... Arthur
♥ A Good Year (2006) ... Young Max Skinner
♥ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) ... Charlie Bucket
♥ 5 Children and It (2004) ... Robert
♥ Finding Neverland (2004) ... Peter Llewelyn Davies
♥ Two Brothers (2004) ... Young Raoul
♥ I Saw You (2002) (TV) ... Oscar Bingley
♥ Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001) (TV) ... Son at Playground
♥ The Mist of Avalon (2001) (TV) ... Young Arthur
♥ Happy Birthday Shakespeare (2000) (TV) ... Steven Green
♥ Women Talking Dirty (1999) ... Sam
♥ Walking on the Moon (1999) ... Little Boy (Scences Cut)
Favourites
Colour: Blue
Food: Chinese or Italian
School Subjects: Sports, Languages and Maths
Book: 'Catcher in the Rye' and 'Lord of the Flies'
Movie: Edward Scissorhands
TV Show: Little Britain
Actor: Johnny Depp
Actresses: Kate Winslet, Helena Bonham Carter
Random Facts
♥ Johnny Depp personally recommended Freddie for the role of 'Charlie Bucket' in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'
♥ When he and Johnny were filming the last scene in 'Finding Neverland', Freddie said it was quite hard to concentrate on crying as there were loads of Johnny fans screaming out "We love you Johnny!"
♥ When Freddie received the phone call telling him he'd got the part of 'Charlie Bucket', he was at the Grand Canyon watching the sun set with his family.
♥ 'Finding Neverland' director, Marc Forster, decided to film one of Freddie's toughest scenes (the playhouse smashing scene) on the second day of filming so the other cast members could see him act and change their attitude to working with him.
♥ In 'Women Talking Dirty', Freddie's on-screen brother, Col, is actually his real life brother, Bertie Highmore!
♥ In 'Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story', Freddie's on-screen dad was actually his real father, Edward Highmore. Edward also has a part in the upcoming 'August Rush' in which Freddie is the main character.
♥ On 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' in 2005, Freddie revealed his hidden talent... he can play 'When the Saints Go Marching In' on two recorders shoved up his nose!
♥ Freddie takes lessons to play the Clarinet and the Guitar. He has to play guitar in his upcoming movie, 'August Rush'.
♥ Freddie did the voice over for the character of 'Charlie Bucket' on the 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' video game and the character also bears a resemblance to him.
♥ The voice of 'Pantalaimon' in The Golden Compass was originally recorded by an adult actor but the filmmakers decided it made the character sound too old, so they cast Freddie instead.
"You just sort of think about what the character's thinking and then you're in the character."
On Getting into Character.
"Smashing up the playhouse, that was really great. Sometimes they'd say, 'Oh, sorry, there was a problem with the sound or the lights.' And I'd say, 'Yes! I get to smash it up again!"
On his favourite scene in 'Finding Neverland'
"When I left the set of Finding Neverland, 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."
On the similarities between himself and his character, Charlie Bucket.
"I try and stay a normal kid as much as possible. At the weekend I play soccer with my friends"
On being a normal kid.
"It was quite tricky for the last scene because there were all these Johnny Depp fans screaming 'We love you Johnny!' all the time so that was quite tricky!"
On the last scene in 'Finding Neverland'.
"Johnny is fantastic and better than chocolate. He's a really special person who treats everyone as an equal, and I think that's a really good thing. Obviously, when we got together on the first day, we already knew each other (from "Finding Neverland"), so it was easier to get going. I think that every movie that Johnny does is great."
Talking about co-star, Johnny Depp.
"I think people can see themselves in Charlie because Charlie isn't very special. You know, he can't run faster than anyone else, he can't wave a magic wand. He's just normal."
Talking about his character, 'Charlie Bucket'.
"He is the king!"
Talking about co-star, Johnny Depp.
"He's better than chocolate! He's fantastic and I'm really lucky to work with him."
Talking about co-star, Johnny Depp.
"Each one could do a different thing. One could crack open the nut, one could put it next to it's ear and another one could throw it over it's shoulder. They'd been trained really well!"
Talking about the squirrels in 'CATCF'.
"He has a great family that surrounds him with love. That's what separates him from Willy. Willy has everything, but the one thing he really wants is the love of his family."
Talking about his character, Charlie, in 'CATCF'.
"Every scene with him is so special. He's my idol. He's better than chocolate. I keep telling everyone that chocolate is fantastic and that he is fantastic, but he really is better than chocolate, so I have to think of a stronger word for him."
Talking about co-star, Johnny Depp.
"Coming to New York's been a great experience; it's massive and it's everything. Just being here for three months... you go to a deli or you go to a restaurant, you know; you get the New York experience.
Talking about filming 'August Rush' in New York.
"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."
Talking about his dressing room demands!
"We concentrated on learning the songs for the film so I could get those really good. I wanted to be able to do it myself and I think all of the time it is me - it's my fingers and stuff."
Talking about performing his own music scenes in August Rush
"Even when I was Freddie, at the end of the day, going out in the evening, I'd still try and do the accent, so it became second nature."
Talking about using an American accent in August Rush.
"I'm not like lots of kids my age in that I'm not so keen into hip-hop and rap. I like things that other people might not like. I listen to Plain White T's, Marc Cohn and sometimes Frank Sinatra, which, I guess, for a 15-year-old isn't the stuff you should be listening to."
Talking about his musical tastes.
"They didn't force me into it in any way. It was something I thought would be fun to try out. But they did give me the opportunity to get into it, that's the luckiest thing."
Talking about his parents influence on his career.
"In my life and in everyone's life, music is there and calling out for them. Everyone relates to music."
Talking about music and August Rush.
"It's not like I go home every day and there are 10 scripts to read or anything. It's nice to try something different in every film that you do. In 'August Rush' I did an American accent for the first time, plus there's the whole musical side of things is something I've never explored in film."
Talking about the film August Rush.
"I don't think the idea's so fantastical at all -- I think it could happen. Jay Greenberg was a musical genius like August. He could write symphonies in 20 minutes, and play on the piano and compose brilliantly."
Talking about the possibility of a real August Rush.
"I think it's more realistic that way -- you've got a musical genius who sees a guitar for the first time, but he's not going to immediately know how to play a G chord or whatever. So it seems natural that he could just slap the frets and come up with his own style of playing. It was Michael Hedges whom August's playing was modeled after because he did that similar thing of slapping the guitar while he was playing it."
Talking about August learning the guitar.
"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 playing the guitar.
"I've never gone to an acting school, so you do pick up some things from actors on the set," Highmore said. "I think from Johnny Depp it's about learning how to underplay an emotion, so you don't have to go out there and cry loudly for people to understand you're upset. It can be more internal, like August."
Talking about acting style.
"He's got so much energy normally, that when you put him into a character like Wizard --who hasn't played for a while who's so wound up, he can't burst out and be who he was -- it's brilliant. When Wizard looks at August, it's like he's looking in a mirror and saying, 'This is what you could have been,' but he made a choice not to be."
Talking about co-star Robin Williams in August Rush.
"He was great. He was always on - it's like he's in a live comedy show all the time. He tries to make people relax on the set whilst he's there. The whole day - he started in make-up and it brings everyone together and everyone enjoyed it."
Talking about co-star Robin Williams in August Rush.
"The whole idea that we each have a creature who never leaves our side is both fantastical and plausible."
Talking about the concept of Daemons in The Golden Compass.
I never really acted at school. It was doing small parts on TV that really got me started. People would say that I wasn't bad, and the parts then got bigger and bigger. I got my first big film role with Finding Neverland. After that, I was lucky enough to get other parts as well."
Talking about how he started acting.
"Johnny's a mate, a real first-rate guy. We became friends on Neverland, and we still email and text. He's so normal - he says hello to everyone on set, from the director to the tea lady."
Talking about co-star Johnny Depp.
"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."
Talking about being treated like an adult.
"There's never been a particular band that I've followed religiously. But I do tend to listen to sadder music. I'm not a sad person, upset the whole time, but I seem to be quite emotional. Maybe I should grow my hair over my eyes!"
Talking about his taste in music.
"It was interesting to play someone a little detached, and not to have to talk so much. Often, it can be more powerful not to say anything, rather than talking all the time. And when you are so great at one thing often, socially, you can be let down a bit. For example, people who are amazing at music or maths, sometimes they can't really talk to you, a bit like August. He is more inside his head."
Talking about his character August Rush.
"The most important thing with the guitar was to get it to look right so that it always appeared that I was playing it. I learned all the songs I had to play so it wouldn't just look like I was faking it, and most of the time what you hear was the song I played. The harder thing was conducting. It was a normal piece of conducting, but longer than the guitar pieces. I wanted to make it look real. I didn't just want to wave my arms around. I wanted to do it properly because I felt people could tell if you didn't look as though you knew what you were doing."
Talking about learning the music in August Rush.