Freddie Highmore | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Highmore in 2013 | |
| Born | Alfred Thomas Highmore (1992-02-14)14 February 1992 (age 33)[1] |
| Alma mater | Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Father | Edward Highmore |
Alfred Thomas Highmore[2] (born 14 February 1992)[1] is an English actor. He is known for his starring roles beginning as a child, in the filmsFinding Neverland (2004),Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005),Arthur and the Invisibles(2006),August Rush (2007),The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008), andAstro Boy (2009). He won two consecutiveCritics' Choice Movie Awards for Best Young Performer and received twoScreen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Highmore starred asNorman Bates in the drama-thriller seriesBates Motel (2013–2017), for which he was nominated three times for theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series and won aPeople's Choice Award, andDr. Shaun Murphy in theABC drama seriesThe Good Doctor (2017–2024), for which he also served as a producer and was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor.[3]
Highmore was born on 14 February 1992 inCamden Town, London.[1] His mother, Sue Latimer, is a talent agent whose clients include actorsDaniel Radcliffe andImelda Staunton. His father is the former actorEdward Highmore.
Highmore was educated at The Brookland Junior and Infant school inHampstead Garden Suburb near Golders Green in the London Borough of Barnet until the age of 11 and gained a scholarship to attendHighgate School, an independent school in Highgate, London.
In November 2007, Highmore moved toNorth London.[4]
In 2008, Highmore receivedA* grades in English language and English literature, maths, Spanish, French, Latin, geography, biology, chemistry, and physics in hisGCSE exams.[5] In 2010, Highmore once again achieved A* grades in maths, further maths, French, and Spanish in hisA-level exams.[6]
From 2010 to 2014, Highmore attendedEmmanuel College, Cambridge, where he earned adouble first in Spanish and Arabic.[7] He also enrolled at theLondon School of Economics to study finance at summer school during the summer break at Cambridge in 2011.[8] Highmore worked atGulf Bank in Kuwait as an intern in 2012 and at a law firm inMadrid during his year abroad while filming the first two seasons ofBates Motel, which made him briefly consider becoming a lawyer after graduation.[9]
Highmore began his acting career with small roles on television at the age of 7. He made his film debut inCoky Giedroyc's comedyWomen Talking Dirty (1999), playing the son of a woman who has recently become estranged from her commitment-phobic French lover.[1] In 2001, Highmore played a youngKing Arthur in theTNT miniseriesThe Mists of Avalon, a take on the Arthurian legends that depicted the women ofCamelot as the real power behind the throne.[1]
In 2001, in theBBC miniseriesHappy Birthday Shakespeare, he portrayed a young boy who dreams of moving his family toStratford-upon-Avon.[1] Highmore has acted alongside members of his family in two separate films: he and his brother played siblings inWomen Talking Dirty, and he and his father played a father and son inHallmark Entertainment's television filmJack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001).[10]
In 2004, Highmore returned to the big screen for the family adventure filmTwo Brothers, directed byJean-Jacques Annaud. He played the son of a French administrator who refuses to believe that his new friend, a tiger cub named Sangha, might be dangerous after having tasted blood. He next had a major role in the fantasy filmFive Children and It (2004). That same year, Highmore made his breakthrough with a critically acclaimed performance asPeter Llewelyn Davies inMarc Forster's semi-biographical filmFinding Neverland. He received several awards and nominations for the role, including aCritics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer, and nominations for theSaturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor and theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
In 2005, he portrayed the main role ofCharlie Bucket inTim Burton's musical fantasy filmCharlie and the Chocolate Factory, adapted fromthe book of the same name byRoald Dahl.[11] He was reportedly recommended by co-starJohnny Depp, with whom Highmore had worked inFinding Neverland; Depp had been impressed by the young actor's performance and thus put his name forward for the role.[1] Highmore had not seen the original1971 version of the film, and decided not to see it until he was done filming so his portrayal of Charlie would not be influenced. For his role, he again won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer and was awarded theSatellite Award for Outstanding New Talent. Highmore also lent his voice to the film'saccompanying video game of the same name.
He next appeared as a young Max Skinner inRidley Scott's comedy-drama filmA Good Year, which was released in the UK on 27 October 2006. Also in 2006, he began portraying protagonist Arthur Montgomery in the live-action/animated fantasy adventure filmArthur and the Invisibles, released on 13 December 2006. Two sequels followed:Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) andArthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds (2010).[12] For the third film and the trilogy'saccompanying video game, Highmore provided voice acting.[13] In 2007, he lent his voice to the adventure fantasy filmThe Golden Compass (2007) and itsvideo game of the same name. He then portrayed the title character in the drama filmAugust Rush (2007). The story follows a musical prodigy as he searches for his birth parents. This film received a wide release on 21 November 2007.
Highmore next starred in the dual role of American twinsSimon Grace andJared Grace in the fantasy adventure filmThe Spiderwick Chronicles (2008), based on the popularchildren's stories of the same name byTony DiTerlizzi andHolly Black. The film also had avideo game of the same name in which Highmore reprised the characters of Simon and Jared in a voice role.[14] That same year, he provided voice acting for the role of Little Jack in the animated filmA Fox's Tale (2008). In 2009, Highmore voiced the lead character in the animated filmAstro Boy[15] and provided his voice to its accompanying video game,Astro Boy: The Video Game.[16] He then played the main role inToast, a BBC biographical film about chefNigel Slater, which was aired on 30 December 2010.[17] Also in 2010, he starred as Hally Ballard in the drama filmMaster Harold...and the Boys, based on theplay of the same name byAthol Fugard. The following year, he co-starred in the romantic comedy-dramaThe Art of Getting By (2011).[18]
In 2013, Highmore voiced the title character in the animated adventure filmJustin and the Knights of Valour. From 2013 to 2017, he portrayed the iconic role ofNorman Bates in theA&E drama-thriller seriesBates Motel, a prequel to theAlfred Hitchcock filmPsycho that restarts the storyline in the present day.[19] He won aPeople's Choice Award in 2017 for his performance,[20] and has received nominations for theSaturn Award for Best Actor on Television (2013),[21] theSatellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (2013),[22] and theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (2014–2015, and 2017).[23][24][25] Highmore ventured into writing and directing during his time working on the series, writing thefourth season episode "Unfaithful"[26] and thefifth season episode "Inseparable", and directing the fifth-season episode "The Body".[27]
In August 2014, it was reported thatNBC had purchased a comedy pilot script written and executive produced by Highmore andBates Motel showrunnerKerry Ehrin.[28] In 2015, he appeared inthe Libertines' music video for "You're My Waterloo".[29] In 2016, Highmore starred inStephen Poliakoff'sBBC Two seven-part miniseriesClose to the Enemy[30] andNick Hamm's political comedy-drama filmThe Journey.[31]
In 2017, Highmore took on the lead role of Dr. Shaun Murphy, anautisticsavant, in theABC drama seriesThe Good Doctor, and was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his performance.[32] He serves as an executive producer and director on the show, and wrote the second season episode "Hello".[33][34]
Highmore has been cast as the voice of the Duke of Cheshire in the animated film adaptation ofThe Canterville Ghost.[35] He is to play the title character,Baby Face Nelson, in the A&E drama pilotBaby Face, which he co-wrote and will executive produce with Kerry Ehrin.[36] Highmore will also serve as an executive producer on Ehrin's drama pilotLong Distance for NBC.[37]
In August 2018, Highmore formed his Sony-aligned production company, Alfresco Pictures, which aims to develop scripted series for broadcast, cable, streaming services, and international co-productions projects "that have a broader point or message behind them, that try and spark conversations that aren't being had or give a microphone to voices and experiences that haven't been heard from before.". "I hope 'Alfresco', aside from being a play on my real name, Alfred, speaks more widely to a sense of refreshing, communal openness that is reflective of the stories we gravitate towards at the company," he said. "In wanting to set up 'Alfresco', it came from a natural desire to be involved in a wider way in the industry ... I always had that natural curiosity to do other things. And that, I guess, shifted into not only wanting to develop my own ideas and projects that I was writing or directing or acting in, but also becoming a producer in a wider sense and helping other people tell their stories."[38]
In August 2019, it was reported that Highmore will co-write and serve as an executive producer forHomesick, a dark comedy in development at the WarnerMedia-owned cable net, which will explore mental health, body image, toxic masculinity and what it means to defy "normal" gender expectations.[39]
Highmore lives in London and avoids social media.[40] While onBates Motel, Highmore developed a close friendship with co-starVera Farmiga and becamegodfather to her son.[41]
Apart from his native English, Highmore is fluent in French and Spanish, and semi-fluent in Arabic.[42][43]
In a September 2021 interview onJimmy Kimmel Live!, Highmore revealed that he had recently married.[44]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Women Talking Dirty | Sam | |
| 2004 | Two Brothers | Raoul Normandin | |
| Finding Neverland | Peter Llewelyn Davies | ||
| Five Children and It | Robert | ||
| 2005 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Charlie Bucket | |
| 2006 | A Good Year | Young Max Skinner | |
| Arthur and the Invisibles | Arthur Montgomery | Voice role | |
| 2007 | August Rush | Evan Taylor / August Rush | |
| The Golden Compass | Pantalaimon | Voice role | |
| 2008 | The Spiderwick Chronicles | Jared and Simon Grace | Dual role |
| A Fox's Tale | Little Jack | Voice role | |
| 2009 | Astro Boy | Toby Tenma / Astro Boy | Voice role |
| Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard | Arthur Montgomery | Voice role | |
| 2010 | Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds | Arthur Montgomery | Voice role |
| Master Harold...and the Boys | Hally Ballard | ||
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | George Zinavoy | |
| 2013 | Justin and the Knights of Valour | Justin | Voice role |
| 2016 | The Journey | Jack the Driver | |
| Almost Friends | Charlie Brenner | ||
| 2020 | Dragon Rider | Ben | Voice role |
| 2021 | The Vault | Thom Johnson | Also producer |
| 2023 | The Canterville Ghost | The Duke of Cheshire | Voice role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Happy Birthday Shakespeare | Steven Green | Television film |
| 2001 | The Mists of Avalon | Young Arthur | 2 episodes |
| Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story | Son at playground | 2 episodes | |
| 2002 | I Saw You | Oscar Bingley | Television film |
| 2010 | Toast | Nigel Slater | Television film |
| 2013–2017 | Bates Motel | Norman Bates |
|
| 2016 | Close to the Enemy | Victor Ferguson | Main role |
| 2017 | Portrait Artist of the Year | Himself | Television competition |
| Tour de Pharmacy | Adrian Baton | Television film | |
| 2017–2024 | The Good Doctor | Shaun Murphy |
|
| 2018 | Taskmaster | Himself | Contestant |
| 2021 | Leonardo | Stefano Giraldi | Executive producer |
| TBA | The Assassin | Edward | Executive producer |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Charlie Bucket |
| 2007 | Arthur and the Invisibles | Arthur Montgomery |
| The Golden Compass | Pantalaimon | |
| 2008 | The Spiderwick Chronicles | Jared and Simon Grace |
| 2009 | Astro Boy: The Video Game | Toby Tenma / Astro Boy |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Girls" | The Prodigy |
| 2015 | "You're My Waterloo" | The Libertines |
Media related toFreddie Highmore at Wikimedia Commons
