Freddie Highmore is a British actor who is best known for his starring roles in Five Children and It (2004), Finding Neverland (2004), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). He has been an actor since he was seven years old. While he is best known for starring in two consecutive American TV series – Bates Motel on A&E and The Good Doctor – he first gained fame as a child and young teen in movies such as Finding Neverland (2004), the story of Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), based on the Roald Dahl novel.
Table of Contents
Freddie Highmore Biography, TV Shows, Early Life, Girlfriends, Images, Career And Facts
Freddie Highmore’s Individual Life
Freddie Highmore is an English Actor. He was born on February 14, 1992 (age 27) Camden Town, London, England. He is known for his role as Shaun Murphy in the serial The Good Doctor. Freddie made his debut with the movie Women Talking Dirty in 1999. He won two consecutive Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Young Performer. He also won a People’s Choice Award.
His father, Edward Highmore, is also an actor whose credits are primarily in British television, including Doctor Who and the English series Howard’s Way. Though he came from an acting and theatrical family, Highmore doesn’t seem to have taken any special instruction in acting. He says he attended a “regular” school in his North London neighbourhood. “I’d work in L.A., then return home to normality,” he told The Telegraph. “Acting was a hobby, not an end game.”
Highmore was still a student at England’s Cambridge University close to completing a degree in both Arabic and Spanish when he started filming the first season of Bates Motel in 2013.
| Real Name | Alfred Thomas Freddie Highmore |
| Nick Name | Freddie, Thomas |
| Profession | Director, Writer, Actor |
| Famous Role | As Shaun Murphy (The Good Doctor) |
| BirthPlace | Camden Town, London, England |
| Hometown | Camden Town, London, England |
| Current City | Camden Town, London, England |
| Date of Birth | 14 February 1992 |
| Age (as in 2021) | 29 Years Old |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Nationality | British |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Debut | Movie – Women Talking Dirty (1999) TV – Happy Birthday Shakespeare |
| Language | Spanish , Arabic , English , French |
Freddie Highmore’s Physical Appearance
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 177.8 cm in meters- 1.77 m in Feet Inches- 5’ 10” |
| Weight (approx.) | in Kilograms- 70 kg in Pounds- 154 lbs |
| Body Measurements | Chest size – 37 Waist Size – 29 Biceps Size – 14 |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Hair Colour | Dark Brown |
| Shoe Size | 10 (US) |
Freddie Highmore’s Education Qualification and Schooling/College
- Schooling: Freddie attended schools in Hampstead Garden Suburb, Hampstead. He attended Highgate School. He has attended LSE Summer School as well as Brookland Junior and Infant School.
- College: Freddie went to Emmanuel College affiliated to Cambridge University. He graduated with first class in both his majors Spanish & Arabic.
Freddie is a brilliant student as well, he has 10 A* grades in total- Biology, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, Latin, Mathematics, Physics, Spanish
| Education Qualifications | Graduation in Degree in Spanish & Arabic |
| College | Emmanuel College |
| School | Highgate School , LSE Summer School |
| Alma Mater | University of Cambridge |
Freddie Highmore’s Family
| Father | Edward Thomas Highmore (Actor) |
| Mother | Sue Latimer (talent agent) |
| Brother | Albert Samuel Highmore (Actor) |
| Grandfather | David Albert Field Highmore (Paternal) |
| Grandmother | Josephine M. Heath (Paternal) |
Freddie Highmore’s Girlfriend, Affairs, Spouch and Much More
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriends | Sarah Bolger (October 2006- June 2009; Irish actress) Abigail Breslin (2016; American actress) Dakota Fanning (2009 July; Actress) |
Freddie Highmore’s Journey/ Career
A star at seven
Highmore’s first film role was in the British comedy Women Talking Dirty (1999), in which he played Sam, the young son of an outspoken single mother played by Helena Bonham Carter. He then took small parts in several television productions, including Happy Birthday Shakespeare (2000) and I Saw You (2002), both British exports. The steadily working Highmore also played young King Arthur in the American television miniseries The Mists of Avalon (2001). His first real break came in 2004 when he was cast in the family drama Two Brothers, the story of two tiger cubs separated at birth. Highmore played Raoul, a young boy who adopts one of the cubs. Since the movie had a worldwide release, it was the first time audiences on a large scale had the opportunity to see the fledgling actor at work.
Highmore had already completed another role, however, that would catapult him from cute kid actor to bona fide film star. In early 2002, when he was just nine years old, Highmore was cast in the movie, Finding Neverland, directed by German-born filmmaker Marc Forster (1969–). Neverland was based on the stage play The Man Who Was Peter Pan and chronicles an episode in the life of Scottish writer J.(James) M.(Matthew) Barrie (1860–1937), creator of the world-famous character Peter Pan.
The boy who would be Peter Pan
The play and the movie delve into a relationship that blossoms between Barrie and a family he meets while strolling through
“I hope that I’m sort of a normal boy.”
Kensington Gardens in 1904 London, England. The author strikes up a friendship with Sylvia Davies, a beautiful young widow, and her four sons, Jack, George, Michael, and Peter, all of whom are devastated by the death of their father. Peter, in particular, has been hard hit and is becoming more and more emotionally withdrawn. During their outings in the park, Barrie begins to weave elaborate stories for the boys, eventually creating an imaginary place called Neverland where children never grow up. Inspired by the innocence and wonder of his young friends, Barrie puts pen to paper and creates the story of Peter Pan.
Forster nabbed Oscar-nominated actors Johnny Depp (1963–) and Kate Winslet (1976–) to play Barrie and Sylvia Davies, but he had a harder time casting the roles of the young Davies brothers—that is, until it was time to cast Peter and in walked Freddie Highmore. “I think Freddie is pure magic,” Neverland producer Richard Gladstein told Lisa Hirsch of Variety. “He was the first actor that read for Marc and I, and he defined the character. We went on to see a few others but by the end of the day we knew we had found our Peter.” Gladstein even remarked that casting Highmore was central to the movie’s success.
Although Forster had complete confidence in his young star, some of the Neverland cast had their doubts. As a result, on his second day of filming Forster purposefully shot a pivotal scene where an emotionally tortured Peter tears up a book and demolishes a playhouse. Highmore acted with such maturity and gut-wrenching realism that afterward no one questioned his abilities. In fact, some of his heartiest congratulations came directly from his costars. As Winslet (best known for her starring role in the film Titanic ) commented to Jenelle Riley of Back Stage, ” [Freddie] is quite something else. I would literally get hairs up on the back of my neck watching this kid act.”
Audiences and critics agreed. While Depp received high marks for his portrayal of the eccentric Barrie, young Highmore was applauded over and over for capturing the pain and angst of the troubled boy who served as the inspiration for Peter Pan. According to Riley, “He has several emotionally wrenching scenes in the film that he carries off with the experience of an actor twice his age.” Highmore “steals scenes from his costars Kate Winslet and Johnny Depp,” commented Donna Freydkin of USA Today. And after enthusiastically praising Depp’s characterization, Paul Clinton of CNN.com wrote: “But it’s 12-year-old Freddie Highmore as Peter . . . who will break your heart.”
Famous Freddie
When Finding Neverland was released in the fall of 2004 it generated immediate Oscar buzz for the film’s lead actors and director, with many predicting that Highmore would surely be nominated for a supporting actor award. The movie was nominated in a number of categories, including best picture, art direction, and costume design; Depp was given a nod in the best actor category, but Winslet, Forster, and Highmore did not receive nominations. Had he been nominated,
Lemony Snicket Star: Liam Aiken
In the early 2000s there seemed to be a run of movies based on classic and popular children’s books. In 2004 Freddie Highmore appeared in Finding Neverland, which explored the real-life inspiration for Peter Pan, and the film Five Children and It, adapted from the book of the same name by E.(Edith) Nesbit (1858–1924). In 2005 Highmore starred in yet another page-to-screen vehicle— Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, based on the Roald Dahl (1916–1990) story. Another rising young star named Liam Aiken, who is just two years older than Highmore, also gave life to a literary character when he costarred in the 2004 screen adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, an enormously popular contemporary children’s book written by Daniel Handler (1970–).
Liam Padraic Aiken was born on January 7, 1990, in New York City. Like Highmore, Aiken came from a show business family—his father, Bill Aiken, was a producer for MTV and the children’s television network Nickelodeon. Unfortunately, Bill Aiken died of cancer when young Liam was not quite three years old. Another Highmore similarity is that Aiken, too, made his acting debut at the age of seven: he appeared on the Broadway stage in the play A Doll’s House, written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906); he also had a small part in the 1997 movie Henry Fool.
From then on, Aiken landed roles in film after film, appearing in at least one movie per year with some of Hollywood’s biggest names. His filmography includes The Object of My Affection (1998), which starred Jennifer Aniston (1969–); Stepmom (1998), featuring Susan Sarandon (1946–); Sweet November (2001) with Keanu Reeves (1964–); and Road to Perdition, where Aiken portrayed the youngest son of the film’s star, Tom Hanks (1956–). Aiken’s breakthrough role, however, came in 2003, when he nabbed the lead in Good Boy!, a family comedy about a dog from outer space who visits planet Earth. Good Boy! paved the way for Aiken’s first big blockbuster movie, Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, based on the quirky and dark children’s series written by Daniel Handler. Aiken was cast as bookish twelve-year-old Klaus Baudelaire, who has the amazing ability to remember everything he reads.
Many members of the press compare Aiken to his Snicket costar Jim Carrey (1962–), primarily because of his wide grin and animated facial features. Perhaps one day he will be as famous as Carrey, but if the kid who now hails from New Jersey does not make it as an actor, he can always fall back on one of his two other interests—performing magic or playing acoustic guitar. Aiken is an enthusiastic punk rock fan and particularly admires Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello (1964–), who is considered to be one of the most influential guitarists of modern rock.
Highmore would have become the fourth-youngest actor to be considered for an Academy Award. The twelve-year-old was nominated for several other honors, including a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for male supporting actor. SAG Awards are particularly coveted honors because they are given out annually by members of the Screen Actors Guild, which is the premier professional actors’ organization in the United States.
Considering the publicity hype surrounding Neverland was enormous, reporters claimed that in interviews Highmore spoke maturely and articulately, and that he did not behave at all like a pampered Hollywood star. In fact, he tended to downplay his incredible acting abilities, claiming that tapping into his character’s gloominess was rather easy. As Highmore explained to Donna Freydkin, “When you think about it, your dad’s dead and your mum’s dying, so yes, it is quite sad.”
Interviewers also noted that although he sometimes appeared mature beyond his years, Highmore also displayed the enthusiasm of a regular twelve-year-old. For example, when discussing the emotional scene where his character tears down his playhouse, he focused on the fun. “Smashing up the playhouse, that was really great,” Highmore gleefully told Dave Karger of Entertainment Weekly. “Sometimes they’d say, ‘Oh, sorry, there was a problem with the lights.’ And I’d say, ‘Yes! I get to smash it up again!”‘
Just a normal guy
Amid the seemingly endless round of print and television interviews, Highmore still found time to appear in a third movie in 2004: a screen adaptation of the children’s classic Five Children and It, written in 1902 by British author E.(Edith) Nesbit (1858–1924). He also began filming another page-to-screen movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, based on the book of the same name by famous British children’s writer Roald Dahl (1916–1990).
Charlie featured Highmore’s Neverland castmate Johnny Depp as the eternally youthful candy maker Willy Wonka. When Depp’s friend director Tim Burton (1958–) tapped the actor to play Wonka, Depp specifically requested that Highmore be cast as the boy lead, Charlie Bucket. “It’s neat,” Highmore told Jenelle Riley of Backstage.com, “because in the film Charlie has a dream to visit the chocolate factory, and it comes true. My dream was to work with Johnny again, and it also came true.” After only ten days in movie theaters the movie had received critical acclaim and earned over $114 million.
Highmore’s dreams for the future are a little less clear. He is vague about whether or not he wants to act as an adult. “I’m not really sure,” he admitted frankly to Riley. “I really think I’d like to travel the world, see the rainforests. We’ll see how it goes.” In the meantime, when not on a movie set Highmore is your run-ofthe-mill boy who enjoys playing the clarinet and loves to kick a soccer ball around with his friends. In fact, in most interviews he is just as excited to talk about his favorite soccer team, Britain’s Arsenals, than his own profession. It is also apparent that Highmore’s head has not been turned by his fame. As Johnny Depp commented to USA Today , “He’s an amazing kid. Beyond that, he’s an amazing guy. Very pure. Very honest. Very normal. That’s very refreshing.” Highmore has two films slated for release in 2006: the animated film Arthur and the Minimoys and the drama August Rush.
Freddie Highmore Movies
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Women Talking Dirty | Sam |
| 2004 | Two Brothers | Raoul Normandin |
| 2004 | Finding Neverland | Peter Llewelyn Davies |
| 2004 | Five Children and It | Robert |
| 2005 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Charlie Bucket |
| 2006 | A Good Year | Young Max Skinner |
| 2006 | Arthur and the Invisibles | Arthur Montgomery |
| 2007 | August Rush | Evan Taylor/August Rush |
| 2007 | The Golden Compass | Pantalaimon |
| 2008 | The Spiderwick Chronicles | Jared and Simon Grace |
| 2008 | A Fox’s Tale | Little Jack |
| 2009 | Astro Boy | Toby Tenma / Astro Boy |
| 2009 | Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard | Arthur Montgomery |
| 2010 | Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds | Arthur Montgomery |
| 2010 | Master Harold…and the Boys | Hally Ballard |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | George Zinavoy |
| 2013 | Justin and the Knights of Valour | Justin |
| 2016 | The Journey | Jack |
| 2016 | Almost Friends | Charlie Brenner |
TV Series
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Happy Birthday Shakespeare | Steven Green |
| 2001 | The Mists of Avalon | Young Arthur |
| 2001 | Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story | Son at Playground |
| 2002 | I Saw You | Oscar Bingley |
| 2010 | Toast | Nigel Slater |
| 2013–2017 | Bates Motel | Norman Bates |
| 2016 | Close to the Enemy | Victor Ferguson |
| 2017 | Tour de Pharmacy | Adrian Baton |
| 2017–present | The Good Doctor | Dr. Shaun Murphy |
Music
| Year | Title | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Girls | Appeared in the music video of band ‘The Prodigy’ |
| 2015 | You’re My Waterloo | Appeared in the lead |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Charlie Bucket | |
| 2007 | The Golden Compass | Pantalaimon |
| 2008 | The Spiderwick Chronicles | Jared Grace & Simon Grace |
| 2009 | Astro Boy: The Video Game | Astro Boy |
Favourites Things
| Hobbies | Football Clarinet guitar |
| Favorite Actor | Johnny depp |
| Favorite Foods | Pasta Pizza |
| Favorite Color | Blue |
| Favorite Movies | Rear Window (1954) (among Hitchcock movies) Psycho (1960) (among Hitchcock movies) |
| Favorite Singers | Frank Sinatra Marc Cohn |
| Favorite Musician | Simon & Garfunkel |
| Favorite Sport | Football |
| Favorite Destination | South France |
| Favorite Book | The Catcher in the rye |
| Favorite Cuisines | Italian Chinese |
| Likes | video games |
| Favorite Character | Peter Pan (as a child) |
| Favorite Sports Team | Arsenal Football Club |
| Favorite City | Vancouver |
Freddie Highmore Awards
Golden Globe Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Good Doctor | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Nominated |
Screen Actors Guild Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
Other Awards and Nominations
Capri Exploit Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | August Rush | Capri Exploit Award | Won |
Critics’ Choice Movie Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Best Young Performer | Won |
| 2006 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Best Young Performer | Won |
| 2007 | A Good Year | Best Young Performer | Nominated |
| 2008 | August Rush | Best Young Performer | Nominated |
Critics’ Choice Television Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Bates Motel | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2015 | Bates Motel | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2018 | Bates Motel | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2019 | The Good Doctor | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated |
| 2020 | The Good Doctor | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated |
Empire Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Best Newcomer | Won |
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bates Motel | Best TV Actor | Nominated |
Las Vegas Film Critics’ Society Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Finding Neverland | Youth in Film | Won |
London Film Critics’ Circle Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | British Newcomer of the Year | Nominated |
MTV Movie & TV Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Best Breakthrough Performance | Nominated |
People’s Choice Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Bates Motel | Favorite TV Anti-Hero | Nominated |
| 2017 | Bates Motel | Favorite Cable TV Actor | Won |
| 2018 | The Good Doctor | The Male TV Star of 2018 | Nominated |
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Finding Neverland | Best Youth Actor | Won |
| 2005 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Best Youth Actor | Won |
Satellite Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Outstanding New Talent | Won |
| 2014 | Bates Motel | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Nominated |
Saturn Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Best Performance by a Younger Actor | Nominated |
| 2006 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Best Performance by a Younger Actor | Nominated |
| 2008 | August Rush | Best Performance by a Younger Actor | Won |
| 2009 | The Spiderwick Chronicles | Best Performance by a Younger Actor | Nominated |
| 2014 | Bates Motel | Best Actor on Television | Nominated |
| 2017 | Bates Motel | Best Actor on Television | Nominated |
Utah Film Critics Association Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Finding Neverland | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
Young Artist Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast | Won |
| 2005 | Finding Neverland | Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2006 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2007 | Arthur and the Invisibles | Best Performance in an International Feature Film – Leading Young Actor | Nominated |
| 2008 | August Rush | Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2009 | The Spiderwick Chronicles | Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2010 | Astro Boy | Best Voice Over Role | Nominated |
Freddie Highmore Quotes
- I am a bit more mature than some kids my age because I’ve spent more time with adults on sets.
- Kids like going to a movie and being really scared
- I have always liked languages.
- When you’re eighteen, you can’t act the kid any more(On the transition after child actor)
- Americans compliment me on losing the accent as if the American accent is the real accent.
- Two frequent questions people ask me- “Do you chocolates? Do you like Johnyy Depp?”.
- You’ve got to be lucky enough for people to be asking after you.
- (About people recognizing him in England and fan frenzy) It is always raining in London & everyone is hiding under umbrellas, everyone is looking down, trying to avoid the next puddle, they won’t see you unless you stand at the top and shout.
- For August Rush music is like Religion, he follows it dedicatedly.
- Staying in London and avoiding social media has kept me grounded
- Maybe I should just get some secret account on twitter and keep up to date with everything.
- I’m not sure what I would like to do when I’m older. I might want to travel and see the world
- Scary is good. Kids like going to a movie and being really scared rather than fake scared.
- [on being a celebrity in town] As long as you don’t stand on the corner and wave your arms about, people don’t notice you too much.
- I’ve been very lucky to have kept a normal life
- A university degree is a wonderful opportunity to get more life experience
Freddie Highmore’s Net Worth
Freddie Highmore Net Worth and Salary: Freddie Highmore is an English actor who has a net worth of $8 million. Highmore began his career as a child actor, appearing in films like “Finding Neverland” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” During this period, he earned significant praise from critics and won a number of awards. In the 2010s, Freddie moved on to adult roles, appearing in the television series “Bates Motel.” Once again, he won a number of awards for his performances. Starting in 2017, Highmore began starring in the series “The Good Doctor,” and once again received various honors and accolades.
7 Facts About Freddie Highmore That Prove He’s Just as Brilliant as He Is Talented
1. He’s a Child Actor
Freddie started acting at the ripe age of 7 when he played Helena Bonham Carter’s onscreen son in the 1999 comedy Women Talking Dirty. However, his breakout performance came in 2004, when he starred alongside Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland. The following year, the two shared the screen once more in Tim Burton’s adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
2. His Real Name Isn’t Freddie
Turns out, Freddie is actually a nickname. His full name is Alfred Thomas Highmore.
3. His Parents Are Also in the Industry
Show business definitely runs in his blood. While his father, Edward Highmore, is also an actor, his mother, Sue Latimer, is a talent agent for big names like Daniel Radcliffe and Imelda Staunton.
4. He’s a Cambridge Graduate
Despite being a huge star, Freddie went to a normal school. After attending an independent school in London, he went on to study Arabic and Spanish at Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge.
5. He Is the Godfather of Vera Farmiga’s Son
Freddie is really close with his onscreen mother from Bates Motel. He is the godfather of her 9-year-old son, Fynn, whom she shares with Renn Hawkey.
6. He’s Not Active on Social Media
You won’t find Freddie live-tweeting during The Good Doctor. Despite having verified accounts on Twitter and Instagram, he doesn’t post or follow anyone. His decision for not using social media stems from his desire to “maintain a clear difference between” his private and professional life.
7. He’s Only 29
Freddie already has a career most actors can only dream of, but he’s only 29! He was born on Feb. 14, 1992, aka Valentine’s Day!
Freddie Highmore’s Social Media Presence
| @freddiehighmore | |
| @freddiehighmore |
