Freddie Highmore almost made the worst decision in his career.
Remember about 15 years back when a kid named Freddie Highmore walked into Willy Wonka ‘s chocolate factory as the adorable Charlie Bucket, and we all fell in love with him?
Fast forward a bit, and the same boy, now grown up, is sporting a doctor’s white coat and portraying Dr. Shaun Murphy, the brilliant young surgeon with autism in the hit series The Good Doctor. But surprisingly, Highmore almost gave that career-changing role a pass.
Alfred Thomas Highmore was born in London on Valentine’s Day in ’92. His mom, Sue Latimer, is a big-shot talent agent who reps stars like Daniel Radcliffe. So, little Freddie was introduced to the acting biz pretty early, around when he was just seven.
Freddie’s first taste of the big screen came with the Scottish comedy Women Talking Dirty in 1999. After that, he played in Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the latter of which was an absolute box office success.
His portrayal of Charlie Bucket was such a hit that he took home the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. But it was his performance as Norman Bates, a young serial killer in the TV show Bates Motel, when we really saw his acting chops.
Right around the time Bates Motel was coming to a close, Freddie got the offer to play Dr. Shaun Murphy in The Good Doctor. But, believe it or not, he initially turned it down. He had just wrapped up a five-season stint on Bates Motel and wasn’t too keen on jumping right into another long-term role.
In his own words to Adweek, Freddie said, “When you’ve just finished a show that had been on for five seasons, you’re aware of the necessary commitment that is behind it.”
But, as luck would have it, Freddie gave it a second thought and decided to take up the role. And we are safe to say it was the right decision. His take on Dr. Shaun Murphy has earned him rave reviews, and The Good Doctor quickly became a hit.