Freddie Highmore's Big Change After The Good Doctor

Freddie Highmore first found fame as a child star. The London native appeared as a cherubic youngster in Finding Neverland, opposite Johnny Depp, all the way back in 2004 before taking on the iconic role of Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the following year and reuniting with the superstar actor in the process (via IMDb). His talent was evident, but, rather than resting on his cutie-pie laurels, Highmore diversified with more mature, challenging roles as he got older. 

Playing a young Norman Bates of Psycho fame in prequel series Bates Motel put the Englishman on the map as a serious actor. However, it was his role in The Good Doctor that truly put Highmore on people's radars (via Deadline). Proving he could handle portraying a troubled genius — who's on the spectrum, no less — while treading a fine line between sympathetic and frustrating, the actor helped catapult the drama to mainstream success. It changed everything for him, in more ways than one. 

Highmore was a producer on The Good Doctor right from the start, showing how much the series meant to him overall. However, as the seasons went on, he moved onto writing and directing too. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, the English actor explained how he was offered the opportunity "to be involved on more than just an acting level," and he jumped at the chance. Highmore reasoned, "It seems odd to put so much of yourself into a season, then say, 'I'll see you in five months.'" The London native is grateful for the support from his Good Doctor family, telling ABC7 that "you feel like you are never alone, there's always a true collaboration." Highmore confirmed he'd love to do more directing in the future, too.  

Writing really appeals to him just as much, though, with the actor gushing to Deadline that he was open about his ambitions from day one with series creator David Shore. Highmore explained, "I see it as my role to be as honest as I can as an actor, a writer, and a director on the show in my support of David's vision." He spent two months in L.A. writing his first episode, again proving his commitment. In fact, in the coming years, we wouldn't be surprised to see even more of Highmore as a director, writer, and producer!