INTERVIEW| Freddie Highmore: ‘The world is inherently good’

Express News Service

Freddie Highmore aka Alfred Thomas Highmore broke onto our screens together with his portrayal of Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), based mostly on the 1964 novel of the identical identify by Roald Dahl. Just 13 then, Freddie gained audiences’ hearts throughout the globe together with his endearing efficiency. This wasn’t his debut although, as we’d already seen him in Finding Neverland (2004) and Women Talking Dirty (1999) as a baby actor. As the years handed, we had been handled to a number of good performances from the actor like in August Rush (2007), The Spiderwick Chronicle (2008) and The Vault (2021)—which he additionally produced. 

His most celebrated position through the years, nonetheless, continues to be Dr Shaun Murphy, the autistic protagonist of The Good Doctor (a medical drama TV collection based mostly on the 2013 South Korean collection of the identical identify) that started airing in 2017. Season 6 of the collection simply premiered and is being broadcasted on SonyLIV in India and concurrently within the USA. We caught up with Freddie to speak in regards to the present, the necessity for genuine illustration of autism, and extra.

Freddie Highmore

What will the brand new season be like for Shaun Murphy?
In Season 6, Shaun is already married and that raises the stakes, I feel, a bit for him when it comes to eager to have a household and the way he can go about that. Shaun can also be going to should take cost, be a boss, inform folks what to do; and attempt to talk, and likewise be a mentor. When he was a resident and made a mistake, there was somebody to assist him see the suitable manner, however when he’s the one that has the final word energy over that call, the stakes are that a lot larger.

Why do you assume the present received widespread?
You simply get fortunate, I feel, for no matter cause and folks responded to the present typically. I’ve at all times felt just like the present has been, regardless of the inevitable tragedies and traumas, a hopeful one. And I feel, on this second of time—from when the present first launched and throughout COVID-19  and every little thing that’s taking place in the present day on the earth—folks have loved coming to an area that reminds them—by Shaun’s viewpoint—that the world is inherently good. 

In some ways, you’re engaged on two reveals concurrently—one on an autistic particular person and the opposite being a physician—isn’t that a number of work?
I simply really feel fortunate. It’s humorous you point out two reveals, as a result of I’ve at all times felt like that’s what the present is about—a minimum of, from Shaun’s perspective. It is about this man who has autism and the way he’s planning to navigate the world and develop as an individual. But, once I look again, I really feel like what’s most significant isn’t the case of the week; it’s extra the way in which the characters are modified by the expertise. So sure, in some methods it’s two reveals in a single, but in addition, it’s a present about every little thing apart from the drugs that’s taking place.

How shut do you are feeling to Dr Shaun Murphy?
It relies on what you imply by shut. I feel Shaun and I are very totally different folks, however I undoubtedly have affection for him. It could be considerably deluded on my half to name them shut however he does really feel acquainted now. I feel, what’s humorous about doing this present compared to movies that I’ve completed and even Bates Motel is simply the period of time that you just dedicate to it. We movie 9 months of the 12 months and so it turns into the main target of your life and that’s partly what makes it significant. 

You’ve been recommended to your prep for an autistic particular person’s position… 
I do know that we’ve all spoken in regards to the preparations that I did initially when it comes to autism and that analysis was required. Over time that analysis continues however you’re additionally extra conscious of how Shaun is as a personality. You’re on his particular person journey and his particular person storyline. And I feel, whereas the analysis continues to be essential, it’s additionally being conscious that we’re telling this one particular person story and feeling free to embrace the idiosyncrasies that Shaun has and the way in which that he would possibly react on this second—in a manner that’s stunning and isn’t one thing that may be present in a ebook. It’s been actually rewarding to get to know Shaun higher on this manner, by every of the seasons. 

Freddie Highmore aka Alfred Thomas Highmore broke onto our screens together with his portrayal of Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), based mostly on the 1964 novel of the identical identify by Roald Dahl. Just 13 then, Freddie gained audiences’ hearts throughout the globe together with his endearing efficiency. This wasn’t his debut although, as we’d already seen him in Finding Neverland (2004) and Women Talking Dirty (1999) as a baby actor. As the years handed, we had been handled to a number of good performances from the actor like in August Rush (2007), The Spiderwick Chronicle (2008) and The Vault (2021)—which he additionally produced. 

His most celebrated position through the years, nonetheless, continues to be Dr Shaun Murphy, the autistic protagonist of The Good Doctor (a medical drama TV collection based mostly on the 2013 South Korean collection of the identical identify) that started airing in 2017. Season 6 of the collection simply premiered and is being broadcasted on SonyLIV in India and concurrently within the USA. We caught up with Freddie to speak in regards to the present, the necessity for genuine illustration of autism, and extra.

Freddie HighmoreWhat will the brand new season be like for Shaun Murphy?
In Season 6, Shaun is already married and that raises the stakes, I feel, a bit for him when it comes to eager to have a household and the way he can go about that. Shaun can also be going to should take cost, be a boss, inform folks what to do; and attempt to talk, and likewise be a mentor. When he was a resident and made a mistake, there was somebody to assist him see the suitable manner, however when he’s the one that has the final word energy over that call, the stakes are that a lot larger.

Why do you assume the present received widespread?
You simply get fortunate, I feel, for no matter cause and folks responded to the present typically. I’ve at all times felt just like the present has been, regardless of the inevitable tragedies and traumas, a hopeful one. And I feel, on this second of time—from when the present first launched and throughout COVID-19  and every little thing that’s taking place in the present day on the earth—folks have loved coming to an area that reminds them—by Shaun’s viewpoint—that the world is inherently good. 

In some ways, you’re engaged on two reveals concurrently—one on an autistic particular person and the opposite being a physician—isn’t that a number of work?
I simply really feel fortunate. It’s humorous you point out two reveals, as a result of I’ve at all times felt like that’s what the present is about—a minimum of, from Shaun’s perspective. It is about this man who has autism and the way he’s planning to navigate the world and develop as an individual. But, once I look again, I really feel like what’s most significant isn’t the case of the week; it’s extra the way in which the characters are modified by the expertise. So sure, in some methods it’s two reveals in a single, but in addition, it’s a present about every little thing apart from the drugs that’s taking place.

How shut do you are feeling to Dr Shaun Murphy?
It relies on what you imply by shut. I feel Shaun and I are very totally different folks, however I undoubtedly have affection for him. It could be considerably deluded on my half to name them shut however he does really feel acquainted now. I feel, what’s humorous about doing this present compared to movies that I’ve completed and even Bates Motel is simply the period of time that you just dedicate to it. We movie 9 months of the 12 months and so it turns into the main target of your life and that’s partly what makes it significant. 

You’ve been recommended to your prep for an autistic particular person’s position… 
I do know that we’ve all spoken in regards to the preparations that I did initially when it comes to autism and that analysis was required. Over time that analysis continues however you’re additionally extra conscious of how Shaun is as a personality. You’re on his particular person journey and his particular person storyline. And I feel, whereas the analysis continues to be essential, it’s additionally being conscious that we’re telling this one particular person story and feeling free to embrace the idiosyncrasies that Shaun has and the way in which that he would possibly react on this second—in a manner that’s stunning and isn’t one thing that may be present in a ebook. It’s been actually rewarding to get to know Shaun higher on this manner, by every of the seasons.