Latest news with #CharlieandtheChocolateFactory
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Freddie Highmore: ‘My Amazon Prime thriller doesn't make the assassin perfect'
'People still recognise me on the tube for roles I played 20 years ago. It's kind of mad.' One can only imagine what it would be like to be recognised around the world as a kid. But that was Freddie Highmore's reality when he soared to fame as a child star in films including Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and August Rush. Last year, the actor bid farewell to The Good Doctor, a medical drama he'd led for seven years. Now, the 33-year-old stars in the new Amazon Prime Video thriller series The Assassin, teaming up with British acting legend Keeley Hawes in what could be TV's most dysfunctional mother-son duo. Keeley plays former hitwoman Julie, who's forced to come out of retirement and reveal her secret profession to her grown-up son Edward, portrayed by Freddie. It's rife with action, excitement, twists and a whole lot of dry British humour, which Freddie delves into while speaking to Metro. One of the standout aspects of The Assassin is Edward's relationship with Julie. Freddie and Keeley, 49, have a brilliant dynamic together on screen, and the Bates Motel actor says that it was 'thrilling to get to go on this journey with her', having admired the Bodyguard star's work for years. 'The same goes for Harry and Jack Williams,' he shares, bringing up the writers of The Assassin, who also created the Jamie Dornan thriller The Tourist. 'This does what they do so well, combining the thriller, high-stakes, high-octane, twisty, turny type of storytelling, but with something more interesting and nuanced to say underneath it. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'They're also great at doing all of that with a sense of humour, and with a very British understated sense of humour too.' There's no lack of thrillers available on streaming platforms for TV fans to binge. But what makes The Assassin feel so refreshing is not only its wry humour, but also how relatable it feels, despite following the wild story of a hitwoman. '[The humour's] not too broad or too silly, but it complements the seriousness of it and gives it a bit of texture and nuance, and also keeps it quite real,' Freddie outlines. 'The characters are all accessible and approachable and definitely make mistakes. Even with Keeley's character, who's incredibly accomplished at what she does, the show doesn't try to make her impossibly perfect. I think a part of that is the sense of humour and that British dose of self-deprecation.' Freddie's character Edward balances out his mother's recklessness with his overly cautious nature. The journalist also has secrets that he's keeping hidden, and has spent years wondering who his father is, a mystery that his mum refuses to reveal. In her four-star review of The Assassin, Metro's TV Editor Sabrina Barr writes : 'The new Amazon Prime series created by The Tourist's Harry and Jack Williams isn't just packed with gripping twists and stunt choreography that'll have you on the edge of your seat. It's also funny. And not just enough to spark a light chuckle. It's funny in a quintessentially British fashion, with humour that's dry and relatable. I was sucked in straight away.' You can read more here. Having grown up in London, Freddie has spent a great deal of time in the US with his career. In 2024, he bid farewell to medical drama The Good Doctor after playing the lead character Dr Shaun Murphy for seven years, an experience he 'doesn't think he'll ever have again'. 'I feel very lucky to have had that opportunity in my life,' he says. 'It feels a bit like graduation, where you have such fondness and love for being in that environment, and there's a part of you that can imagine staying there forever, but there's another part of you that wants to do other things and is excited about the opportunity of moving on.' Nonetheless, when he's on his home turf, he's still frequently recognised for the roles he played when he was a child. When he was a kid, he didn't think that he knew at the time that he wanted to act forever – but on reflection, he feels as though it might have been 'predestined'. When asked what he's recognised for the most in the UK versus the US, he answers: 'I would say things from when I was younger still resonate from what must be 20 years ago now, which is kind of mad. On the tube, people will still remember those roles.' The entertainment world has changed drastically since Freddie first started acting professionally compared to now. So new child stars emerging, such as the new Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Harry Potter TV reboot, will have a far different experience of fame than Freddie did. 'It is a very different time, and it's so hard to give advice,' he says when asked. 'I was very lucky that it never became the centre of my life. I went back to school, and that was always the focus. I went off to university and took time off to do that, so acting became an active choice as something to return to, as opposed to something I fell into as a kid and then ended up doing without really thinking about it. 'I was lucky to have that quite strong sense of separation. But it was also a time where social media wasn't really a thing, or it had only just started to become one. So it was easier to maintain that distance and to step back from it and not feel like you were constantly on show.' During our interview, I had to bring up one of my favourite films of his – August Rush, the 2007 musical drama that saw him act opposite the legendary Robin Williams. 'I was so lucky to get to work with him,' he says as he remembers his late co-star fondly. 'I just remember him bringing such a positive energy to set and being so enthusiastic, and also just so effortlessly funny, and bringing the entire crew together and having everyone rally in the same direction because of the force of nature that he was.' For August Rush, Freddie learnt to play the guitar. For The Good Doctor, he felt as though he was picking up medical knowledge. But in actual fact, he warns that if there were a medical emergency and someone tried to call on him for help, it would be a 'very bad idea'. 'I'd like to think that I picked up medical knowledge. However, my fear is that the knowledge I think I know is actually just a cheat in terms of how to make things look good and look like you're doing a particular procedure,' he admits. So I'd probably be worse placed than most people to try and help, because I'd think I know what I was doing, but I'd just do it completely wrong.' Now that Freddie is back in the UK, having always thought of London as home, he's excited to 'actually live here properly again', as well as to catch an Arsenal match when he has a chance. He would love to do more UK-based work, and would work with Keeley, Harry and Jack again 'in a heartbeat'. More Trending Being back home has also given him the chance to catch up on some prime TV that he previously missed out on. 'You know what I have been going through recently? A few more of the David Attenborough [shows]. Being back in the UK, I'm re-watching a few of those classics, and I feel like there's quite a few that somehow I missed when I was abroad. So I've got that on my list of things to work through,' he says. There's nothing like being in the UK and watching a bit of Sir David Attenborough, is there? View More » The Assassin is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'That cliffhanger was evil!' 7 sensational shows fans vow were cancelled too early MORE: Channel 4 fans can now binge 10 episodes of 'adrenaline rush' Belgian thriller MORE: 'Best crime thriller of 2025' tops Netflix charts with nearly 25,000,000 views
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
'Huge' digital screen used for Pavilion Theatre production
A 'huge' 10m x 4m digital screen is part of the set for the new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Powerplay Musical Theatre Company is bringing the show to life at the theatre with the final performance scheduled for today. Charlie and Wonka (Image: Supplied) The production has being described as a "colourful and chocolatey spectacular," filled with sound and light effects, and a cast of "incredible local talent." Amy Curran, creative director at Powerplay Musical Theatre Company, said: "The show is proudly supporting Alder Hey Children's Hospital, with proceeds from the show being donated to the charity. "We will also be hiding a Golden Ticket under a random seat during each show, and the lucky ticket holder will win a chocolatey prize in the interval. "This promises to be such a fun start to the summer holidays, so we encourage everyone to come along and join us." The Candy Man performance (Image: Supplied) A 'relaxed' matinee performance took place on Friday, designed to be more accessible for those with sensory sensitivities. This show used softer lighting and sound effects, with pyrotechnics and loud noises removed. The performance also allowed audience members to move around and make noise, and a 'chill out area' was made available in the theatre foyer. READ MORE: Wrestling star Hulk Hogan dies aged 71 after 'suffering cardiac arrest at home' Despite these adjustments, the full show was performed with no changes to the storyline or length. The Pavilion Theatre described the show as being of a standard "not out of place in the West End." Tickets are available through the Rhyl Pavilion website and box office.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory takes to the stage in Rhyl
Powerplay Musical Theatre Company's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is running at the Pavilion Theatre, with the final performance scheduled for today (Saturday, July 26) with proceeds going to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Amy Curran, creative director at Powerplay Musical Theatre Company, said: "The show is proudly supporting Alder Hey Children's Hospital, with proceeds from the show being donated to the charity. Charlie Bucket and Wonka (Image: Supplied) "We will also be hiding a Golden Ticket under a random seat during each show, and the lucky ticket holder will win a chocolatey prize in the interval. "This promises to be such a fun start to the summer holidays, so we encourage everyone to come along and join us." READ MORE: Experts reveal exact number of steps to walk a day to protect against diseases The production features five performances using a digital set, and included a matinee performance on Friday designed for greater accessibility. Described as a "colourful and chocolatey spectacular," the show promises to shine a spotlight on talent from the area, and deliver a performance that would not be "out of place in the West End on a professional stage." Tickets are available through the Rhyl Pavilion website and box office.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prime Video's The Assassin star Gerald Kyd looks totally different after soap role
The Assassin arrives on Prime Video tonight, with Keeley Hawes starring as a hitwoman whose cushy retirement in Greece is interrupted by her estranged son's arrival Keeley Hawes returns to our screens tonight in Prime Video's new crime thriller The Assassin - a six-part series about retired hitwoman Julie, who reunites with her estranged son. Written by Fleabag 's Harry and Jack Williams, the series sees Julie face up to the past as her son arrives seeking answers about his father. The Assassin features a number of established British stars - from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Freddie Highmore to Line of Duty's Shalom Brune-Franklin. However, there's one particular character that may make viewers do a double take. Greek-Scottish actor Gerald Kyd takes on the role of Luka - a villager who sticks with Julie after surviving a local massacre. However, soap fans may recognise Gerald from his stint in BBC One's Casualty. The actor took on the role of Sean Maddox in the medical drama from 1998 until 2000, marking one of his first-ever acting roles. Sean was best known on the soap for striking up a romance with nurse Tina Seabrook (Claire Goose), before having an affair with her best friend Chloe (Jan Anderson) and impregnating her. After leaving Casualty, Gerald took on roles in Brief Encounters, Sherlock, Silent Witness, Unforgotten, Doctor Who and more recently, The Split and Malory Towers. Speaking ahead of the show's release, star Keeley revealed that she was left "shocked" by one particular detail in The Assassin. "[In] a show like this, you need to keep the humour, otherwise it would all become very serious very quickly," she said. But opening up about how deadly the show proves to be for some characters, she said: "I was quite shocked at the body count... I kept thinking, 'That'll probably be pulled back', as these things sometimes are. "You read the scripts, it's a great idea, reads really well, and then the closer you get to it, the body count gets smaller. You have to embrace that. We have to see the human cost of that and that's important so it's not just literally ticking off bodies, and later on that does become a big part of the storyline, the human cost of the tragedy we see at the beginning." While creators Harry and Jack added: "We lost count of the body count, which is a new one. It's called The Assassin, people are going to die. "It's always fun, particularly the opening, there's a long shot. [Julie's] got to kill a lot of people, that just felt right for this kind of show."
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Assassin star Freddie Highmore's life off-screen from rarely-seen wife to real name
Freddie Highmore is best known for his roles in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Bates Motel, but the British star has a fascinating life away from the screen Freddie Highmore, known for his role as Edward in Prime Video's thrilling series, The Assassin, is the estranged son of retired assassin Julie, portrayed by Keeley Hawes, who has also opened up on her parenting experiences. The British actor has been a familiar face since childhood, with notable roles such as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Peter in Finding Neverland. Later in his career, he secured significant parts in ABC's The Good Doctor and Bates Motel. The Cambridge graduate also leads an intriguing life away from the camera, achieving much in his 33 years. Born in London, his mother is a talent agent whose clientele includes Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Imelda Staunton. His father, Edward Highmore, is a former actor, suggesting Freddie was always destined for the screen, reports the Express. Interestingly, he wasn't born as Freddie; his real name is Alfred Thomas Highmore. He uses his nickname, Freddie, professionally. An accomplished student, he excelled in Spanish and Arabic at Emmanuel College and later studied finance. While filming the first two seasons of Bates Motel, he worked at a law firm in Madrid during his year abroad. He briefly contemplated a career in law post-graduation. Regarding his personal life, he resides in London but shies away from social media, leaving his relationships largely unknown. He did reveal a close bond with Bates Motel co-star Vera Farmiga, even becoming godfather to her son. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2021, the actor disclosed that he was hitched. Keeping his wife's identity under wraps, he said: "I just still can't get over the terminology and the vocab, like a 'married man' just sounds very old and 'my wife' sounds very possessive. He did verify that his wife is British. The Assassin is available on Prime Video.
