Also "Catcher in the Rye", which happens to be one of my favorite books, I just found that kind of useful. It helps you get into the American accent.
Freddie HighmoreIt seemed really easy waving your hands around, it wouldn't make any difference if you were moving it left or right, but I wanted to do it realistically. I think you can tell if someone doesn't know what they're doing.
Freddie HighmoreRobin Williams is great; it's just like having a conversation when you're doing a scene with him really. It's just so relaxed on the set whenever he's around. Also he's just always telling jokes; he's always on. It must be funny for him though because he must think everyone's brain goes so much slower than his. He's working overtime on all these different ideas that pop into his head. Everyone else must feel miles behind!
Freddie HighmoreToday the sort of thing for a guy in England growing up is that you have to suppress all your emotions. It's almost like you have to sit back and be cool.
Freddie HighmoreI had been practicing guitar about six months beforehand; I concentrated mostly on the songs I had to play. I got those down pretty well so they could use me actually playing.
Freddie HighmoreWhen you're happy you don't always have to be laughing, and when you're sad you don't have to be crying; sometimes it's the opposite. You laugh when you're the most upset.
Freddie HighmoreDon't get too set on becoming an actor at an early age. I think that's where some people get into trouble. Acting becomes their life. I don't want that.
Freddie HighmoreI always try doing a different character for every film so it's not just changing one.
Freddie HighmorePeople build up a picture of Johnny Depp as being some sort of weird pirate character. In reality he's incredibly nice... one of the nicest people I've ever met.
Freddie HighmoreI never really acted at school. It was doing small parts on TV that really got me started.
Freddie HighmoreScary is good. Kids like going to a movie and being really scared rather than fake scared.
Freddie HighmoreAs always, with acting, you can't be too self-conscious. You shouldn't care about what people are thinking about you at the time because they're not caring about you, they're caring about the character.
Freddie HighmoreI don't go home and pretend I'm August rather than just the actual lines I'm saying in the film. If you do it that way, it makes it more natural and second nature. After awhile you get used to it and there's so much, especially being in New York to film; you're always surrounded by American people.
Freddie HighmoreI'm pretty rubbish, as we say in Britain, artwise, and I always envy people who can pick up something and even do just a little doodle of someone that looks vaguely like them. It's impressive.
Freddie HighmoreI think I've always been kept grounded. I've never been too involved with the movie business apart from just doing the film. I've never moved out to LA like a lot of people or been too drawn in by that.
Freddie HighmoreI always tend to see, right after reading the script, the character and how I want to play it. I guess that's sort of most of the work, preparing for the role, but almost the creation of the character seems to go on as I read through the script.
Freddie HighmoreIt's very nice having my mum as my agent. You know that she's always doing what's best for you.
Freddie HighmoreIt was great to do August Rush and have all the challenges of playing that character, especially the American accent for the first time and also playing the guitar and the conducting I had to do.
Freddie HighmoreI think a lot of the time having someone who you, not base yourself on, but can see yourself being after a few years, you can get quite blinded by that, in the same way love can be.
Freddie Highmore