Freddie Highmore and his portrayal of Dr. Shaun Murphy in the series The Good Doctor have the viewers hooked. Dr. Murphy’s tragic backstory, afflictions, and Highmore’s performance made for a highly believable performance. But this has not been the British actor’s only role of consequence, the audience has seen him grow up on the screen.
Despite all his fame, Highmore is a rather private person. The newspapers do not tell tales of his flashy life, nor has his off-screen antics made the headline.
So, following the wildly successful TV show, which already has 6 seasons, the viewers are curious about his real life. Is Freddie Highmore autistic in real life? Read on to find out.
Does Freddie Highmore Have Autism?
No, in real life Freddie Highmore does not have autism. But his portrayal of the autistic doctor on screen has been real enough to confuse most viewers.
To play the role, Highmore had to study plenty and do his research quite thoroughly. The showrunner David Shore along with their autism consultant Melissa Reiner worked hard to craft the particular character.
In an ABC interview, Highmore explained how watching various documentaries as well as reading literature helped him and the crew prepare. They found useful insights that helped them build Dr. Shaun Murphy, as well as avoid the stereotypes.
Dealing with autism in a popular show meant that the crew had to work hard and make sure their portrayal was accurate. Quality research had been an important part of the preparation, especially concerning Highmore’s mannerisms.
During the research, they found that autistic kids are encouraged to clasp their hands together, a movement frequently seen in the show.
In shows we often see characters change and evolve throughout the seasons, and Dr. Shaun Murphy is no different. As Highmore said to The Los Angeles Times, Shaun will always have autism, but he will continue growing as an individual. The character is on a journey and will adapt to his surrounding, regardless of autism.
Freddie Highmore In Life
Freddie or Alfred Thomas Highmore was born in Camden Town, London. The talented actor’s mother Sue Latimer was a talent agent while his father Edward Thomas Highmore was a former actor.
Highmore started acting as a child, but that did not come between his education. He graduated with a double-first degree in Spanish and Arabic from Emmanuel College.
Highmore also is not a fan of parading his personal life publicly. It was through an interview with Jimmy Kimmel in September 2021 that fans came to know that the actor had married. Internet sources revealed that his bride was a web developer named Klarissa Munz.
Highmore maintains that he is very happy living privately and will not be publicizing his affairs on talk shows.
