Depp, Winslet discover child star
Finding Neverland co-stars Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet have helped unknown child actor Freddie Highmore win a career-launching role in the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The superstar duo - who played opposite the talented youngster in forthcoming movie Finding Neverland - were stunned by Highmore's natural acting ability.
So when director Tim Burton was looking for the perfect boy to play protagonist Charlie Bucket in the second big-screen adaptation of the Roald Dahl best-seller, both stars recommended the 12-year-old.
Kate gushes: "He is something else. I would literally get hairs up on the back of my neck watching this kid act. It's so rare you feel that - not only with a child actor but also any actor you work with.
"You seldom have this incredibly unnerving feeling that they've completely transported themselves into someone else's head. With this kid, it's a scary gift."
Highmore will now play opposite Depp's Willy Wonka and Helena Bonham Carter's Mrs Bucket.
