HIGHMORE AND RHYS MEYERS MAKE LASTING FRIENDSHIP

August Rush stars Freddie Highmore and Jonathan Rhys Meyers remain friends after filming.

Freddie Highmore had his work cut out for him learning to play guitar and piano as an orphaned musical prodigy in August Rush. Unbeknownst to August both his estranged parents played by Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers have the music in them as well.

All of Freddie’s lessons paid off for the jam session scene with Jonathan in Central Park. The two became fast friends through their mutual love of sports and music.

“He’s so sparky, it’s brilliant to work with him. I mean especially that scene. It was a shame I didn’t get to do any more with him. It was great. We both practiced our little bits and we came together it actually worked out in the music so I guess some of the emotion that comes across is real that we were both happy it was working out.”

Jonathan gave Freddie an acoustic guitar as a gift when the film wrapped and they have continued their friendship off screen attending soccer matches together in London. Jonathan thinks Freddie has a long and successful career ahead of him.

“He learned from the master Johnny Depp. He’s very good at doing that and that was Freddie’s first really big introduction into how an actor works so doing two films back to back with Johnny Depp certainly trained him for what he was going to be able to do as he got older. I just think he’s going to get better and better and I think Freddie Highmore could be one of those few young actors who’s gonna be a great adult actor. I think his career could span 40 years. I think he’s gonna get more handsome as he gets older as well. I think he’s gonna turn into a leading man.”

Freddie will be playing two people, a set of twins, acting opposite fairies and creatures in The Spiderwick Chronicles coming out February 2008.