Highmore was born into a show business family. His mother, Sue Latimer, is a talent agent whose clients include Daniel Radcliffe and Imelda Staunton, and his father, Edward Highmore, is an actor.[2] He has a younger brother named Albert ("Bertie"), born in 1995. Highmore resides in Highgate, a suburb of north London, and currently attends Highgate School.

Highmore began acting with small parts on TV at the age of 7. In two movies Highmore played with members of his family. His brother, Bertie, played his brother in Women Talking Dirty. Also his father, Edward, played his father in Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story.[3]

In 2004, he had a major breakthrough with his critically acclaimed performance as Peter in Finding Neverland. Highmore received several nominations and awards for the role, including a Broadcast Film Critics' Award and a Screen Actors' Guild Award nomination. In 2005, he played the part of Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (adapted from the book by Roald Dahl). He was reportedly recommended for the role by Johnny Depp, who starred in Finding Neverland' and was very impressed by the young actor's performance.

Highmore next appeared in August Rush with Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Robin Williams. It is the story of a musical prodigy named Evan Taylor (who is later given the stage name August Rush) and his journey to find his parents after they are separated at his birth. This movie received a wide release on November 21, 2007. He starred in The Spiderwick Chronicles, based on the popular children's stories, released in the United States in February 2008. He plays American twins, Simon Grace and Jared Grace, alongside Sarah Bolger who plays their sister Mallory Grace. He also led as a voice actor in Arthur and the Minimoys (Arthur and the Invisibles in English-speaking territories) in 2007. Highmore will voice the lead character in the upcoming digitally-animated film Astro Boy.[4]