Then & Now: Whatever Happened to the Cast of Charlie and Chocolate Factory?
Almost two decades on from the iconic remake of one of the most loved tales in movie history, we look at the stars and what they have been up to since the 2005 film.
Ever since Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first published in 1964, it has been capturing the imaginations and hearts of children and adults alike. 1971 saw the story make its way to the big screen for the first time, with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This bright, joyful, musical fantasy featured comedic legend Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, and a host of less well-known names in the supporting cast.
When Tim Burton threw his hat into the ring for his 2005 version of the film, Charlie and the Chocolate factory, he adopted a similar formula. Mega-star Johnny Depp in the role of the eccentric candymaker, and fresh faces in the other roles. Some of those newcomers have gone on to even bigger things. Here, we check in on what the cast are doing now, almost 20 years later.
Johnny Depp – Willy Wonka
It came as no surprise to Tim Burton fans when Depp was cast in the iconic role of Willy Wonka for his adaptation. The pair had already made three successful films together, starting with Edward Scissorhands in 1990. Since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton and Depp have made another four films together, with varying critical success, however all have performed well at the box office. Depp has also become hugely recognisable as the pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, which has swelled to five films so far. Accusations of domestic violence in 2018 saw his career take a hit, however since these legal issues have now been resolved, he has slowly made a return to more roles. He remains a somewhat controversial figure, particularly with the trial focusing on his very public divorce from Amber Heard becoming a popular Netflix series.
Freddie Highmore – Charlie Bucket
The title character was played by the adorable 12-year-old Freddie Highmore, who at the time had a small number of acting credits to his name. He started acting at the tender age of seven, and since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he has gone on to even more impressive roles. He has appeared in and lent his voice to several popular movies, and in 2013, took on the iconic role of Norman Bates in the television series, Bates Motel, alongside Vera Farmiga. Not only did he deliver a stellar performance as the deeply troubled young Bates, but he also wrote two episodes and directed one. He has starred in The Good Doctor since 2017 and continues to appear in films.
AnnaSophia Robb – Violet Beauregarde
The gum-chewing menace, Violet Beauregarde was brought to life by 11-year-old AnnaSophia Robb, who managed to seemingly effortlessly walk the line between annoying and cute. Since her appearance in this film, Robb’s acting career has exploded including multiple television and film appearances, including main roles in The Carrie Diaries and Bridge to Terabithia. She has also appeared in three music videos, most recently Ed Sheeran’s, Shivers.
Julia Winter – Veruca Salt
The talented Julia Winter had never acted professionally until she landed the role of spoiled brat, Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She had been studying drama for some years, and her lessons clearly paid off as evidenced by her brilliant performance. Since this film, Winter has since retired from acting and returned to her birth country, Sweden, where she is studying medicine.
Jordan Fry – Mike Teavee
Jordan Fry had seven years of television acting experience under his belt before being cast as the severely television-addicted Mike Teavee. Since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he has appeared in several films, however, seems yet to have really made his mark career-wise. He delivers consistently solid performances so it is possible he is yet to secure the right role to launch him into true stardom.
Philip Wiegratz – Augustus Gloop
The grossly overfed and therefore overweight child Augustus Gloop was portrayed by young German actor, Philip Wiegratz, wearing a fat-suit. He delivered an almost frighteningly believable performance as the over-indulgent young boy. Since appearing in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wiegratz has focused his acting on German films. His most recent appearance was in 2013’s Ruby Red and following this, he has retired from acting and has been avoiding the spotlight ever since.