Young star's chocolate treat

Kate Winslet has helped a North London schoolboy land just about the sweetest role there is - the lead in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The film is based on Roald Dahl's classic novel of the same name - and it will be one of the most lavishly budgeted to shoot in the UK this year.

Director Tim Burton had been searching for a young actor to join Johnny Depp on the movie, which begins filming at Pinewood Studios near London in June.

Kate and Johnny became friends after filming J.M. Barrie's Neverland in England together.

When Kate heard that director Burton and producer Richard Zanuck were having trouble finding someone to play Charlie, she said: 'Oh, what about the great kid in Neverland?' That's how Freddie Highmore landed the job. A casting agent tracked him down to his private school in North London - and later he met with Burton and the film's production team.

In J.M. Barrie's Neverland Freddie plays Peter Llewelyn, who became the inspiration for Peter Pan. Ms Winslet plays his screen mother. Kate will soon be seen here in the inspired romantic comedy Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind opposite Jim Carrey.

In the film Kate lets her hair down (as well as changing hair colour often) and shows why she remains one of our major talents.

Depp, who was so good in Pirates Of The Caribbean, has been in the UK filming The Libertine with Samantha Morton.

Gene Wilder starred in a 1971 film version of the book called Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory.