Fast Five with Jaeden Lieberher
Get up to speed on the pint-sized wonder from Midnight Special
FAST FACTS
Name: Jaeden Lieberher
Born: Jan 4, 2003, Philadelphia
Filmography: St. Vincent (2014), Playing It Cool (2015), Aloha (2015), Midnight Special (2016)
CHILD STAR
The Philly native moved with his mother across the country to Los Angeles when he was eight, and once there, he caught the acting bug.
Lieberher started doing commercials before hitting the big time playing a young Chris Evans in Playing It Cool in 2011. However, the comedy didn't see the light of day until 2015.
BREAK OUT
The pint-sized wonder's claim to fame was the quirky comedy St Vincent, starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, and Naomi Watts.
The film, about a kid who bounded with his neighbour, an alcoholic devil-may-care war veteran, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
The 13-year-old was thankful he got to learn the trade from "an icon and one of the greatest actors and comedians of all time".
He told acting website Backstage: "I learned to listen up and to relax a little bit (from Bill) before the scenes and just have fun."
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Lieberher is again in the limelight with Midnight Special, which opens here Apr 21.
He plays Alton, a gifted child who is on the run with his father Roy (Michael Shannon). What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement quickly escalates to a nationwide manhunt involving the highest levels of the Federal Government.
GEEKING OUT
A Star Wars fan, Lieberher has the bragging rights to call Kylo Ren, aka Adam Driver, his good friend. Lieberher would bug Driver, who plays the NSA agent Sevier in charge of Alton's case, for any news of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
"It was in between scenes that I found out Adam was rumoured to be in it...but he was being very secretive," said Lieberher to Huffington Post.
"Adam's a nice person. I had a lot of fun with him. It was interesting seeing him as Kylo Ren. He was really good in it."
CUTENESS OVERLOAD
Next up for Lieberher is director Colin Trevorrow's drama The Book Of Henry, where he stars as the titular character alongside Room's adorable Jacob Tremblay, who plays his younger brother Peter.
Lieberher told Huffington Post: "We became really close. He's just a normal, funny kid, almost my little brother It's just awesome to see how successful he's become."
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