Who is Helena Bonham Carter? Everything You Need to Know (2024)

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In May

Age: 58 Years, 58 Year Old Females

Family:

father: Raymond Bonham Carter

mother: Elena Propper de Callejon

siblings: Edward Bonham Carter, Thomas Bonham Carter

children: Billy Raymond Burton, Nell Burton

Partner: Kenneth Branagh (1994–1999), Tim Burton (2001–2014)

Born Country: England

ActressesBritish Women

Height: 5'2" (157 cm), 5'2" Females

City: London, England

Notable Alumni: Westminster School, South Hampstead High School

More Facts

education: Westminster School, South Hampstead High School

Recommended For You

Lily Collins

Millie Bobby Brown

Florence Pugh

Kate Beckinsale

You wanted to know

  • 1

    What are some of Helena Bonham Carter's most iconic movie roles?

    Some of Helena Bonham Carter's most iconic movie roles include Bellatrix Lestrange in the "Harry Potter" series, Marla Singer in "Fight Club," and the Red Queen in "Alice in Wonderland."

  • 2

    Is Helena Bonham Carter related to the famous British political family?

    Yes, Helena Bonham Carter is related to the famous British political family through her great-grandfather, H.H. Asquith, who was a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

  • 3

    Has Helena Bonham Carter ever worked with director Tim Burton?

    Yes, Helena Bonham Carter has collaborated with director Tim Burton on several occasions, including films such as "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and "Alice in Wonderland."

  • 4

    Does Helena Bonham Carter have any unique hobbies or interests outside of acting?

    Yes, Helena Bonham Carter is known for her interest in astrology and has even consulted astrologers for guidance in her personal and professional life.

  • 5

    How does Helena Bonham Carter approach preparing for her roles as an actress?

    Helena Bonham Carter is known for her immersive approach to preparing for her roles, often delving deep into researching the characters she portrays and incorporating unique mannerisms and quirks to bring them to life on screen.

Recommended Lists:

British People

Gemini Actresses

British Actresses

Actresses Who Are In Their 50s

Childhood & Early Life

Helena Bonham Carter was born on May 26, 1966, in Islington, London, England, to Elena, a psychotherapist, and Raymond Bonham Carter, a merchant banker.

She came from a renowned political family. Her paternal grandparents were successful politicians. She was the great-granddaughter of former British PM Asquith. She has two older brothers, Edward and Thomas.

Her childhood was traumatic. Her mother had a serious nervous breakdown and took three years to recover. Her father suffered complications during a surgery to remove a tumor which left him half-paralyzed.

Educated at ‘South Hampstead High School,’ she completed her A-levels at ‘Westminster School.’ ‘King's College,’ Cambridge, would not admit her because they felt that she would discontinue the course to pursue her acting career.

Continue Reading Below

Career

Helena Bonham Carter won a national writing contest in 1979. She used the prize money to pay for her entry into the actors' Spotlight directory. She made her debut at the age of 16, appearing in a television commercial.

She played the title role in the movie ‘Lady Jane’ in 1986. It tells the story of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen, her reign, and her romance with her husband Lord Guilford Dudley.

In the Merchant-Ivory produced 1985 romance film 'A Room with a View,’ she had a significant role as ‘Lucy Honeychurch,’ who falls in love with a free-spirited young man.

Between 1986 and 1988, she concentrated on television work. She appeared in the episodes of ‘Miami Vice’ and ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ (1994), and starred in television films, such as ‘A Hazard of Hearts’ and ‘The Vision.’

Her role as ‘Helen Schlegel’ in the 1992 film ‘Howards End’ brought her massive acclaim and a ‘BAFTA’ nomination for best supporting actress. The film was based on E. M. Forster’s novel.

In ‘Fight Club,’ a 1999 film based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, she starred alongside Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. She played a dissolute woman named ‘Marla Singer’ and received positive reviews from critics.

She did many movies with Tim Burton between 2001 and 2010. Some of these movies include ‘Planet of the Apes,’ ‘Big Fish,’ ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ and ‘Corpse Bride.’

She did many movies with Tim Burton between 2001 and 2010. Some of these movies include ‘Planet of the Apes,’ ‘Big Fish,’ ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ and ‘Corpse Bride.’

In 2006, the actor opened her own fashion line called ‘The Pantaloonies’ in collaboration with swimwear designer Samantha Sage. Their first collection, ‘Bloomin' Bloomers,’ was a Victorian-style range of camisoles and bloomers.

Continue Reading Below

She essayed the role of ‘Enid Blyton’ in ‘Enid,’ a British dramatic television film, which was first broadcast in 2009 on ‘BBC Four.’ She won the 2010 ‘International Emmy Award’ for ‘Best Actress’ for her role.

She starred in the biopic ‘Toast’ in 2010. It was a ‘BBC One’ adaptation of the autobiographical novel of the same name by cookery writer Nigel Slater - she played the role of ‘Joan Potter.’

‘The King's Speech,’ a 2010 British epic historical drama film, directed by Tom Hooper saw her portray Queen Elizabeth. It was a major box office and critical success and brought her much fame and appreciation.

Between 2007 and 2011, she played the villainous ‘Bellatrix Lestrange,’ a female Death Eater, in the famous ‘Harry Potter’ film series.

In 2012, she worked in two adapted classics; in the film ‘Great Expectations,’ she played the role of a wealthy spinster named ‘Miss Havisham,’ and in ‘Les Misérables,’ she played ‘Mme. Thénardier.’

‘Burton & Taylor,’ a 2013 ‘BBC’ TV film, was based on the legendary acting duo and former husband and wife, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. They were ‘perfectly’ portrayed by Dominic West and Carter, respectively.

Bonham Carter reprised her role as the ‘Red Queen’ in ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’ in 2016. In 2018, she starred in the movie ‘Ocean's 8’ as ‘Rose Weil.’

In 2022, he voiced ‘Jen’ in the British animation stop-motion animated anthology film ‘The House’ directed by Emma de Swaef, Marc James Roels, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, and Paloma Baeza. The film garnered much praise from critics and holds a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That same year, she reprised her role of ‘Eudoria Holmes’ in the Harry Bradbeer-directed mystery film ‘Enola Holmes 2.’ The film was released on Netflix and received positive reviews from critics.

In 2023, she was seen in the British three-part biographical miniseries ‘Nolly’ where she portrayed ‘Noele Gordon.’

Continue Reading Below

Major Works

In the 1997 film ‘The Wings of the Dove,’ which is an adaptation of a novel written by Henry James, Helena Bonham Carter played the manipulative ‘Kate Croy.’ Her performance won her an ‘Oscar’ nomination and many other accolades.

She delivered a stunning performance in Tim Burton’s ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,’ a 2007 musical horror film. Her performance as ‘Mrs. Nellie Lovett’ was applauded, and she received many accolades.

Awards

Helen Bonham Carter was nominated twice for the ‘Oscars’ for her performances in ‘The Wings of the Dove’ and ‘The King's Speech.’ She has also received many ‘Golden Globe’ nominations.

In 2011, for ‘The King's Speech,’ she won a ‘BAFTA’ for ‘Best Supporting Actress,’ and shared the ‘Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Award’ with her co-stars.

She won two ‘Empire Awards’ for ‘Best Actress’ for ‘Sweeney Todd’ and ‘Fight Club.’ The ‘Empire Award’ is an accolade bestowed by ‘Empire,’ Britain's best-selling film magazine.

In 2008, she was presented with the ‘Evening Standard British Film Award’ for her performances in ‘Conversations with Other Women’ and ‘Sweeney Todd.’

Personal Life & Legacy

Helena Bonham Carter was in a relationship with actor Kenneth Branagh. In 2001, she started dating director Tim Burton. The couple has two children - Billy Raymond and Nell. Burton and Bonham Carter went their separate ways in 2014. She started dating Rye Dag Holmboe in 2018.

Facts About Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter is known for her unique fashion sense, often mixing and matching unconventional pieces to create her own eclectic style.

She is a talented voice actress and has lent her voice to several animated films, including "Corpse Bride" and "Alice in Wonderland."

In addition to her acting career, Helena Bonham Carter is also a skilled photographer and has had her work exhibited in galleries.

She is an advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about her own struggles with anxiety and depression, helping to reduce stigma around these issues.

Helena Bonham Carter is a dedicated mother to her two children and is known for balancing her busy career with her family life.

Who is Helena Bonham Carter? Everything You Need to Know (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6301

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.