Helena Bonham Carter: “I knew Tim was sick of me. Gothic fairy tale. The love story of Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter Free swimming and your own style

The inimitable Helena Bonham Carter started out as the "Queen of Corsets", brilliantly playing the roles of heroines of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Later, Helena became famous as the muse of Tim Burton. The characters played by the actress during this period are peculiar and bizarre. In total, Bonham Carter starred in seven films of her talented husband, not counting the voice acting of Corpse Bride.

The unofficial marriage of Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton lasted for 13 years. It's hard to imagine a more suitable couple. But all good things come to an end. And in 2014, the actress and director announced their separation - to the great sadness of fans of everything creative and unusual.

1. Room with a view

A Room with a View

• UK, 1986
• Melodrama, drama.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

The first notable appearance of Helena Bonham Carter on the screens was the role of young Lucy Honeychurch in the film adaptation of the novel by Edward Morgan Forster. Brought up in the best traditions of her time, the girl travels around Italy, accompanied by a strict elderly cousin, Charlotte Bartlett (by the way, she was played by the magnificent Maggie Smith).

During the trip, Lucy falls in love with the brooding dreamer George Emerson, completely forgetting that a much more "suitable" groom is waiting for her in England.

The tape received as many as eight Oscar nominations, took three figurines and became an acting breakthrough for Helena.

2. Howards End

Howards End

• UK, Japan, USA, 1992.
• Drama.
• Duration: 142 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

Another film adaptation of the work of Edward Morgan Forster in the piggy bank of Helena Bonham Carter, which won three Oscars and a prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

The action takes place in England at the beginning of the 20th century. In the center of the story are three families closely related to each other, essentially embodying various social groups: the old aristocracy, the enlightened bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The main question the film tries to answer is: why can't representatives of different social classes understand each other? At the same time, the mysterious Howards End estate, passing from hand to hand, is presented as a metaphor for Great Britain.

Helen Schlegel, played by Bonham Carter, is the exact opposite of the wealthy, cynical, calculating and limited Wiggins family. Regardless of the circumstances, this well-read girl remains true to her high moral principles.

3. Dove wings

The Wings of the Dove

• UK, USA, 1997.
• Drama.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.2.

Once again, Helena plays a young high society Englishwoman. This time she embodied the image of Kate Croy from the novel by American writer Henry James.

The main character lives with an elderly domineering aunt who dreams of quickly passing off her niece as a rich aristocrat. However, Kate is already in love with a simple journalist Merton Densher. The situation escalates when a new friend appears in the girl's life - a young, rich and terminally ill American Millie Teal.

Helena Bonham Carter was nominated for an Oscar for her acting. But then the award went to Helen Hunt for her role in the romantic melodrama As Good As It Gets, where he also played.

4 Fight Club

Fight Club

• USA, 1999.
• Drama, psychological thriller.
• Duration: 139 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.8.

The protagonist - a nameless narrator performed by Edward Norton - is deadly tired of a hopeless philistine existence. Together with his new friend Tyler Durden, he organizes an underground fight club to protest against the consumer society.

Helena Bonham Carter surprised everyone by unexpectedly changing her role as the “queen of corsets”. The actress played the only female character in Fight Club, the eccentric femme fatale Marla Singer. This heroine becomes a kind of incentive for the hero, prompting him to abandon his philistine existence and choose a completely different life full of dangers.

5. Big fish

big fish

• USA, 2003.
• Fantastic tragicomedy.
• Duration: 125 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

Based on Daniel Wallace's bestseller Big Fish. A novel of mythological proportions tells the incredible life of the itinerant merchant Edward Bloom. His son Will has not spoken to his father for many years, because he considers him a liar, unable to take care of the family.

When Edward is dying, Will returns to his parents' house. The question is whether the son will be able to rethink his attitude towards the dying father and his stories.

In this colorful panopticon, Helena played a woman named Jenny, who has been unrequitedly in love with Edward since childhood. In fact, the actress had to portray three characters: young and old Jenny, as well as a witch.

Helena Bonham Carter met director Tim Burton on the set of Planet of the Apes. They quickly hit it off, and by the time Big Fish was filmed, the actress was already pregnant. Nevertheless, she steadfastly endured all the inconveniences associated with many hours of applying makeup.

6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

• USA, UK, 2005.
• Musical, comedy, fantasy, adventure.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.6.

The film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl tells about the adventures of the wonderful boy Charlie Bucket in every respect. By chance, the protagonist gets the coveted ticket, which gives the opportunity, along with four lucky ones, to get to a closed chocolate factory. Its owner, the extravagant and eccentric Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp), promises that at the end one of the children will get some special prize.

Bonham Carter appeared in the film in a small but, as always, bright role: she played Charlie's mother, gentle and caring Mrs. Bucket. Despite the fact that her husband is fired from his job, she does not reproach him with failures, but supports him in every possible way.

7 Sweeney Todd, Fleet Street Demon Barber

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

• USA, UK, 2007.
• Musical, thriller, drama, horror.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

A gothic story about the terrible Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp), who took the sonorous name of Sweeney Todd. Together with his assistant Mrs. Lovett (Helen Bonham Carter), the protagonist opens a barbershop in the hope of getting revenge on Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). Only this barbershop is not at all simple: instead of shaving and cutting her guests, Sweeney Todd cuts their throats.

Meanwhile, the heroine of Helena Bonham Carter helps her beloved accomplice to get rid of corpses in a very original way - making minced meat for pies out of former clients. Which, by the way, have a great success among buyers.

In Sweeney Todd, the actress not only plays beautifully, but also sings excellently. Helena said that some of the vocal scenes were especially challenging because they required singing and cooking at the same time.

8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

• UK, USA, 2007.
• Adventure, fantasy.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

The fifth year of study at the school of magic turned out to be quite sad for the young wizard (Daniel Radcliffe): the shadow of Lord Voldemort, who returned from oblivion, loomed over the heroes. And at Hogwarts, a new teacher was outrageous - the evil Dolores Umbridge.

The Harry Potter franchise gave viewers one of the most memorable images of Helena Bonham Carter - the bloodthirsty witch Bellatrix Lestrange. Her signature attributes are her wild gaze, tousled hair, genuine loyalty to the Dark Lord, and her willingness to kill anyone, anywhere, anytime.

9. The king speaks!

The King's Speech

• UK, Australia, 2010.
• historical drama.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

The historical tragicomedy directed by Tom Hooper, who directed the musical Les Misérables and the sensational Danish Girl, is based on real events. In the center of the plot is the story of how the British monarch George VI is trying with the help of the famous speech therapist Lionel Logue.

For the first time in her career, Helena Bonham Carter played a real person - Queen of England Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The actress received her second Oscar nomination - for Best Supporting Actress, but lost to Melissa Leo, who performed well in the drama The Fighter.

It is worth noting that Helena is lucky to play the roles of royalty. For example, in the third season of the popular Netflix drama series The Crown, the actress will play Princess Margaret, the younger sister of the reigning Queen Elizabeth II.

10. Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

• USA, 2010
• Fantasy, adventure.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.5.

In his colorful adventure blockbuster, Tim Burton offers a new look at the universe created by the English storyteller Lewis Carroll. Instead of accepting a marriage proposal from the nasty rich Hamish, the grown-up Alice runs after the white rabbit and again finds herself in Wonderland. There, an unpleasant surprise awaits the heroine: it turns out that the evil Red Queen has seized power in the country. Alice herself is the chosen one and can save everyone.

Helena Bonham Carter played the main villain, the Red Queen. In Burton's version, this character acquired a name - Iratsibeta. I must say that the heroine appears even more unpleasant than in Lewis Carroll's fairy tale. This is a jealous, absurd and cruel person who, without the slightest remorse, is capable of not only executing a servant caught in sheer nonsense, but also unleashing a bloody war.

11. Great Expectations

Great Expectations

• UK, USA, 2012.
• Drama.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.4.

The film adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations tells the story of a young orphan named Pip. He is looked after by a cruel sister who often beats and insults her brother. However, the life of the protagonist changes dramatically when he helps a runaway convict free himself from his shackles.

Helena Bonham Carter plays the key character, the eccentric Miss Havisham, one of Dickens' most famous and colorful characters.

12. Suffragette

Suffragette

• UK, 2015.
• historical drama.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.9.

The film takes place in the late 19th century in Great Britain, when women sacrificed everything in the fight for suffrage. The central character of this story is the simple washerwoman Maud Watts, played by Carey Mulligan. At first, she is skeptical about revolutionary ideas, but completely changes her mind when she is separated from her child.

Helena Bonham Carter plays Edith Ellen, a desperate suffragist who knows exactly what she's fighting for. It directs all operations of the movement, even under the threat of imminent punishment.

13. Ocean's 8 Girlfriends

Ocean's Eight

• USA, 2018.
• Comedy, crime.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.2.

The spin-off of the cult film Ocean's Eleven tells the story of the perfect heist that the main character Debbie Ocean, played by Sandra Bullock, has been developing for several years. Seven accomplices will help her in the implementation of this, each of which is unique in her own way.

Helena Bonham Carter played the eccentric Rose Vile, a bankrupt fashion designer. Moreover, it was not difficult for the actress to portray such an extravagant character. The fact is that Helena dresses extremely strangely in life. The actress even jokingly calls herself the Antichrist of fashion.

The 53-year-old became the heroine of the December issue of the British Harper's Bazaar. The actress took part in a photo shoot for the magazine, in which she appeared in bright retro looks, and also talked with the editors of the publication.

In an interview, the star not only spoke about the work on the new season of the series "Crown" (The Crown), but also touched on the topic of her personal life. So, Helena remembered how her life changed after Tim Burton, with whom she lived for 13 years.

As soon as you break up, you start talking about the relationship you left. However, there comes a point when you get tired of this sorrow and finally start to move on. Now I am absolutely happy with other people. It was an unexpected and magical turn in my life

shared her thoughts Bonham Carter, who is now happy with 32-year-old writer and teacher of contemporary art and literature Ray Doug Holmboe.

In an interview, Helena Bonham Carter also talked about her attitude towards inevitable aging. The actress admitted that she does not worry about her age, and also admitted that after 50 years her life has only become brighter and more fulfilling:

When I was only 50 years old, I was worried that now my life and career will decline. But everything turned out to be exactly the opposite. I don't think I've ever been happier or more content than I am now. We are in the heyday of television, so actors have a lot of choice and a lot of work. It's scary to think that in my youth you were considered old after 30 years,

Carter said.

Helena Bonham Carter also admitted that her interests are not limited to acting - according to the star, she has many different hobbies in addition to her main profession. The actress also spoke out for the feminist movement. Helena admitted that modern women are very lucky because they are "allowed to do everything."

Photo harpersbazaar.com

The original style of Tim Burton's cinematic works is remembered by all viewers without exception. His gloomy, gothic and in their own way attractive films attract from the first frames. And sensitive cartoon characters with huge eyes and long limbs are extremely convincing, if creepy.

The work of the director, animator, producer and writer is inseparable from his personal life. In particular, his beloved women have always had a significant influence on his creative activity. Tim Burton's second wife walked hand in hand with him for 13 years. In real life, she became his faithful friend and mother of two children, and in her professional life she embodied several very bright characters on the screen. The inspiring muse that Tim Burton loved to film in movies is his wife. Her name is Helena Bonham Carter. Even an unexpected break did not prevent their friendly relations.

long engagement

Tim Burton expressed his desire to marry a British aristocratic actress almost immediately after the start of their romance in 2001. Given the popularity of the couple, their union has attracted close attention from many fans around the world. However, we did not wait for the announcement of the wedding ceremony. From a legal point of view, Tim Burton's wife remained a cohabitant.

Eccentrics in life and in movies

In fact, the relationship between Tim and Helena has become a kind of standard for a successful marriage. Extremely calm, sympathetic and understanding, they lived in perfect harmony for more than ten years. True, this couple could not be called traditional, because the press constantly flashed references to their so-called “guest marriage”. There is an opinion that the duration and strength of their relationship is due to separation: Tim Burton's wife and the director settled in neighboring houses, and not together.

Tim and Helen's children

In a civil marriage and Helena Bonham Carter, two children were born. The eldest son was born in 2003, in October. Tim Burton's wife agreed to name him Bill after Tim's grandfather. Four years later, in December 2007, the director became a father for the second time. The baby girl was named Nell.

Tim has no other children. Despite the breakup with Helena, he still spends time with his son and daughter.

By the way, Tim Burton's ex-civil wife is also present during these walks. Photos of the family constantly flash on the pages of magazines.

Tim and Helena's Special Relationship

On the eve of her fiftieth birthday, Helena Bonham Carter shows no hint of age anxiety. She still acts in films, participates in photo shoots and gives interviews. Naturally, the lion's share of journalists' questions concerns her broken marriage. She calmly and with dignity talks about how important the friendship that has changed the marriage bond is for her.

According to her, their relationship with Tim has always been unusual and special. This did not change their mutual decision to part. She argues that there is no point in worrying about what cannot be changed. Helena is extremely pleased with the fruitfulness and effectiveness of their union with Tim. After all, he brought them joint children and a lot of experience.

True aristocrat

The persistent and hardy character of Helena was tempered from childhood. When she was a teenager, her father was paralyzed in a failed operation. Despite the fact that the family could afford a whole staff of servants, including nurses, Helena was constantly near her father, supporting and encouraging him.

Strong attachment to her parents did not allow her to leave her father's house until the age of 30. But even then she bought a house nearby so that she could visit her mother and father more often.

Being a descendant of real British aristocrats, she received a brilliant upbringing. Studying at Westminster School, as well as a serious passion for theatrical art, turned her into a true lady. Helena received her first fame as a leading lady in classical productions on the theater stage. She was also invited to such "corset" roles at the beginning of her film career.

Today, Helena Bonham Carter is most often associated with her role as the evil Death Eater Belatrice Lestrange from the Harry Potter films.

Life anew

Apparently, Tim Burton also refers to the gap calmly and wisely, because he was seen in the company of Eva Green. Maybe this is the beginning of a new era, and we can hope for her appearance in the director's next films? After all, he always found roles for his wives.

It is worth mentioning the name of Tim Burton's wife, who became his first muse and appeared in several famous films: Lisa May. She had an extremely great influence on his formation as a person. Many biographical articles on Tim refer to his first marriage as "the Lisa May period".

First a dancer, then an artist and an actress, she provided Tim with significant support at critical moments and was there during periods of success. During their long marriage, the most outstanding films were shot: "Edward Scissorhands", "Sleepy Hollow", "Batman" and others. After the director became interested in Helena Bonham Carter, he divorced Lisa May, paying her more than five million dollars by court order. She later applied to the courts for additional compensation, but she was refused.

Celebrity biographies

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25.08.14 16:35

It seems that his work was greatly influenced by childhood fears, impressions and images born in the fantasies of a small native of Burbank.

Biography of Tim Burton

Children's impressions

The world of the shop owned by the mother of the future director Jean Burton seemed surprising to the boy. The shop sold trinkets in the form of cats and with images of these mustachioed-striped ones. The Burtons' house was not far from the cemetery - was that where he spied the scenes for his macabre tapes? But the fact that in the fantasy "Edward Scissorhands" Burbank is displayed (as Tim once imagined him), that's for sure.

Even childish Tima was strange: instead of windows, there were only narrow openings, like loopholes in a watchtower. This boy felt very uncomfortable at home. Difficult relationships with parents will be reflected in the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (a harsh dentist father inspired fear in the baby Willy Wonka).

The teenager experienced a special thrill in the stuffy darkness of cinemas - he adored horror films and science fiction. He himself tried to shoot - so far only cartoons in which the main characters were portrayed by miniature dolls.

"Under the Wing" of the Disney Studios

In 1976, Tim becomes a student. At the California Institute of the Arts, learning the basics of craftsmanship, Burton surprises teachers by providing them with finished short films instead of written works.

A huge success for any beginner would be an internship at the legendary Disney studio - that's where Tim got a job in 1979. A designer and later an animator, he wanted more independence and later called working in the studio like being in the army. However, Burton had a hand in several Disney projects. These are the animated "Lord of the Rings", "The Fox and the Dog", "The Black Cauldron", "The Throne". In parallel, he also works “for himself”, shoots a funny avant-garde short film “Luau - Hawaiian Party”, cartoons “Vincent” and “Frankenweenie”.

The world of feature films was opened to Burton by the invitation of the actor Paul Reubens. He invited Tim to shoot the comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure. The music for the film was written by Danny Elfman, with whom Burton continues to collaborate to this day.

Free swimming and own style

In 1987, the director began filming Beetlejuice, which was followed by a successful "comedy noir" by Batman and its sequel. Huge audience interest and, as a result, good box office receipts allowed the director to continue to work in his own way, without following the lead of the producers.

He writes scripts for many of his films himself, but the Nightmare Before Christmas, based on Burton's poem, was directed by another director, Henry Selick (the author himself was very busy at that time). But the atmosphere that reigns in this cartoon is somewhat reminiscent of the later "Corpse Bride", so it is often believed that it was Burton who directed the "Nightmare".

In the film "Edward Scissorhands" for the first time, Johnny Depp worked with Burton, since then the actor has been involved in almost all the director's projects.

Tim Burton's personal life

Seductive Lisa

Burton's first serious passion was his colleague in Frankenweenie and other first projects, Julie Hickson.

And in 1989, the director registered his only official marriage so far. His wife was a native of Berlin, photographer Lena Geiske. Together they did not last long, although the divorce was issued only in 1993.

Further in the life of a genius came the period of the model and artist Lisa Mary Smith. They met at a New Year's party on the eve of 1992 and very soon began to live together. Burton filmed his beloved in the biopic-drama "Ed Wood", she appeared in the comedy "Mars Attacks" (Lisa is the same big-headed alien, sexy girl who made her way into the White House).

They got engaged and were a couple until 2001 - until another muse replaced one. Several projects of that period are considered brilliant - for example, "Sleepy Hollow", and some remained unrealized (for example, it was not possible to film the sequel to "Beetlejuice" and film "Wii" with Lisa Marie as Pannochka).

Charming aristocrat

In the remake of the "Planet of the Apes", which was put by Burton, the British played (by origin - a real aristocrat) Helena Bonham Carter. It was she who put a fat end to the relationship between Tim and Lisa. The director admits to his passion in treason and already in October 2001, he becomes engaged to Helena.

The ex-bride falls into a long depression - she did not expect such treachery from her lover. With a big scandal, Smith sued Burton for $ 5.4 million (he paid this money for several years), but still remained dissatisfied with the results of the process: after all, according to Lisa Marie, he promised to provide her financially until his death.

The final move to London, the birth of their first child - Billy will give impetus to the filming of the amazing drama "Big Fish". It differs from other works of the master. But then he returned to his infernal experiments - in particular, in the Oscar-nominated cartoon Corpse Bride.

His common-law wife, like Depp, the director with enviable persistence provides work. And Helena, 4 years after the birth of a son very similar to her father, also gave him a daughter, Nell, but, alas, at the end of 2014, the media learned that one of the strongest couples in Hollywood broke up.

Thirteen-year union of American director Tim Burton and English actress Helena Bonham Carter ended with a "friendly parting". “They remain friends and will jointly fulfill their parental responsibilities in relation to their two children” - this statement, made by the actress's press agent on the eve of Christmas, pretty much dumbfounded the Hollywood party, and the incident has already been called a Christmas nightmare.

Fans of the most eccentric couple in the world of American show business are grieving not only about the breakup of another family, but also about the fact that they, apparently, will forever have to forget about the brilliant creative union of Tim and Helena. Burton shot his civil wife in seven films, and it was no coincidence that she was called his muse. But it seems that the relationship in their strange family kingdom has cracked for a long time. Helena last played in Burton's Dark Shadows in 2012. At the same time, the actress, with her peculiar humor, doubted their further cooperation: “Tima seems to be sick of me on the set.” And the director himself admitted that he no longer wants to shoot Helena, that he needs “new blood”. For inspiration. But unexpectedly, studio bosses intervened in the seemingly family history. They told Tim to keep shooting his wife and not fool them. Business is business - because it was largely thanks to the participation of Bonham Carter that Burton's previous projects earned so much money! The director's self-esteem was seriously damaged, and this did not improve the climate in the family.

Johnny Depp, the godfather of Tim and Helena's children, starred in nine Burton films. Depp with Bonham Carter in Burton's Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. 2007 Photo: wenn/all over press

And now, in October 2013, photographers spot Burton with some unknown blonde. This photo was all over the tabloids. True, Helena immediately rushed to Tim's defense. Her representative published a statement by the actress, where she categorically denies the fact of her husband's infidelity. Like, they were at that party together, and in parting, Tim gave a friendly kiss and hugged one of the ladies present there. But as you know, there is no smoke without fire. For the next year, the couple did not appear anywhere together. Only recently, friends found Helena and Tim at a party at the house of the current Prime Minister of Great Britain, where they are traditionally invited by his wife Samantha Cameron. It turned out to be difficult even for such a beautiful actress to hide her bad mood and sadness ... Why did Helena endure for so long and only on Christmas Eve decided to voice the gap? In all likelihood, the reason is as old as the world: the actress hoped to the last that Tim would change his mind and with her help - without scenes and screams - he would be able to overcome the crisis of men of a certain age, namely those over fifty. But, alas, the hopes were not justified. It's a pity, because Helena Bonham Carter's path to happiness in family life did not at all resemble a carpet strewn with rose petals ...

Until the age of 30, Helena did not think about her personal life at all. Moreover, she was born into an aristocratic family of a wealthy London banker. Her family tree includes more than one English peer (and above this title only persons of the royal family) and a Spanish baron (on the mother's side). Her great-grandfather Herbert Henry Asquith was at one time Prime Minister of Great Britain. And the cousin of the father, Lady Violet Bonham Carter, was known as a close friend of Churchill. It so happened that the mother of the future actress fell out of reality for some time, simply speaking, she had a clouding of her mind. But she managed to recover, and this miracle prompted her to become a very successful psychotherapist. True, in the process of mastering the intricacies of such a delicate profession, Elena often used her daughter as a guinea pig. When Helena was 13 years old, her beloved father was paralyzed after an unsuccessful operation, and the girl, along with her brothers and sisters, helped her mother cope with the misfortune. There was no need to look after him - a solid bank account allowed him to hire a dozen nurses. But this brilliant erudite and love of life, who found himself in a wheelchair, needed moral support and communication very much. At the school where Carter studied, her friends were completely carried away by the theater. And Helena, for whom the lessons of maternal psychoanalysis were not in vain, realized that the theater would help her cope with the oppressive atmosphere of misfortune that settled in their house. "Replacement" - that's how it is called in the language of professionals. The mother had nothing to say. The father was very upset, because he dreamed that his daughter would go to Cambridge without any problems. And instead, Helena began to get roles in the movies. And at the age of 18, she played one of her many queens for the first time in the film Lady Jane. The replacement was a success - the young actress played many historical, "corset" roles, playing the roles of heroines of the Edwardian and Victorian eras. Once she said: “Now I just have to remove a couple of my ribs so that the corset fits even better.” But Hollywood came to the rescue in the person of Brad Pitt. He personally persuaded her to star in David Fincher's "Fight Club" - and Helena did an excellent job of playing a drug addict and tearing Marla. The audience was struck by the explicit love scenes with Pitt, and the film became a cult classic.