Helena Bonham Carter Biography

Often seen in a corset in historical roles or in outlandish makeup in dark, eccentric fantasies, British film actress Helena Bonham Carter has also delivered acclaimed portrayals of a poor 20th-century Londoner (The Wings of the Dove, 1997, Best Actress Oscar nomination) and Queen Elizabeth (The King’s Speech, 2010, Best Supporting Actress nomination). She was 20 when she landed her first leading role as the short-lived English monarch Lady Jane Grey (Lady Jane, 1986), and now plays Bellatrix Lestrange in the series of films based on the Harry Potter novels. She has appeared opposite Mel Gibson (Hamlet, 1990), Woody Allen (Mighty Aphrodite, 1995), Brad Pitt (Fight Club, 1999), and Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd, 2007, and Alice in Wonderland, 2010). Her partner in life since 2001 has been Tim Burton, director of several of her films. They live in adjoining London apartments, connected by a corridor, and have two children: Billy Ray Burton, born 4 October 2003, and Nell Burton, born 15 December 2007.