by Melissa Haggar
As seems to be the case, trying to pick out a few films from such an expansive career seems like the impossible task. Helena Bonham Carter has portrayed a wide variety of roles for both film and television, and her style is so distinctive that you can’t help but love her. Garnering a multitude of award nominations ranging from the Academy Awards to the Golden Globes (and winning a few too!); she is truly a talented actress. With the release of The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet this week in the UK, it seems like a perfect time to look at some of Helena Bonham Carter’s best films.
As seems to be the case, trying to pick out a few films from such an expansive career seems like the impossible task. Helena Bonham Carter has portrayed a wide variety of roles for both film and television, and her style is so distinctive that you can’t help but love her. Garnering a multitude of award nominations ranging from the Academy Awards to the Golden Globes (and winning a few too!); she is truly a talented actress. With the release of The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet this week in the UK, it seems like a perfect time to look at some of Helena Bonham Carter’s best films.
The Kings Speech
Regal and elegant in every way, The Kings Speech saw Bonham Carter portray Queen Elizabeth (The now Queen's mother) herself, and star opposite Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, who portrayed King George VI and Lionel Logue, respectively. Receiving an Academy Award Nomination and winning a BAFTA award for her portrayal, Bonham Carter shone as the Queen, and she was able to truly emulate the eloquence of royalty as well as show the devoted and concerned side to the Queen during the wake of her husband’s stammer. The Kings Speech, directed by Tom Hooper, had a touching and humane side to it, with beautiful visuals and rousing performances from Bonham Carter, Firth and Rush; a true period drama masterpiece.
Regal and elegant in every way, The Kings Speech saw Bonham Carter portray Queen Elizabeth (The now Queen's mother) herself, and star opposite Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, who portrayed King George VI and Lionel Logue, respectively. Receiving an Academy Award Nomination and winning a BAFTA award for her portrayal, Bonham Carter shone as the Queen, and she was able to truly emulate the eloquence of royalty as well as show the devoted and concerned side to the Queen during the wake of her husband’s stammer. The Kings Speech, directed by Tom Hooper, had a touching and humane side to it, with beautiful visuals and rousing performances from Bonham Carter, Firth and Rush; a true period drama masterpiece.
Harry Potter
Possibly one of Bonham Carter’s most famous roles was that of Bellatrix LeStrange, in the Harry Potter series of films. LeStrange was a deranged death eater who was strangely, and obsessively, devoted to Lord Voldemort, and delighted in ‘playing with her food’. The character garnered her much attention from fans and critics alike, and the way in which she portrayed the quirky but disturbed nature of Bellatrix was eerily creepy but fantastic at the same time. Antagonising the fateful heroes ever since her escape from prison in Order of the Phoenix, Bonham Carter’s Bellatrix was always around to cause trouble for the main characters, and Bonham Carter was able to portray the goading and cruel character with such finesse that you almost forgot that she was playing a character.
Possibly one of Bonham Carter’s most famous roles was that of Bellatrix LeStrange, in the Harry Potter series of films. LeStrange was a deranged death eater who was strangely, and obsessively, devoted to Lord Voldemort, and delighted in ‘playing with her food’. The character garnered her much attention from fans and critics alike, and the way in which she portrayed the quirky but disturbed nature of Bellatrix was eerily creepy but fantastic at the same time. Antagonising the fateful heroes ever since her escape from prison in Order of the Phoenix, Bonham Carter’s Bellatrix was always around to cause trouble for the main characters, and Bonham Carter was able to portray the goading and cruel character with such finesse that you almost forgot that she was playing a character.
The Wings of the Dove
Assuming the lead role in The Wings of the Dove, Bonham Carter starred as Kate Croy, a woman whom lives under the watch of her Aunt, and who is encouraged to marry the wealthy Lord Mark, (Alex Jennings) despite wanting to marry the journalist, Merton Densher (Linus Roache). After meeting an outgoing, but ultimately terminally ill heiress, named Milly, (Alison Elliot) she and Milly’s friend Susan, (Elizabeth McGovern) along with Merton go on a trip through Europe where Kate hopes that she can convince Merton to pursue Milly so that Milly will leave Merton money in her will and the two can finally be together. Bonham Carter’s performance as Kate is captivating, to say the least, and she dazzles as the character and musters alluring chemistry with Roache. Her performance in The Wings of the Dove earned her an Academy Award Nomination as well as a Golden Globe nomination and a BAFTA award nomination, all in the Best Actress Categories.
Assuming the lead role in The Wings of the Dove, Bonham Carter starred as Kate Croy, a woman whom lives under the watch of her Aunt, and who is encouraged to marry the wealthy Lord Mark, (Alex Jennings) despite wanting to marry the journalist, Merton Densher (Linus Roache). After meeting an outgoing, but ultimately terminally ill heiress, named Milly, (Alison Elliot) she and Milly’s friend Susan, (Elizabeth McGovern) along with Merton go on a trip through Europe where Kate hopes that she can convince Merton to pursue Milly so that Milly will leave Merton money in her will and the two can finally be together. Bonham Carter’s performance as Kate is captivating, to say the least, and she dazzles as the character and musters alluring chemistry with Roache. Her performance in The Wings of the Dove earned her an Academy Award Nomination as well as a Golden Globe nomination and a BAFTA award nomination, all in the Best Actress Categories.
Fight Club
Introduced as a Femme Fatale, Bonham Carter assumed the role of Marla Singer in the (now) classic, Fight Club, which also featured Edward Norton and Brad Pitt as split-personalities, the narrator (Jack) and Tyler, respectively. Bonham Carter’s Marla was exceptionally strong-willed and seemingly a little nutty, and as brash and bold as the day is long, and her distinctive character was adopted by Bonham Carter dutifully. Becoming fully emerged in the role, Bonham Carter’s performance was righteously provocative and having won the 2000 Empire Award for Best British Actress, her role as the character is still remembered feverishly today, becoming the topic of much debate and discussion within film criticism.
Introduced as a Femme Fatale, Bonham Carter assumed the role of Marla Singer in the (now) classic, Fight Club, which also featured Edward Norton and Brad Pitt as split-personalities, the narrator (Jack) and Tyler, respectively. Bonham Carter’s Marla was exceptionally strong-willed and seemingly a little nutty, and as brash and bold as the day is long, and her distinctive character was adopted by Bonham Carter dutifully. Becoming fully emerged in the role, Bonham Carter’s performance was righteously provocative and having won the 2000 Empire Award for Best British Actress, her role as the character is still remembered feverishly today, becoming the topic of much debate and discussion within film criticism.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
In a slight change to her previous roles, Helena Bonham Carter took on the role of Mrs. Lovett in the film adaptation of Sondheim and Wheeler’s musical of the same name, where she was required to take on a singing role as the character. Finding her partner in crime in none other than Johnny Depp’s Sweeney Todd, Bonham Carter and Depp performed beautifully as the ‘odd couple’ and along with the stellar visuals, the film made significant impact amongst audiences and critics alike. Mrs. Lovett was a willing accomplice to crime, but still maintained some mischievous and deceitful qualities, which Bonham Carter was able to fully understand and emulate rather perfectly on screen, alongside Depp’s Todd.
In a slight change to her previous roles, Helena Bonham Carter took on the role of Mrs. Lovett in the film adaptation of Sondheim and Wheeler’s musical of the same name, where she was required to take on a singing role as the character. Finding her partner in crime in none other than Johnny Depp’s Sweeney Todd, Bonham Carter and Depp performed beautifully as the ‘odd couple’ and along with the stellar visuals, the film made significant impact amongst audiences and critics alike. Mrs. Lovett was a willing accomplice to crime, but still maintained some mischievous and deceitful qualities, which Bonham Carter was able to fully understand and emulate rather perfectly on screen, alongside Depp’s Todd.
RSS Feed
