Top 10 Helena Bonham Carter Performances

Helena’s no stranger to big budget Disney Movies, having also starred as the Fairy Godmother in 2015’s “Cinderella”. But she’s best known for playing The Red Queen in Tim Burton’s 2010 adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland”. Bonham Carter puts in a typically larger than life performance here, for a character whose head is digitally enhanced to 3x usual size. And HBC shows great chemistry alongside another double-barrelled Brit in the sequel, Sacha Baron Cohen.

Helena reignites that chemistry with Baron Cohen here, as they play swindling innkeepers - the Thénardiers - in Tom Hooper’s “Les Misérables”. This wasn’t the first time that Carter worked with Hooper, but more on that later. And it wasn’t her first musical with Sacha either, but more on that later too. What’s important is that “Les Mis” allows Helena to show off her singing, which combined with a phenomenal acting performance allows her to stand out within a powerhouse cast including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Having previously shone through Shakespeare in 1990’s “Hamlet”, Helena’s turn as Countess Olivia in “Twelfth Night” was even better. She does the Bard proud with her take on the character, staying true to the play but bringing a stylish edge to her scenes as well. Though there were some changes made from the original Elizabethan script, Carter and the rest of the cast do a stellar job of adapting the comedy, with Helena at the centre of a quirky tale of romance and mistaken identities.

Helena had big shoes to fill, playing as prominent figure in modern British history as the Queen Mother, but she sure delivered! Working under Tom Hooper once more, she tapped into the strength and command of the Queen Mother during her marriage to King George VI. And while the story surrounds George’s battle with a speech impediment, the HBC scenes are some of the best in the movie. She ultimately won a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA for the portrayal, and she was nominated in the same category at the Oscars.

While this movie doesn’t boast the mainstream success of some other Bonham Carter films, it’s a must-see for any fans of the actress. A bittersweet romance in which Helena stars opposite Aaron Eckhart, the emotionally fraught story sets itself apart with inventive use of split screen and some seriously sharp dialogue. And the whole thing was filmed in just 12 days of principal photography, with most of it set inside a single hotel room. It’s intense, but also incredible.

To another example of Bonham Carter working with her now ex Tim Burton, as she brings to life the titular character in “Corpse Bride”. A film loved by fans and critics alike, Helena brings energy to the role (despite playing a murder victim), guiding us through this unique, dark and funny tale. This isn’t a zombie who wants to eat your brains, but she will kidnap you and try to force you into marriage! And while Helena has regularly worked with Johnny Depp, this is their only animated joint venture.

Bonham Carter, Burton, Depp and Baron Cohen all come together here, for this gloriously gothic period piece, and an adaptation of the 1979 stage musical. Helena plays Mrs. Lovett, the right-hand woman for Depp’s demon barber, who dutifully turns Todd’s victims into fresh-from-the-oven, homemade pies. It’s a bloody and twisted affair, but Bonham Carter proves to be the perfect fit for her deranged and psychotic character - carrying just enough heart to fall in love her razor-wielding accomplice. And she gets to stretch those vocal chords again, too.

Despite Emma Thompson bagging the Best Actress Oscar for her part in “Howards End”, the statuette could just as easily have been awarded to Helena, who plays Thompson’s sister in the film. The E. M. Forster adaptation explores the complex relationships between two families, the Schlegels and Wilcoxes, with Bonham Carter’s Helen holding crucial influence. Helena has quite a reputation for period performances nowadays, but this was one of her earliest successes in the genre.

As Voldermort’s most loyal Death Eater and for some, the top villain of the entire Harry Potter franchise, Helena delivers a devilish turn to bring Bellatrix to the big screen. Nailing her character’s chaotic, intimidating, evil and insane attributes, this was one literary creation which really didn’t disappoint when adapted for film. From her ruthless wand-work to her manic cackle - and her blatant disregard for family members - Bellatrix may be a baddie, but Bonham Carter does a bloody good job!

Forget the first rule of Fight Club, we’re going to talk about it anyway - because Bonham Carter’s that good in this film! As Marla Singer she plays a pivotal role in the ‘90s cult classic, which was one of the most talked about movies of that decade. Marla starts off as a support group imposter, before beginning a tumultuous relationship with Ed Norton’s character - or should that be Brad Pitt’s? Given the unpredictable plot, Marla’s one of the only ever-present figures - and Helena totally pulls off the captivating performance.