Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter (born on May 26, 1966) is a British actress renowned for her portrayal of pre- and early 20th century characters, particularly in Merchant Ivory films.

Related Topics:
May 26 - 1966 - 20th century - Merchant Ivory

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She was born in Golders Green, in London, and educated at Westminster School. Her father came from a famous British political and theatrical family; she is the great-granddaughter of the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Herbert Henry Asquith, and members of her family are Life Peers. Her maternal grandfather was a Spanish ambassador and a Catholic; her maternal grandmother came from a rich Austrian-based Jewish family, and had converted to Catholicism upon marrying her ambassador husband. She is a great-niece of the late Baroness Liliane de Rothschild (1916-2003) of the Rothschild banking family, as her maternal grandmother's sister married a member of the Rothschild family.

Related Topics:
Golders Green - London - Westminster School - British political - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - Herbert Henry Asquith - Life Peers - Spanish - Catholic - Austrian - Jewish - Catholicism - Baroness - Liliane de Rothschild - 1916 - 2003 - Rothschild banking family

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It is a matter of interpretation what her film debut was. Strictly speaking, her first role was in a small part in an obscure film A Pattern of Roses, but this is little remembered. Her first starring role to be filmed was in Lady Jane, which was eventually released to somewhat mixed reviews. Her breakthrough was A Room with a View was filmed later but released earlier. These films led to her being typecast as a "corset queen", an "English rose" in costume dramas, but eventually she expanded her range.

Related Topics:
Lady Jane - A Room with a View - Corset - Costume drama

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For a few years she was in a relationship with Kenneth Branagh (costing Branagh his own marriage to Emma Thompson) and they appeared in a number of films together, but they split up. Since 2001 she has been engaged to Tim Burton whom she met while filming Planet of the Apes. They have one son, Billy-Ray Burton, born on October 4, 2003.

Related Topics:
Kenneth Branagh - Emma Thompson - 2001 - Tim Burton - Planet of the Apes - October 4 - 2003

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