Looking for movies with Helena Bonham Carter? In our review you will find the Top 10 best films with Helena Bonham Carter. Iconic actress Helena Bonham Carter has starred in many of the world's biggest films, giving the film world some incredible characters. The famous actress began her career in the 1980s, her first role was Lady Jane Gray in the film Lady Jane, but over time she became known for her eccentric and extravagant portrayals. It is known that she had a relationship with director Tim Burton, who is also the father of her children.
Although several of Tim Burton's Helena Bonham Carter films were her best, not all of them were. Although the pair were and continue to be associated with each other, Carter also played some amazing roles in other films. In particular, she rose to fame in dramatic television shows and films, especially early in her career. However, despite Hollywood's attempts to categorize her, she has proven herself to be a versatile actress with a wide range of talents, resulting in some incredible Helena Bonham Carter films.
10. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
In Tim Burton's highest-grossing film Alice in Wonderland, Carter played the iconic Red Queen. Carter gave a great performance as the main tormentor Alice (Mia Wasikowska), but the role was also memorable for the way the Red Queen was created. Throughout the film, Carter had an absurdly large head, symbolizing the Red Queen's attitude and ego, which was added through visual effects in post-production. The contrast between her head and body sizes allowed for some hilarious moments throughout the film, although at times it made her purpose as a villain less impressive.
However, Carter's portrayal of the Red Queen was very strong as she brought a lot of depth to it. The actress has proven that one of her strongest abilities as a performer is her use of facial expressions and gestures, especially during the Red Queen's exaggerated statements and attacks. Carter reprized her role in the sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass and improved upon an already strong performance.
9. A Room with a View (1985)
Lucy Honeychurch in A Room with a View was Carter's breakthrough role, and she gave a wonderful performance as a vacationer who is tormented by the choice between her new love interest, George (Julian Sands), and her fiancé, who has returned to England. Adapted from E.M. Forster's novel of the same name, Carter's way of presenting free-spirited Lucy in an Edwardian setting set her apart from the cast of A Room with a View, especially because she took the source material and made it even better. Playing Lucy Honeychurch rightfully marked the beginning of Carter's superstar career.
Considering that Carter was only 19 years old in A Room with a View, her performance with such emotional depth is even more impressive. Carter's interactions with Julian Sands were much appreciated, and the obvious differences between Lucy and George were brilliantly highlighted in their performances together. Although this role, like Carter's other early work, was very different from the characters she would later become known for, Lucy's performance also showed just how versatile an actress she was and still is.
8. Fight Club (1999)
Interestingly, Carter almost didn't play Marla in Fight Club. However, it’s good that she still took this role, since it eventually became the main one in her career. Carter's character created some of the biggest moments in Fight Club, such as causing incredible conflict between the Narrator (Edward Norton) and Tyler (Brad Pitt). Even though Fight Club focused on two men, Carter managed to steal the spotlight from Marla and she brought something special to every scene she appeared in.
A great example of this is when she bursts into the support group, where Carter has taken every opportunity to make her screen presence memorable. The character of Marla was complex and yet simple, which Carter brilliantly demonstrated in her performance. Despite the fact that Marla was out of touch with reality and quite self-destructive, she was the only relatively sane character in Fight Club. Thanks to Carter, Marla became the most important character in Fight Club, and not just a love interest for Tyler.
7. Hamlet (1990)
While there are many films adapted from Shakespeare's plays, 1990's Hamlet stands out among them. Although Hamlet received mixed reviews upon its release, Ophelia Carter's performance was particularly praised. Carter's incredible diction made her the perfect choice to play Ophelia, but she exceeded everyone's expectations for her. For example, her interaction with her co-star Mel Gibson, who portrayed the title character, was particularly strong.
The conflict between Ophelia, loyal to her family, and Hamlet allowed Carter to brilliantly demonstrate her acting range, even if their fate was not predestined. At 26, Carter gave one of the best scenes of her career in Hamlet. At one point, Ophelia watched Polonius (Ian Holm) die, and the scene proved just how strong of an actress Carter was through Ophelia's touching and heartbreaking reaction to her father's death.
6. Les Misérables (2012)
All of the Les Miserables actors performed iconic roles, but Carter was especially noted for her performance opposite co-star Sacha Baron Cohen. Carter and Cohen portrayed the Tenars, a pair of shameless rogues who caused chaos wherever they went. They brought some hilarious moments to the dark story of Les Miserables, like the Master of the House scene, and Carter's line "thinks he's a good lover, but there really isn't much there" was subtle but funny.
Carter particularly enjoyed Madame Thénardier's conniving nature and her disdain for others, which made her character even funnier. Les Misérables was Carter's first musical, and the role of Madame Thénardier gave her another opportunity to diversify her filmography. Although Carter was not a traditional singer, her character allowed her to add a comedic edge to her songs while still being on her toes and generally being very funny.
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011)
Bellatrix Lestrange became one of Carter's most iconic roles, starring in four Harry Potter films, the first of which was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. However, her latest appearance as Lestrange in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was her best for several reasons. When the Battle of Hogwarts began, Bellatrix was at her most insane: she had already killed Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and had also finally established herself as Voldemort's closest confidant (Rough Fiennes). Carter delivers a stunning portrayal of the crazed witch: dramatic with a comic edge—the perfect character for her.
However, Carter's most notable scene as Lestrange occurred during the Battle of Hogwarts. Trying to protect Hogwarts and her children, Molly Weasley (Julie Walters) challenged Bellatrix to a duel, which resulted in the legendary phrase: “Not my daughter, you bitch!” When Molly Weasley killed Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter, Carter really shined. Even though it was her last scene in the franchise, Carter bid Lestrange a perfect goodbye with her facial expression as she realized her fate and vanished into thin air in a tense, dramatic performance.
4. Howards End (1992)
Howards End was a huge success for Carter and won three Oscars in 1993, with Best Actress going to her co-star Emma Thompson, who played Margaret. Although Carter was not nominated for an Oscar for her role as Helen, she was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Howards End. Unfortunately, she lost out to Miranda Richardson for her role as Ingrid Fleming in Damages. However, this does not change the fact that Carter gave a stunning performance as the naive and emotional younger sister Margaret.
The drama was particularly praised for Carter and Thompson's authentic portrayals of the two siblings, and their bond was a major factor in the film's success. Like many of Carter's heroines, Helen was a complex person. Despite her innocence, she was also viciously smart, two character traits that Carter had previously demonstrated she could skillfully replicate. Carter took on the role of Helen Schlegel and her chaotic life, and it was a challenging role for the actress, but she nailed it.
3. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Although the two appeared on screen together on multiple occasions, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was the best of all the films starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. In another film directed by Tim Burton, Carter became Mrs. Lovett to Depp's Sweeney Todd, and the two quickly proved why they were so strong together. The chemistry between Depp and Carter was electric and intense at the same time, while maintaining the overall gothic and creepy tone of the film, especially in the scenes where Toby (Ed Sanders) sings to both of them.
Mrs. Lovett also became one of Carter's most recognizable roles. The character and actress adopted a similar aesthetic, dressing in poufy dresses and wearing dark makeup. Although Carter played eccentric and misguided characters, Mrs. Lovett was the craziest, as the crazy Sweeney Todd student loved to recycle corpses into filling for her pies. Considering how well Carter portrayed Mrs. Lovett, it makes sense that she would have such success in Burton's films.
2. The King's Speech (2010)
In the film The King's Speech, Carter played Queen Mother Elizabeth, and Colin Firth played the English King George VI. Critics and audiences praised her performance as Georg's devoted wife, and she received an Oscar nomination in 2011 for Best Supporting Actress. Unfortunately, she lost out to Melissa Leo as Alice Eklund-Ward in The Fighter, although The King's Speech won Best Picture and Firth won Best Actor. Given her excellent performance as Elizabeth, it makes sense that Carter would play Princess Margaret in Netflix's The Crown.
Carter and Firth's chemistry was particularly impressive throughout the film, as they both made their monarch characters feel more human. While many couldn't empathize with her situation, Carter's ability to captivate viewers as a hopeful and supportive spouse was very relatable. Carter's stellar performance made The King's Speech a staple in her filmography, and it came at just the right time, as at this point in her career she was faced with being typecast into Tim Burton-style gothic roles.
1. Wings of a Dove (1997)
Helena Bonham Carter's best role was her role as Kate Croy in the 1997 film The Wings of the Dove. Throughout the film, Kate is torn between her true love for journalist Merton Densher (Linus Roache) and her desire for wealth. A particularly strong factor in Kate's character was her ability to manipulate Millie (Alison Elliott), a terminally ill woman whom Kate used to achieve both of her dreams in one fell swoop. Her ability to play complex characters has always been strong, but Carter's portrayal of Kate proved just how versatile an actress she was.
In particular, Carter brilliantly showcased her character's flaws while still allowing the audience to root for Kate, which is what made her such an interesting character. For her role, Carter deservedly received critical acclaim for her work in The Wings of the Dove. She also received her first Oscar nomination for her role as Kate, but Helen Hunt as Carol Connelly in As Good as It Gets won Best Actress instead. Kate Croy proved that Helena Bonham Carter is a prominent name in the acting world, and her performance showed that The Wings of the Dove is her best film.
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