The Changing Roles Of Helena Bonham Carter

by Helen Earnshaw | 29 November 2012

Helena Bonham Carter in Great Expectations

Helena Bonham Carter is one of the most versatile and talented actresses that this country has ever produced.

Throughout her career she has moved effortlessly from period dramas to hard hitting roles from smaller movies to big blockbuster projects.

She is back on the big screen this week as she takes on the role of Miss Havisham in Mike Newell's take on Great Expectations.

To celebrate the release of the movie we take a look back over some of Helena Bonham Carter's greatest work.

- The Wings of the Dove

She took on the role of Kate Croy in Wings of the Dove back in 1997 and earnt herself her first Oscar nomination in the process.

Directed by Iain Softley the movie was an adaptation of the 1902 novel by Henry James of the same name.

Set in 1910 the movie follows Kate as she is forced to choose between a privileged life with her aunt and a her journalist love.

The Wings of the Dove is a compelling romantic drama from start to finish and Carter, as well as the rest of the cast, deliver a fine performance.

Carter had already made a name for herself at the beginning of her career but this movie and the Oscar nomination that followed really cemented her as an acting force.

Click here to buy The Wings of the Dove on DVD

- Harry Potter movies

Carter joined the Harry Potter franchise in 2007 when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released - taking on the role of Bellatrix Lestrange.

Harry Potter is the franchise that the actress had been involved in and she went on to star in three further movies.

She is wonderfully evil in the movie and it seems like it was a role that only Carter could play as she played it perfectly.

The movies were a box office smash - the final grossing excess of $1 billion at the global box office.

But Carter showed that she was just as home in the blockbuster as she was in smaller and more character driven movies.

Click here to buy Harry Potter Wizard's Collection Box Set

- The King's Speech

Carter had to wait over a decade for her second Oscar nomination but it finally came in 2011 for The King's Speech.

She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her turn Queen Elizabeth in Tom Hooper's fantastic biopic on how King George VI beat his stammer.

It was a funny and warm performance from Carter as she showed Elizabeth to be a rock for her husband who stood beside him as he struggled with his speech impediment.

Carter and Colin Firth made a fantastic husband and wife team and their relationship was as important to the movie as that between Firth and Geoffrey Rush.

Carter may have missed out on the Oscar but the movie was a triumph and went on to win Best Picture.

Click here to buy The King's Speech on DVD

- Sweeney Todd

Carter has not been afraid of tackling the rather odd and slightly off the wall role in her career and that is exactly what she did for musical Sweeney Todd.

The movie saw her take on the role of Mrs. Lovett alongside Johnny Depp while Tim Burton was in the director's chair.

Sweeney Todd also allowed the actress to show off her singing voice in what was a very assured performance throughout.

Carter and Depp made the perfect murdering team as this slightly quirky role suited both of them down to the ground.

Click here to buy Sweeney Todd on DVD

- Fight Club

It is hard to believe that it was back in 1999 that Fight Club hit the big screen as Carter teamed up with Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.

It remains one of the best movies of the nineties and has influenced a whole host of filmmakers over the years.

Carter took on the role of Marla Singer in the movie who, like Norton's character visit a string of support groups that they don't need.

It was a bold and totally captivating movie - not to mention brutal - and all of the performances really are top notch.

Other performances from Carter that are equally fantastic are Big Fish, Alice in Wonderland, and Howard's End.

Click here to buy Fight Club on DVD

And we are going to be seeing plenty of here in 2013 as she is set to star in Les Miserables and The Lone Ranger.