Helena Bonham Carter Bio, Personal life and Relationships, Career, Net Worth

Born on 26 February 1926 in London, British actress Helena Bonham Carter is known for bringing a sultry, gothic style to a variety of performances, from historical dramas to contemporary fantasies. She was considered an enviable cougar after her breaking up with Tim Burton, but now her heart belongs to a much younger partner. 

Early Life

During her formative years, Bonham Carter lived in London. Raymond Asquith, her father, was a merchant banker who became partially paraplegic after surgery to remove a brain tumor; his mother, Elena, was a psychotherapist. Her grandfather, H.H. Asquith, was prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916.

She attended South Hampstead High School and then Westminster School for her Advanced Placement courses. However, she was not accepted to study at Cambridge’s “King’s College” because they worried she would drop out to pursue an acting career.

Helena decided to become an actress when she was 13 years old, and by the time she was 16, she had secured a job in a television commercial. At the time, she was cast as Juliet in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This role indicative of Bonham Carter’s subsequent career, built on period pieces and adaptations of classic authors like Shakespeare, E.M. Forster, and Henry James.

This led to an incredible acting career, but she continued to experience ups and downs in her personal life as he dated a few guys. Most interestingly, she is currently dating a guy much younger than her and is among those celebrities who inspire people to try dating sites to meet cougars and never worry about their age to find love. She is in her 50s and believes this is her best decade yet.

Professional Career

Helena Bonham Carter has been stealing the show for the better part of three decades now, appearing in a succession of renowned films such as the Harry Potter trilogy, Sweeney Todd, Fight Club, and The King’s Speech, among others.

A fateful turn in her career came when she portrayed the scheming “Kate Croy” in the 1997 film “The Wings of the Dove,” which was based on a novel by Henry James of the same name. She received several awards and nominations for her performance.

Similarly, she was phenomenal in the 2007 musical horror picture “Sweeney Todd” directed by Tim Burton. As Mrs. Nellie Lovett, she was praised for her portrayal. For her roles in “The Wings of the Dove” and “The King’s Speech,” she received two “Oscar” nominations. There have been several “Golden Globe” nominations for her as well.

After receiving praise for her roles in Conversations with Other Women and Sweeney Todd; she awarded the Evening Standard British Film Award in 2008. In 2011, she received the “BAFTA” for her supporting performance in the “King’s Speech.”

The actress also had a major role in Ocean’s Eight (2018). Helena fits the stereotype of an unconventional woman. She and the rest of the cast members, including renowned celebrities Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock; execute a different take on the story that audiences have seen before.

Relationships

Indeed, Bonham Carter’s time in the limelight has not been easy. Her life includes divorces and public affairs, especially from her marriages to filmmakers Kenneth Branagh and Tim Burton; whom she met and divorced when they were both very prominent figures.

Kenneth Branagh, famed for his appearances in Murder on the Orient Express, Hamlet, and Frankenstein; married to fellow British actress Emma Thompson from 1989 until 1995. In spite of being married to Thompson, it has been reported that Branagh initiated an affair with Bonham Carter during their time working together on Frankenstein.

Branagh and Bonham Carter confirmed their romance a full year after his separation; even though photos of the two publicly kissing had surfaced the year before. The relations finally ended in 1999.

In 2001, she met Tim Burton while working on the Planet of the Apes remake. They started dating and welcomed a son and a daughter during their decade-long relationship. Bonham Carter saw a renaissance of sorts following her second breakup. Both a fresh romantic connection and a once-in-a-lifetime professional opportunity played significant roles.

Bonham Carter has been dating Norwegian art historian, author, and psychoanalyst Rye Dag Holmboe, 32, since 2018. Interestingly, she is perfectly fine with this age-gap relationship, which was once demonized, but has now become commonplace, thanks to social media and cougar dating sites. She believes each individual ages at a unique pace, and the level of maturity matters. Nevertheless, there is strength in age, and a wise woman may wield great influence.

Net Worth

According to most sources, her net worth is estimated to be $40 million.