“People have lots of misconceptions about me. My mum, who is half French and half Spanish, gets outraged when I'm called quintessentially English. I owe my looks to my mum-which was 90 percent of getting my first job. And, some people would argue, 90 percent of my entire career.”

British actress

Helena Bonham Carter is a British actress known for character roles in film, especially eccentric women in period dramas, blockbusters, and independent productions. Born in 1966, she came to prominence with A Room with a View in 1985 and Lady Jane in 1986. She was long cast as a virginal “English rose,” a label she disliked, and later became known for more unconventional parts, a gothic style, and frequent collaborations with filmmaker Tim Burton. Her work includes a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Wings of the Dove in 1997, and a BAFTA win for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The King's Speech in 2010, along with an Academy Award nomination for the same role.