Helena Bonham Carter, known as much for her roles in blockbuster costume dramas as for her unconventional dresses, advises her fans to wear what they feel comfortable with. Knowing that people say nasty things about her attire, she goes on to advise, “… but you just have to dress for yourself and nobody else”. In her interviews, she has spoken candidly about herself, admitting that she suffered from inferiority complex when she was younger and that she was frustrated as she kept on being offered “these exceeding demure and repressed roles”. However, all that is past and she now asks, “Why put your self esteem in the hands of complete strangers?” Here are some of her self-revealing quotes.
When it comes to acting, people talk about the suspension of disbelief that you ask of the audience. Before that starts, you have to, as an actor, suspend your own disbelief.
On corsets: I said, You have got to be kidding. I am an ape and yet I am still expected to squeeze myself into one of those damn things.
Helena Bonham Carter
I was reading William Shawcross's biography of the Queen Mother, dressed in my witch outfit! And you know what? It was a really good mix; it was a therapeutic mix.
Helena Bonham Carter
I've never had white teeth. To be honest, I've never been told to do any of those horrible things - get your teeth whitened or your nose straightened.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm a very good sleeper.
Helena Bonham Carter
To understand how you live, to live. Do not think about it and live with it.
Helena Bonham Carter
I love movies where people see the world from a different angle.
Helena Bonham Carter
I loved doing all those costume dramas. I didn't think, 'Ooh I've got to avoid being typecast' - you can't ever be dictated to by what other people think. I just do things because I fancy the parts and the directors.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm not dead and I don't have blue hair but some people say there are similarities. It is usually intolerable to watch myself onscreen but this time it's fine. I think it's beautiful and a real work of art.
When you're up for an Oscar, you just get offered everything. It's fantastic, but a lot of it you're completely inappropriate for.
Helena Bonham Carter
That's the thing with animated films - I often feel that puppets get the better parts compared to us normal actresses.
Helena Bonham Carter
If you're a queen, you're powerless, so I'd probably demote myself and go shopping.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm convinced that whatever state you're in during your pregnancy has a huge influence on the baby's personality - so I hope we haven't produced a little serial killer!
I'm often criticised for what I wear. That's my main label in the press now: disastrous dresser!
Helena Bonham Carter
I actually pointed my wand and it blew up! The power! The power was just like Angry Birds, but big [as] life.
Helena Bonham Carter
I drink a lot of Diet Coke and belch. I've been known to use the ''f'' word.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm always attracted to lower budget, not because it's lower budget, but because they tend to be better scripts.
Helena Bonham Carter
I think Woody Allen is pretty much of a genius. I'm thinking of filmmakers every century or two, but I've never had the luck to meet them. People who create their absolutely own world and are totally inimitable.
Helena Bonham Carter
Am I a good example? Well, at least I'm not too thin. I eat.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm the kind of actor who has ventured into escaping from me.
Helena Bonham Carter
Multitasking? I can't even do two things at once. I can't even do one thing at once.
Helena Bonham Carter
Everyone seems to think I'm very ladylike. That I'm very cultured and intelligent. I drink alot of Diet Coke and belch. I've been known to use the F-word. I've told a few dirty jokes. I arm-wrestle.
Helena Bonham Carter
I do think imperfection's underrated.
Helena Bonham Carter
I’ve aged, but I don’t think I’ve grown up.
Helena Bonham Carter
It's different when you're an actor and playing a part, but when it's just you, you feel immensely vulnerable have strangers prodding and prying.
Helena Bonham Carter
I don't think kids have a problem with death. It's us older ones who are nearer to it, that start being frightened.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm drawn to emotionally damaged characters because there is more to unlock.
Wear what you feel comfortable with. People say nasty things about what I wear in the street. I'm always in worst dressed lists, but you just have to dress for yourself and nobody else.
Helena Bonham Carter
I always feel better after a good scream.
Helena Bonham Carter
His mouth is a no-go area. It's like kissing the Berlin Wall.
Helena Bonham Carter
Be yourself. No one else can.
Helena Bonham Carter
I just want to give you this one piece of advice: if you're standing and you could be sitting, sit. If you're sitting and you could be lying down, lie down.
Helena Bonham Carter
Imperfection is underrated. Perfection is overrated.
Helena Bonham Carter
You just have to do what suits you, and it doesn't matter if you don't look like everybody else. Be you. That's our gift and we've got to celebrate that.
Helena Bonham Carter
Who wants to be normal when you can be unique?
Helena Bonham Carter
Why do you put your self esteem in the hands of complete strangers?
Helena Bonham Carter
I don't think any actor wants their children to follow them into the profession.
As everyone, you do end up becoming your mother, but also as you're acting, I find out you become every member of your family, bits come out without you really wanting them to come out.
My father fell really chronically ill when I was 13 and that's when I phoned up an agent and started to act.
Helena Bonham Carter
Mothers are the heart of any household. I try to spend as much time with my children as I possibly can while also fulfilling my professional duties. It is tricky, but I think I manage it.
My mom being a psychotherapist, I've been brought up with that whole psychoanalytical terrain.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm always attracted to lower budget, not because it's lower budget, but because they tend to be better scripts.
Helena Bonham Carter
Well, at least I'm not too thin. I eat.
Helena Bonham Carter
I just do things because I fancy the parts and the directors.
Helena Bonham Carter
I'm a very good sleeper.
Helena Bonham Carter
I was a mixture of being incredibly old for my age and incredibly backwards. I was born quite old, but then I stopped growing. I lived with my mum and dad till I was 30.
Helena Bonham Carter
I was weird right from the start. It's just that you can't ever expect people to get you. And I do think that really did mess with my head, being well-known young, when you really don't know who you are.
She looks like a warrior. I mean, Bellatrix does mean warrior. And she's also a bit of a fatale. She's the right hand of Voldemort, and the only woman death eater.
Helena Bonham Carter
I've never had white teeth. To be honest, I've never been told to do any of those horrible things - get your teeth whitened or your nose straightened.
I just went and got an agent because I thought I can create my own world - you can't right your own life, but you can escape to a world where you can have control.
With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town.
Helena Bonham Carter
It took me so many years to move out. I'm definitely a bit of a Peter Pan, reluctant to grow up. It all seemed really nice at home-why change it? Part of me would prefer not to have any responsibility whatsoever.
No matter how many modern parts I do, people still refer to me as Mrs. Costume Drama. Fight Club is a studio pic, and I've done very few of those. I've got a feeling it's going to change things for me.
The problems come when your personal life and relationships come under scrutiny in the press and often very uncomplimentary things are printed about you.
It was a challenge to be able to create a character without being able to use one's normal set of expressions. All the rubber and makeup attached to your face left you with only a modest range of facial movements.
Tim also has enough confidence so that it always looks like a Tim Burton film, but it really is collaborative. You're allowed to do it your way but of course he's always going to choose his way.
I was reading William Shawcross's biography of the Queen Mother, dressed in my witch outfit! And you know what? It was a really good mix; it was a therapeutic mix.
Not only was it nearly impossible to hear because of these huge rubber ears we had to wear, but we also had these huge furry hands which were absolutely useless, especially if you had to scratch yourself.
I drink booze, I smoke, and I'm hooked on caffeine. I actually have been known to swear at times and belch and even raise my voice when provoked. And I'm not physically repressed!
Helena Bonham Carter
I don't think I dress eccentrically. I'm just not conservative, I guess - I dress according to what like. And I'm not a mannequin, as you can tell.
It didn't matter what you look like. You don't have to get up at 5:30 in the morning and there's a lot to be said for that. Corpse Bride can just play all my parts from now on and I'll just do the voice.
