The upcoming movie One Life has rounded out its cast with Helena Bonham Carter. Per Deadline, the movie will also star Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn, whose casting had been previously revealed. A drama set during the Holocaust, the film is inspired by the true story of Nicholas Winton, a London stockbroker who devised an elaborate plan to rescue hundreds of children in Czechoslovakia from invading Nazis. The title comes from the Jewish Talmud, "Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."
Carter will reportedly be playing the role of Winton's mother, Babi. As Flynn will be playing the younger version of Winton, he's who will be sharing the screen with Carter. The cast will also include Jonathan Pryce, Romola Garai, and Alex Sharp as "key operatives involved in the relocation of the children," as well as Lena Olin as Winton's wife, Grete Winton.
One Life is based on the book If It's Not Impossible... The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton, which was written by Winton's daughter, Barbara Winton. The feature film version was scripted by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake. Producing the film are Joanna Laurie, Iain Canning, and Emile Sherman for See-Saw Films alongside Guy Heeley.
A veteran of the screen who's won, Oscars, Emmys, and a slew of other awards, Carter can be recognized from any number of roles she has taken on over the years. Some of her most celebrated roles include Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter series, Kate Croy in The Wings of the Dove, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in The King's Speech. More recently, she appeared as Eudoria Holmes in the hit Netflix movie Enola Holmes and will reprise that role for the upcoming sequel Enola Holmes 2. Carter also recently appeared in the hit show The Crown as Princess Margaret.
Nicholas Winton Went Viral In Recent Years
The story of Nicholas Winton has gone viral in more recent years, thanks to YouTube and social media floating around a clip of the rescuer appearing on the BBC program That's Life in 1988. At that time, Winton was invited onto the show with no clue that he was surrounded by people he'd saved as children during the Holocaust. He was surprised to discover that when the host asked if there was anyone in the audience who "owed their life to Nicholas Winton," and, if so, "could you stand up please?"
In the clip, which you can watch above, Winton is floored when he sees every single person behind him taking to their feet as he realizes what's happening. He gets very emotional, seeing first-hand how much of a difference he made with his heroic actions. Perhaps it's due time for his story to be told on the big screen.
One Life does not yet have a release date.