Helena Bonham Carter CBE started her career at 16 years old with no prior training in acting. However, her filmography now includes some of the best films and TV shows of all time. More than that, her talent has been praised by critics, audiences, and the industry alike. With roles in the beloved Harry Potter movies and her frequent collaborations with Tim Burton, Carter has managed to establish her very own "dark aesthetic"-loving fandom. More than easily immersing herself in any kind of character, Carter is primarily known for acting in and elevating period pieces. Indeed, she is one of the best English actresses of the 21st Century.
Most recently, audiences saw Carter in the ten-episode British sitcom The Cleaner on BBC One, which earned mixed reviews from The Guardian. As for movies, the actress gained recognition for playing Millie Bobby Brown's mother in Netflix's Enola Holmes, and is, in fact, expected to return for Enola Holmes 2, footage for which was released recently by the streaming platform. Undoubtedly, Carter has left an imprint on all generations with her spectacular roles. Here are 10 of Helena Bonham Carter's best performances, ranked.
10 Hamlet
Also referred to as the queen of playing periodic roles, Helena Bonham Carter shined as Ophelia in the 1990 film Hamlet, based on the most extended Shakespearean play. The Franco Zeffirelli film largely followed the original play and plot, with lesser characters to fit the average of a feature film. Hamlet received mixed reviews from the audience and the critics. However, Carter's performance as Ophelia stood out, with the actress carefully adapting her characteristics. The then 26-year-old actress embodied a young and innocent girl who likes to obey her father and brother. Moreover, Carter's lunacy as Ophelia while his father dies is outstanding.
9 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was released in 2005 by Warner Bros. Pictures. The excellent remake of the novel introduces us to the world of chocolate and Charlie's world. Helena Bonham Carter plays Mrs. Bucket, Charlie's Mom, and portrays a motherly figure, exactly how the audience thought she would. The delightful musical film did exceptionally well at the box office — and like us, you might have watched it over and over again.
8 Howards End
Helena Bonham Carter plays Helen Schlegel in the period romantic drama film Howards End. The Oscar-winning James Ivory film is a visual charm and embodies literature, romance, passion, and emotions until the very end. Emma Thompson, who plays Helen's sister Margaret in the film, matches Carter's energy to give meaning to the plot. Helen's vulnerable yet scandalous life in the drama feature earned a BAFTA nomination. Hence, Howards End truly deserves to be on the list of Carter's best performances.
7 Ocean's 8
The women-led heist-comedy film Ocean's 8 follows Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) and her gathered team of women experts who help her steal a necklace worth $150 million. With a star-studded cast including Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Sarah Paulson, Cate Blanchett, and more, the film is helmed by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games). Helena Bonham Carter plays a bankrupt and disgraced fashion designer, whom Debbie scouts for stealing the crown jewels from the Met Gala Event. Carter comes off as a bygone designer who knows exactly how to fit in a role. Since Carter is an outstanding actress, she does a fantastic job playing the ditzy designer. Moreover, we see her rocking some of the boldest looks in the movie, which enhances her beauty on the screen.
6 Fight Club
A cult-classic film from David Fincher, Fight Club explores the lives of two exceptionally mundane but interesting men: Tyler (Brad Pitt) and Jack (Edward Norton). The two later form an underground club with strict rules, and fight other men who are fed up with their lives. Helena Bonham Carter plays Marla Singer, a fellow support group crasher who creates a conflict between the two co-founders of the Fight Club. As Marla, Carter showcases the dark side of her character with an eccentric hairstyle and all-black attire. While the two male leads entertain the audience, Carter's Marla captivates them with her undeniable charm.
5 Corpse Bride
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Besides flawlessly showing her acting skills on-screen, Helena Bonham Carter has also given voice to multiple animated characters. In Corpse Bride, Carter plays Emily, the titular corpse bride. The fantasy film follows Victor (Johnny Depp) who gets cold feet before getting married to his fiancée, Victoria (Emily Watson). One day, when Victor goes to a forest to recite his vows, a branch transforms into a hand and takes him to the land of the dead. The hand belongs to Emily, who was unfortunately murdered after eloping with her love. Now, she wants to marry Victor, and soon begins the quest for the groom to leave the dead land and reconcile with his one-and-only fiancée.
4 Les Misérables
The 2012 musical film Les Misérables casts Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier. The film single-handedly is driven by the performance of Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. However, Carter brings a comical element to entertain the audience amidst the masculinity and earnest performances. Furthermore, the hilarious chemistry between Sacha Baron Cohen and Carter deserves applause.
3 Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
With the release of Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, fans were introduced to the primary antagonist of the franchise, Bellatrix Lestrange, excellently played by Helena Bonham Carter. Lestrange is an ardent follower of Lord Voldemort and a notorious killer. Even though Bellatrix did not have many lines, she slayed with her sneer and laugh, illustrating that Carter was the best choice to play the evil character. Carter went on to play the role in the last three Harry Potter movies: The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows Part 1, and The Deathly Hallows Part 2.
2 The King's Speech
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The super hit and brilliant 2010 film The King's Speech follows England's Prince Albert (Colin Firth), who, after his brother's abdication, becomes King George VI of England. However, his speech impediment poses a problem during public events. To help her husband, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) hires Australian actor and speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). While the pair work together in preparation of what would become King George's iconic speech, a friendship develops between them. This friendship would, in fact, last a lifetime. Carter's performance received immense love from the audience and the critics: in 2011, she received a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
1 The Crown
When we say Carter is the queen of period cinema, we don't lie. But, with her role in The Crown, Carter transformed into Princess Margaret for seasons 3 and 4 of Netflix's hit series. She portrayed her faux royal self exceptionally well, earning multiple award nominations, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Among a list of Carter's popular roles, Princess Margaret is undoubtedly one of the most renowned, especially with the younger audience.