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Tim Burton depicted Helena Bonham Carter's life in color. The Crown alum shared a rare glimpse into her life with the film director in the new documentary series Tim Burton: Life in the Line, reflecting on their personal relationship, which lasted from 2001 to 2014, as well as their professional relationship in Hollywood.
"I met Tim a century and a half ago," Helena stated in the documentary. "My agent said, 'Tim Burton is interested in a phone call with you. And I said, "Tim Burton can call me, yeah."
The 59-year-old revealed that Tim, 67, was interested in casting her in the 2001 film Planet of the Apes. "His first words to me were—he has a very soft-spoken, gentle voice—'I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but you're the first person I thought of to play the lead chimp in my film Planet of the Apes.' He said, "I have a feeling you like to get away from what you look like." And I replied, 'You're absolutely correct.'"
Helena, who has two children with the filmmaker, Billy, 22, and Nell, 17, revealed that they "immediately saw eye to eye." And while she admits the script for the movie was "really, really bad," she couldn't say no to the opportunity to work with a "visionary" like Tim.
While that film was the beginning of their professional partnership, Helena explained the two “connected emotionally” a year later, when they started work on 2003’s Big Fish, saying, “We had a lot of sort of magical coincidence with what happened to us in our lives.”
In a candid reflection on her relationship with Tim Burton, Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter shared how deeply intertwined their lives and careers have been. She reminisced about her casting as Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" (2007) opposite Johnny Depp, a moment that was profoundly emotional for both her and Tim, as he famously cried upon receiving the approval from the musical’s creator, Stephen Sondheim. Helena explained how the casting process was intensive, requiring her to audition in unconventional ways, leading to a moment they both cherished.
Their artistic partnership flourished over the years, resulting in several films, including "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005), "Corpse Bride" (2005), "Alice in Wonderland" (2010), "Dark Shadows" (2012), and "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016). Helena noted that Tim had a unique way of experiencing life, often sketching even during significant moments, such as the birth of their children, emphasizing that they have documented their lives through countless drawings.
Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Helena expressed enduring gratitude for the creative opportunities Tim provided, allowing her to explore characters she hadn't previously been able to portray. Furthermore, she characterized Tim’s personality as restless and energetic, always seeking to channel his creativity into art, whether through films or simple sketches. Helena concluded that Tim's essence lies in his continuous desire to create and connect with people through his art, highlighting the significance of his symbols in their lives and his relentless pursuit of creativity.
