Helena Bonham Carter was born on May 26, 1966, in Golders Green, London, England. Her father, Raymond Bonham Carter, was a merchant banker, and her mother, Elena (née Propper de Callejón), is a psychotherapist. She has two brothers, Edward and Thomas. Her paternal grandfather was Sir Maurice Bonham Carter, a prominent Liberal politician, and her maternal grandmother, Baroness Hélène Fould-Springer, came from an aristocratic Jewish family.
Bonham Carter began her acting career in television commercials and made her film debut in 1985 with Lady Jane. Initially known for period dramas, she broadened her range to include contemporary and often eccentric roles. She has worked with numerous acclaimed directors, including Tim Burton, David Fincher, and Kenneth Branagh.
Bonham Carter has appeared in a wide array of films and television series spanning multiple genres. Some of her most popular and critically acclaimed roles include: