Quotes from Helena Bonham Carter

I would pretend to be the French lieutenant's woman. I was always a romantic. I still am, actually.

But it's often been the case, I've done so many countless small, independent films that really 3.2 people have seen, so you never know. You do it for the joy of the part and not necessarily expect anyone to see the final product.

I don't think any actor wants their children to follow them into the profession.

There is no normality in life. Having two houses means that we can get out of each other's hair - which, let's face it, we've both got a lot of.

There is no normality in life.

I'm always attracted to lower budget, not because it's lower budget, but because they tend to be better scripts.

I'm always attracted to lower budget, not because it's lower budget, but because they tend to be better scripts. It's the scripts that tend to be the small arthouse film that tend to be more actor-led and character driven.

My mom being a psychotherapist, I've been brought up with that whole psychoanalytical terrain.

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.

I should get a few ribs taken out, because I'll be in a corset for the rest of my life.

The problems come when your personal life and relationships come under scrutiny in the press and often very uncomplimentary things are printed about you.

That's the thing with animated films - I often feel that puppets get the better parts compared to us normal actresses.

I actually pointed my wand and it blew up! The power! The power was just like Angry Birds, but big [as] life.

Fairytales have always got to have that scary quality, as long as you make them laugh.

It's easy for me to go back to being a kid. You know how kids can be like savages before they get civilized? There's that sadist quality. Y'know, like boys who like to pick apart an insect for the sake of it.

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.

Journalists are always calling my features Edwardian or Victorian, whatever that means. I am small, and people were smaller in those times. I'm pale and sickly-looking. I look fragile-like a doll. But sometimes I just wish I had less of a particular look, one that was more versatile.

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.

It was weird because I was pregnant, throughout that so it was weird being a pregnant witch. I was in a really bad mood but luckily, because I sleep with the director, he just sort of scheduled me so I only had to do it two nights.

People say, 'You're still breast-feeding, that's so generous.' Generous, no! It gives me boobs and it takes my thighs away! It's sort of like natural liposuction. I'd carry on breast-feeding for the rest of my life if I could.

Well, at least I'm not too thin. I eat.

Very early on, you figure out that you put your self-esteem in the hands of strangers. There's a different commodity. There's the Helena Bonham Carter that everyone thinks they know, who really has nothing to do with me. But you just have to let that go.

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.

I think I've still got a bit of a sado-masochistic streak in me, because if I'm not going to be restricted by corsets and covered in lace, then I still wind up wearing an ape-mask over my face. I do wonder how I get myself in these situations!