Skip To Content
BuzzFeed Homepage
Sign In
Search BuzzFeed

    Revisiting Tim Burton & Helena Bonham Carter's 7 Iconic Collaborations

    In the wake of the couple's split, let's look back on their amazing 12-year span of collaborations.

    Ira Madison III
    by Ira Madison III

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Warner Bros.

    Planet of the Apes (2001)

    20th Century Fox

    Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter first met on the set of Planet of the Apes and so began their 12 years of film collaborations between the inventive director and stunning actress. In the film, Helena portrays Ari, a chimpanzee empathic to the plight of star Mark Wahlberg and other captive humans.

    Big Fish (2003)

    Columbia Pictures

    In this adaptation of Daniel Wallace's Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, Helena portrays the rather normal character of Jenny Hill. But a Tim Burton film doesn't exist without crazy make-up and effects — she also pops up later in the film, portraying a Swamp Witch.

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

    Warner Bros.

    While not the focal point of this book adaptation and remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Helena appears in the supporting role of Charlie Bucket's mother. Aside from the "period" clothing, this is a relatively tame collaboration between the two.

    Corpse Bride (2005)

    Warner Bros.

    Helena voices Emily, the titular corpse bride, in this animated team-up with Tim and his favorite leading man — Johnny Depp. It was Helena's third voice-over role since first delving into the world of animation with Carnivale and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

    Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

    DreamWorks / Warner Bros.

    Helena got to put her singing voice to work in this adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's 1979 musical of the same name. She steals the show in a vibrant rendition of "By the Sea," painted with Tim's unconventional visual style.

    Alice in Wonderland (2010)

    Disney

    Helena gets her evil on in one of the couple's non-Warner Bros. collaborations (the other is Big Fish). She portrays the evil Queen of Hearts, nemesis to Mia Wasikowsk's Alice. Helena will return to this role in 2016's Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, only this time directed by James Bobin.

    Dark Shadows (2012)

    Warner Bros.

    In their final collaboration, Tim directed Helena in her role as Dr. Julia Hoffman, the Collins' family live-in psychiatrist. Dark Shadows is a film adaptation of the popular soap opera of the same name, which ran from 1966-1971.