Helena Bonham Carter is underrated. She’s associated with quirky roles in ex Tim Burton’s movies where she was the standout. I thought her performance as Elizabeth in The King’s Speech should have garnered far more attention. As we know, Helena will play Princess Margaret on the third season of The Crown. She was originally considered for Elizabeth II, but they ultimately felt she’d be a better fit for Margaret. Now that she is about to film the series, Helena is wondering if she’ll be able to convince the audience. While on The Graham Norton Show, she admitted she’s posh, but not posh enough to sound like Princess Margaret without practice.
Two-time Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter was confirmed to play Princess Margaret in The Crown last month, and she’s currently polishing up her accent for the role.
“I’m posh, but not that posh!” she joked when asked if the royal’s accent would come easy for her during an appearance on the Graham Norton Show today. She’s joined by Ocean’s 8 co-stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna and Sarah Paulson.
“I’ve got two weeks to prepare so I’ve got to find her character soon,” she says.“I’m not sure which I’m more terrified about—doing justice to the real Princess Margaret or following in the shoes of Vanessa Kirby’s Princess Margaret,” Bonham Carter said in a statement included in the announcement. “The only thing I can guarantee is that I’ll be shorter than Vanessa.”
I’m not too worried, she was posh enough to convince me she was the Queen Mum so I’m sure she’ll get there. Mimicking the voice of an actual person is probably daunting. The makeup and hair folks can do a lot, but it’s up to the actor to learn mannerisms and speech. But The Crown employs many people to help the actors learn accents, something the prior cast discussed as well.
As much as I love Helena, I understand her fears about filling Vanessa Kirby’s shoes. She was mesmerizing in that role. Apparently, Vanessa was as enamored of her role as we were. Vanessa admitted recently she was “in full grieving process,” over saying goodbye to playing Margaret. I’m delighted by the re-casting and yet I loved the prior cast. It is sweet that the former cast has shown enthusiasm for their replacements.
While Helena was on The Graham Norton Show with some of her Ocean’s 8 co-stars, Graham asked if they’d been to the Met Ball, which they all had save for Helena. After admitting this to most of the couch’s surprise, Rihanna torched Helena by quipping, “that’s because you wear dresses like that.” You can watch the clip here, the burn is so perfectly delivered and Helena loved it.
Photo credit: WENN Photos
I’m going to miss all of the actors from the first two seasons but I am stoked about HBC playing Margaret. They’re both their own kinds of crazy. God, I would watch the Crown if it was solely about Margaret. Princess Cray Cray.
Also you mean Elizabeth II not first.
No, Helena played Elizabeth, the current Queen Elizabeth’s mother in the King’s speech.
The Queen Mum wasn’t Elizabeth I because she wasn’t queen in her own right. Elizabeth I was Henry VIII’s daughter.
Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and reigned from 1558 to 1603. The Elizabeth you are thinking of was the Queen Consort of King George VI and Elizabeth II’s mother.
HBC has always been a favorite of mine. I think she’s a brilliant and underrated actress!
I’ve loved her ever since A Room With A View. One of my all time favorites.
Rihanna and HBC working and hanging together is something I never thought I’d ever see, and I’m loving it. As for The Crown, I’m sure she’s gonna kill it.
Rihanna needs to take Helena as her Plus One to next year’s Met Gala. What a grand entrance this pair could make!
She is going to kill it, I can not wait.
HBC has been looking really put together and great lately. I have always like her so I`m happy!
Love her. She’s so talented and so real.
And that diss was hysterical.
Love her. She’s talented and so real.
And that diss was hysterical.
Love her. She’s talented and so real.
And that diss was hysterical.
What would Kathy Burke say to that?
She actually IS that posh. If I recall, she has a courtesy title. At least her father has or had a title.
She’s been given the MBE. (While wearing plaid Westwood!)
Love her.
The great granddaughter of HH Asquith, and the granddaughter of Violet Asquith, isn’t that posh? Okaaaaayyyy.
I just love her. So sad she has not been getting the recognition she deserves.
I love her acting, her fashion style and her gorgeous hair. Def my girl crush!