Helena Bonham Carter Gives Rare Insight on Romance With Ex Tim Burton

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Tim BurtondrewHelena Bonham Carter’s life in color. 

Helena Bonham Carter, known for her role in The Crown, offered a glimpse into her life with film director Tim Burton in the new documentary Tim Burton: Life in the Line. She discussed their personal relationship, which spanned from 2001 to 2014, and their collaborations in the film industry.

In the documentary, Helena remembered first encountering Tim Burton around 150 years ago, though she was likely exaggerating. She explained that her agent told her Tim Burton wanted to talk to her on the phone, and she casually replied, ‘Let him call!’

The 59-year-old actress recalled that Tim, then 67, considered her for a role in his 2001 film, Planet of the Apes. She remembered his opening line – delivered in a quiet, gentle voice – was, ‘I don’t want you to misunderstand, but you were the first person I thought of to play the main chimp in Planet of the Apes.’ He then told her he sensed she enjoyed transforming herself and stepping outside of her usual appearance, to which she readily agreed.

Helena, who has two children – 22-year-old Billy and 17-year-old Nell – with the director, said they quickly agreed on everything. Although she thought the movie script was quite poor, she couldn’t pass up the chance to collaborate with someone as creative as Tim.

Helena explained that although they began working together on a previous film, she and her colleague truly connected on a personal level a year later, while making the 2003 movie Big Fish. She described their experiences during that time as filled with meaningful coincidences.

The Oscar-nominated actress playfully said Tim Burton was responsible for her career, and that felt particularly real when she landed the role of Mrs. Lovett in the 2007 film Sweeney Todd, starring alongside Johnny Depp. The audition process was demanding – she had to sing the songs backward and in unusual ways – and required the approval of the musical’s writer, Stephen Sondheim. Both Helena and Tim were deeply moved when she officially got the part.

“Tim burst into tears,” Helena recounted. “Pretty much the only time when he has, actually.”

Helena explained that a neighbor came over to tell her some incredible news. They lived right next door to each other – practically sharing one house. He simply said, ‘Stephen Sondheim wants you,’ and then started crying. Helena admitted that pursuing this opportunity had put a lot of strain on their relationship, but she felt it was all worthwhile.

They continued to work together 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).

Through all of it, Helena recalled that Tim was always sketching something. 

She explained that he constantly draws, even during important moments. “He’s always sketching, even if he’s right here with me,” she said. “Like, I was having a baby, and he was still sketching. It feels like our whole lives have been documented through his drawings.”

“It was a real journey,” Helena said. “We looked at countless drawings before finally wrapping things up.”

Even though they’ve split up, the Harry Potter actress will always cherish the time she spent with Tim.

She chuckled, saying he’d provided wonderful characters, especially the children. More importantly, he’d allowed her the opportunity to develop characters in a way she hadn’t been able to before.

After being with Tim for 13 years, she knows his personality very well and is sensitive to his quirks.

Tim, he’s not someone who can stay still. He’s full of energy, and expressing it through his art – whether it’s a drawing, a film, or even a quick sketch – is what grounds him. There’s a vibrancy in his work that people connect with, and that’s all he’s looking for. He simply wants to keep creating, in any form, for as long as he can.

Want to see more celebrity exes who remained friends, like Helena and Tim? Keep scrolling to find out!

There’s absolutely no chance they’re getting back together. However, with all the recent interactions – birthday celebrations, affectionate hugs, and even playfully acting out a romantic scene in a virtual performance of Fast Times at Ridgemont High – it feels like they’re just teasing everyone who hoped they’d reconcile.

Sarah proved she’s incredibly confident – and maybe a little mischievous – when she appeared on her ex-husband Jimmy’s talk show. She was there to promote her new series, I Love You, America, and playfully teased Jimmy about his wife, Molly Kimmel, describing her as “cute,” “bright,” and “funny.” Joking about the difference between them, Sarah quipped, “It’s not fair! She gets the updated, more aware Jimmy. I just had the ‘Man Show’ version of him.”

 

Honestly, some observers seemed more affected by this breakup than the people directly involved. When Anna—who is now married to Michael Barrett—learned that Pratt was getting married to Katherine Schwarzenegger in 2019, she surprisingly offered to perform the ceremony. She even sent a gift when their daughter, Lyla, was born in August 2020. A source told TopMob News that Anna was “very supportive” and happy for her son, Jack, to have a little sister.

It easily could have fallen apart after their difficult breakup. But four years later, the HGTV stars are thriving – successfully co-parenting their children, Taylor and Brayden, and continuing to renovate and revitalize homes for others.

Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, parents to actress Zoe Kravitz, describe their relationship as a close, familial bond – what Lenny called “best friends” in a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Even after their divorce, and Lisa’s subsequent marriage to and split from Jason Momoa in 2020, they remain a supportive and happy family, proving that positive co-parenting is possible.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the story of the Dancing With the Stars co-host and their former hockey player partner since their split in 2020. It’s been really nice to see that, despite going their separate ways, they’ve consistently shown everyone they remain friendly and supportive of each other.

When Brooks announced he was getting engaged to Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir in December 2024, Julianne shared her excitement online. She posted on Instagram, wishing the couple a lifetime filled with love, happiness, and fun adventures as they begin their new life together.

Several months later, the dancer, her ex-husband, and his pregnant fiancée spent the day together at the lake. She shared a photo of the four of them with a caption calling them ‘three cuties’ and describing it as a special day.

After separating in 2015, the parents of Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel have successfully co-parented, consistently prioritizing their children. They’ve continued to share vacations and holidays, and have even publicly praised each other – Ben Affleck called his ex-wife “an amazing mother” in a 2016 interview with TopMob News.

Nina and Ian dated for three years before breaking up in 2013, but they stayed friends. The following year, Nina began dating Nikki Reed and they quickly got married. As a result, Nina became friends with Nikki, who is known for her role in the Twilight films.

The couple ended their five-year relationship in July 2016. The singer later shared on Howard Stern’s radio show in October that she remained very close to her ex, describing him as both a former lover and a long-time friend.

“We love each other,” she said. “That’s it.”

Even years after The Office ended in 2013, the chemistry between its stars remained obvious, and Mindy Kaling understands why fans still hope they’d get together. In a 2019 interview with Good Housekeeping, she explained that while choosing him to be a godparent to her children, she’d feel the same way if she were an outside observer. However, she clarified that their relationship has evolved beyond friendship – they’re now like family.

After their divorce was finalized in 2011, the former couple easily continued to raise their son, Bronx. The Fall Out Boy singer has praised his ex-wife, calling her a fantastic mother.

It sounds like she’s moved on from her past relationship with the musician from the Jonas Brothers. He’s stated they’re currently on good terms and remain friendly, describing their connection as a positive one.

Jennifer and her Dexter co-star first connected on the set of the show in 2006, and their relationship became romantic two years later. Even after their divorce in 2011, Jennifer has said they remained friendly and supportive of each other.

I’ve always admired Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and they continue to amaze me! They’re the ultimate example of exes who prioritize their kids and maintain a strong friendship. So it didn’t surprise me at all when they decided to quarantine together with their daughters – Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout – up in Idaho. Honestly, it sounds like they were having a blast, maybe even a dance party or two! It’s just wonderful to see how well they co-parent and support each other.

Even four years after their 2014 split, Jennifer Lopez continued to praise her ex-husband, Marc Anthony, the father of her twins, Max and Emme. In a 2018 interview on Sunday Today, she explained that Marc had been instrumental in building her confidence. He consistently affirmed her talent, telling her, ‘You’re a great singer. Don’t ever let anybody tell you you’re not.’ Lopez deeply respected him, considering him one of the greatest singers ever.

Despite facing personal challenges, the actress remains supportive of her ex-husband and former Scream colleague. Eight years after their 2010 divorce, she described it as a relatively amicable split during an appearance on Running Wild With Bear Grylls. They’ve successfully co-parented their daughter, Coco, and maintain a good relationship.

Although their relationship ended in 2007, they still had great chemistry on screen when they starred together in the 2011 film Bad Teacher.

Although the actors had a difficult time immediately after their 2013 separation, they’ve now reached a point where they can vacation together as a group. The actor shared with LaPalme Magazine that he gets along well with his ex-wife’s husband, describing him as a “great guy.” He spoke fondly of a 2017 trip to Cancun, which included his ex-wife, her husband Dave Abrams, his fiancée Lily Anne Harrison, and their three daughters, Luca, Lola, and Fiona. He also reflected on his relationship with his ex-wife, explaining to LaPalme that people enter your life for a reason and relationships evolve. He emphasized that even though they are no longer together, it’s still possible to care for someone.

Even though they unexpectedly separated in September 2012, the couple worked hard to appear supportive of each other for their children’s sake. In a 2014 interview with Howard Stern, she explained that she and Will remained close friends and were successfully co-parenting. She didn’t view their ten-year marriage as a failure, believing that all relationships face challenges.

The Grammy-winning singer and her ex-husband, who officially divorced in January 2024, have stayed friendly while raising their son, Hayes. They even live only five minutes apart, making it easy to share parenting responsibilities.

“Our stops are really easy,” Maren told The Zoe Report in May 2025, “and we’ll have family dinners.”

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2025-11-27 05:48