Monday, March 30, 2009

Bonham Carter Wins Award, Burton Discusses "Alice"



The 2009 Jameson Empire Awards show was hosted this past Sunday in London's Grosvenor House. Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter attended.

Their film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was nominated for five awards: Best Horror, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Soundtrack. The musical-thriller didn't take most of its potential awards home (including Johnny Depp's nomination for Best Actor), except for Helena Bonham Carter, who was honored for her portrayal as Mrs. Lovett.


Here is Bonham Carter's acceptance speech (watch the video of her speech in this link):

"Thanks so much. This is a real compliment, I'm very chuffed. I did work actually incredibly hard for that role, but I loved every bit of it, and it was so many dreams come true. Because I always wanted to be in a musical, to sing, to be in something written by Steven Sondheim - he's a genius - and I always wanted a baby girl. I actually got all that, thanks to Tim Burton. And I know he always wanted to be Best Actress, so this is as much his as mine. Thank you!"



At the show, the actress mentioned how she would love to do more musicals in the future: "I'd love to do it but no-one's asked, I would be really up for it though."

She also talked about the singing abilities of her co-star, Johnny Depp, versus her own skills: "To be absolutely honest, people are born to sing, I wasn't born to sing but I could just do it and I only did it after about six months of training. If I'd known I was going to play that part I should have started training years ago, it's a muscle that needs to be exercised."

She added: "I would love to do more, given the chance, and I loved every second of doing it."

And she continued to say how thankful she has been to be a part of Tim Burton's world. "I feel really lucky to still feature in Tim's imagination. I know I've borne his illegitimate children and we're very happily together but it's really fantastic that I still seem to occur in his imagination," she said.

Helena Bonham Carter will be playing the role of the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland.



Michael Sheen and Helena Bonham Carter


While on the subject, Burton talked a bit about Alice in Wonderland:

"Way down the rabbit hole" was Burton's status report. "There's a long way to go."

Empire asked Burton how much CGI would be involved in the film: "I'm not quite sure yet - doing a big budget movie is an organic process and gives the opportunity to experiment. It’s something that was presented to me and I’d never seen really a movie version of [the story] that I like, so I thought I’d just give it a shot."



The director also gave his feelings about working with 3D: "I like the 3-D aspect of it, I think it fits the material very well, and it doesn’t give me a headache like it used to."

"I think it’s good for anything. There are other uses than having spears stuck into your face - I think there are more visceral, emotional uses, especially if you use lots of textures."


Michael Sheen, who will be in Alice in Wonderland, also attended the awards show. The British actor presented Helena Bonham Carter her award.



You can see more photos from the celebration in this link:



Michael Sheen with Gerard Butler


Tim Burton with fellow director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93)



Photo credits: Gareth Gay, Jeff Spicer / Alpha

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tim Burton should totally do a movie-musical version of Urinetown that way, Helena Bonham Carter would play Mrs. Pennywise! Helena said she would love another singing role, and Mrs. Pennywise would be perfect! Also, I can see Johnny Depp as Officer Lockstock and Alan Rickman as Mr. Cladwell.

Any thoughts or comments to this idea?

Anonymous said...

That photo of Tim with Paul Greengrass is awesome! I always love seeing directors hang out like that, especially these two when they're styles of filmmaking are polar opposite

Anonymous said...

I LOVE URINETOWN AND YES< HELENA AND TIM BURTON WOULD BE PERFECT TO DO THAT MUSICAL!!!

-Matty

Anonymous said...

Helena would be a GREAT Miss Pennywise, but I am not sure about Alan Rickman as Mr. Cladwell (Although Mr. Rickman is AMAZING!) I think we should americanize Mr. Cladwell and give the role to Jon Lovitz!

But to get back on track, congrats to Helena for winning her Empire award! :D

Anonymous said...

Well done Helena!!!

OMG TIM IS MAKING ME ANXIOUS FOR ALICE!!!

and I AM LIKE THE 4TH PERSON WHO ALSO LIKES URINETOWN!!! I MADE MY DREAM CAST WITH A FEW CHANGES!!!

Officer Lockstock: Johnny Depp

Officer Barrel: Steve Carrel

Little Sally: That little girl that was Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Bobby Strong: Zach Efron (I am going straight to Hell for saying that! LOL)

Hope Cladwell: Anna Popplewell

Pennywise: Helena Bonham Carter

Caldwell B. Cladwell: Jim Broadbent

Senator Fipp: Timothy Spall

Mr. McQueen: Rainn Wilson

Hot Blades Harry: Jack Black

Little Becky Two-shoes: Scarlett Johanson

Joseph "Old Man" Strong: Robin Williams

Josiphine "Old Ma" Strong: Doris Roberts

Anonymous said...

Uuuuummm... what is Urinetown?

Anonymous said...

^All you need to know is right here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinetown

-Matty

P.S. You just said the name of a song of the show!!!

P.P.S. IF YOU EVER SEE THIS MESSAGE, MR. BURTON (I seriously doubt it) DO URINETOWN, THERE ARE FOUR FANS OF THE SHOW THAT ARE ALSO FANS OF YOUR WORK! IT IS UP YOUR ALLY, PLEASE DO IT!!!

Anonymous said...

You all are a bunch of dorks haha get a life. any way helena is my idol and i want to be just like her plus i luv sweeney todd like i am a tom boy but after the movie i luv dresses and i so wanting to be nelie lovett and zach efron come onyou will go to hell any other coments?

Anonymous said...

you all are dorks i mean come on who are you people! any way helena rocks my socks! she is my idol plus i luv sweeney todd it rocks i used to be a tom boy but after the movie i luv dark dresses but i am gothic any way but i so want to be mrs lovett i envy helena she is pretty and doese not look her age
and if you never have seen sweeney todd well ...... just what is rong in youre tiney little mind!

Unknown said...

Hi, im one of the photographers who created these images, thank you for your comments, its nice to hear feed back, Gareth Gay.

Unknown said...

Thank you for the feed back, it was a hard but rewarding days shooting. Garth Gay.

Unknown said...

OMG! I SOOOOOOOO WANTED TIM TO DO URINETOWN WITH DEPP AND CARTER! (as lockstock and Pennywise, of course!)

Anonymous said...

OMG! I SOOOOOOOO WANTED TIM TO DO URINETOWN WITH DEPP AND CARTER! (as lockstock and Pennywise, of course!)

Anonymous said...

OMG! I SOOOOOOOO WANTED TIM TO DO URINETOWN WITH DEPP AND CARTER! (as lockstock and Pennywise, of course!)

Unknown said...

OMG! I SOOOOOOOO WANTED TIM TO DO URINETOWN WITH DEPP AND CARTER! (as lockstock and Pennywise, of course!)