[Nick-Ko-Las Enigma]

From an article on Helena Bonham Carter in the Sunday Times: ‘. . . Her hair is in character today, but you couldn't really tell. She also has the filthiest fingernails you've seen since primary school. Like the hairdo, they are the result of playing Mrs Lovett – maker of mud pies, and much worse – against Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd in Burton's movie, which is shooting in London.

. . .It must be tough to stop being a couple on set, I say. She rolls her eyes. “The problem is that we don't stop. Tim sighs loudly. I say, ‘What? What? What am I doing wrong?' Johnny looks away diplomatically, or starts dusting his razor overattentively. We're both banned from discussing the film at home. It's number one on the list of commandments I've written down.”

“. . . . Tim is unbelievably disciplined about employing me only if I am absolutely right. For Sweeney Todd, it was like I had to be more right than anyone else; it was ‘in spite of', instead of ‘because of', being his girlfriend. I know a lot of actresses will say it's because I was sleeping with him, but it's not true. I had to audition for Stephen Sondheim, for God's sake! When it's all over, I'll tell the whole saga of how I got the part. It was like being in How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? – so painful and so acute that Tim said, ‘We cannot watch this programme. We are actually living it, and it is hideous.' ”

. . . “This film has made me see that I am just a cog,” she says. “Actors can get egotistical and want to use whatever prop. I'm just as bad. ‘Ooh, Tim,' I'll say, ‘what about this?' But if it doesn't help the story, forget it. I have been disobedient in the past, but I have understood that if you don't hit your mark, you won't get the light or you'll be blocked.”

Sweeney Todd, his first musical, has been a high-pressure adventure for Burton, spiced with the drama of the production being halted during the illness of Depp's daughter, now thankfully recovered. For its leading lady, the breakthrough has been learning to sing. “One audition, I sung for four hours, and Tim said, ‘No, no, that's enough. Will you stop?' I've had nine months of singing daily. Now I've got this skill, this instrument, and it makes me feel finally like a proper actor. I feel more self-respect.”

. . .Recently, A Room with a View was on television when the Burton-Bonham Carters were at home, and she cringed while he laughed. Isn't he charmed by the vision of Edwardian femininity? She splutters. “He's not charmed at all! He just talks about my hyperactive eyebrows. For Mrs Lovett, he says, ‘Don't move your caterpillars; don't move your hands.' He takes the piss out of me most of the time.” . . .'



29th April, 2007

full article:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1711485.ece

[what_the_heck013]

Okay, first, I'm glad that there are so many mentions of auditions. Second, this is Tim Burton's FIRST musical...? Oh uh uh. Has this journalist been living under a rock? This is Mr. Burton's third musical. Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and now Sweeney...

which brings me to my third point. I sincerely doubt that Burton cut all the songs mentioned in the other post because he wants to have songs be interior monologues in order to justify the fact that the characters are singing... BECAUSE he has used the musical medium in two of his previous films. Obviously, he sees the power of a song in its use in a musical... that it can convey thoughts, and ideas, and character, and emotion, and push the plot along, etc.

[Dvarg]

[what_the_heck013]

Yeah, true. But he produced and (I think) wrote it.

[actionjaxson91]

Nevertheless, I think Helena will make a good Mrs. Lovett if she has the dry wit and the humor of Patti LuPone. Is she a good singer?

[Salome]

please..Helana is 100 times superior to LuPone as an Actress....their styles are nothing alike which is why Hwlena will make a good Lovett.

[actionjaxson91]

[Salome]

you are sriously deluded. Helena has played everything from a young vixcctorian woman bursting out,to a drug addicted down on her luck whorew to an old crone.

Patti only wishes she can have Helena's range.

[actionjaxson91]

[Salome]

ask anyone here...i have quite a bit of knowledge about the talewnt of broadway performers. as i said before ive seen alot of patti...and have alot of people to compare her to i know what i''m talking baout

[nycbound]

I don't deny that Patti has a lot of talent. And, we all know that she is an icon of Broadway theater.

But, I prefer Helena Bonham Carter as an actress. She has subtlety and vulnerability that few performers have.

[EponineBarker]

Have there been any photos of her as Lovett out yet?

Or any photos of anyone? (Aside from Depp.)

My friend is constantly asking me every week, so I'm curious.

[LesMisForever]

I don't know much about Helena's singing, but she is a very fine actress. Just watch "Howard's End", and "Wings of the Dove" to name just couple of her movies.

LuPone is of course very sucessful performer, but her "Fantine" in Les Miserables is dead boring, and i am not great fan of her Mrs Lovett either. I have to say that i haven't seen her live. I only saw the clips on YouTube, so i admit that there is a room for mistake.

So, acting wise i think there is no comparisson.

[The REAL Ciaron]

[Mistress]

[musicalfan07]

This is (I believe) the first shot of Helena as Mrs Lovett:http://www.deppimpact.com/sweeneytodd/sweeney_pub/sweeney012a.jpg
musicalfan07

[what_the_heck013]

[pish123c]

[Bubblan]

Anyone else who can’t see the picture? Here it is:

[The Duchess of Mint]

Dear Musicals.Net Posters,

Oh, how weird! Sweeney Goth! I'm so used to picturing Cariou and Lansbury that this very Goth couple seems sooo strange to me. I hope that the Goth aspect of the movie doesn't detract from the believability of the storyline.

When is the movie supposed to be released? I can't wait to see Depp as Sexy...I mean Sweeney Todd!

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[Melindaisy]

The style is soooo very Tim Burton!

[Bubblan]

I love it Can't wait for the movie!

[The French Taunter]

They look like characters straight out of Edward Gorey....I love it. Whatever worries I have about the vocals in the film, at least we all know it'll look fantastic.

[musicalfan07]

I'm not worried about Helena Bonham Carter's and Sascha Baron Cohen's vocals anymore, as Sondheim, on a recent radio interview, said that he was involved in the casting of everyone except Johnny. I can't wait till the dvd comes out (because, if the rumours are true about it being an R rating, I won't be able to see it unless someone buys the dvd for me, or I wait seven years!)
musicalfan07

[Salome]

uhm.. r rated films you can see with an adult. its only NC-17 that requires you to be 17.

[YouGotsToLovett]

And I doubt it'd be NC-17 unless Mr todd decided to "reward" Lovett for her "bright idea"