"People have lots of misconceptions about me. My mum, who is half French and half Spanish, gets outraged when I'm called quintessentially English. I owe my looks to my mum-which was 90 percent of getting my first job. And, some people would argue, 90 percent of my entire career"
- Helena Bonham Carter
About this Quote
This quote by Helena Bonham Carter speaks to the importance of her heritage in her career. She acknowledges that her appearances, which she attributes to her mom, were a major consider her getting her very first task. This suggests that her ethnicity was a factor in her success, which is something that lots of people might not get out of an actress who is typically viewed as quintessentially English. She likewise suggests that her heritage has been a significant consider her whole career, which is a testimony to the power of representation in the entertainment industry. Her mom's outrage at being identified as English speaks with the value of acknowledging the variety of backgrounds that make up the British population.