Helena Bonham Carter met Princess Margaret, who she is setto play in Season 3 of The Crown, several times during the Queen’s late sister’slife. But now she’s revealed something surprising about a familial connectionto Margaret: the late princess once dated her uncle!
Helena spoke to Harper’s Bazaar about her role on The Crown for the UK edition of the magazine’s latestcover story, and said she remembers going to parties at her uncle’s home and PrincessMargaret being there.
“She was a lifelong friend of my uncle Mark,” she said. “He wasin the Grenadiers, I think, and he guarded Margaret and Elizabeth at Windsor.And then they met, and I think there was a romance. He was really dashing…”
Mark Bonham Carter and Leslie, Lady St Just after their wedding in 1955. Photo: © Ron Burton/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Mark Bonham Carter went on to become a politician. He ran unsuccessfullyfor the now-defunct UK Liberal Party in Barnstaple 1945 and was elected inTorrington three years later. He was later made a peer of the House of Lords in1986. As for the relationship with Margaret, it didn’t last, but the tworemained good friends, Helena said, even after he married Leslie, Lady St Just,in 1955.
Helena told the publication she spent hours interviewing Margaret’sfriends, including her lady-in-waiting and hairdresser, and even contacted apsychic in an attempt to speak to the late princess.
“I know most people will be like, ‘Oh God, she really ismad,’ but I definitely feel there are energies and people who stick around…”Helena told Harper’s Bazaar.
Princess Margaret and the Queen at Sandringham during Christmas 1992. Photo: © Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
“My psychic friend said, ‘Oh, Margaret’s here, does thatmean anything?’ I said, ‘Can you ask if there are any tips?’ sort of as a joke,and it was actually very useful. She said she was glad it was me, not the otheractress they were considering, which is very Margaret… and then she said, ‘You’regoing to have to scrub up, you really are.’”
Helena is known for her extensive research before playingroles, and said she had spoken to so many people because she wanted to portrayMargaret as accurately as possible.
“I wanted to do her justice,” she said.
MORE: Get some popcorn! The first full-length trailer for Season 3 of The Crown is here
You can see Helena as Margaret when The Crown returns to Netflixfor its next season on Nov. 17. In addition to Helena, you’ll be able to watch anall-new cast, including Oscar-winner Olivia Colman as the Queen, Tobias Menzies(Outlander, Rome) as Prince Philip, Marion Bailey (Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie’s Poirot) as the Queen Mother, Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, Emerald Fennell as Camilla Parker Bowles, Erin Doherty as Princess Anne and Jason Watkins as late former UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
In other news, Netflix is currently shooting season 4 of theacclaimed series, which will feature Gillian Anderson as late former UK Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher, along with Emma Corrin as Princess Diana.