Bustle Exclusive
TheOne Lifeactor is equally adept at playing real-life heroes and delicious fictional baddies.
Her latest film continues her historical predilection, but hits even closer to home.
As she tells Bustle, Babis background was sort of in my DNA.
Its very similar, since both of my grandparents helped with getting Jewish people out.
Bonham Carter carries on their legacies as Babi, who helps her sons mission from London.
(A young Winton is played by Johnny Flynn and his older counterpart by Anthony Hopkins.)
She saysOne Lifehas had an impact like very few films that Ive done, particularly for her loved ones.
Ive had lots of texts and phone calls saying Ive just seenOne Lifein a cinema.
Everyone is in tears, she says.
And we need more heroes.
How did you learn about your grandparents work?
Somebody approached me a few years ago.
What did you learn about yourself through that?
I got to go, Oh, would I have done this?
I think you have to, for ones own [knowledge], find out where youve come from.
Were all a result of other peoples accidents and choices, and we carry their DNA.
I got to know and appreciate me more, and frankly, the luck of having a life.
Its very hard not to think about the Israel-Hamas war when watching this movie.
How has that affected you?
I think its very dangerous to talk about without being misunderstood, so Id rather steer clear.
But I find its appalling, and its scary.
In real life, Nicholas got to re-meet some of the people hed saved, years later.
Do you know if your grandparents had that chance?
Well, I met this woman.
She said she was 82, and her name was Naomi Violet Beaufard.
And I said, My grandmothers called Violet.
She said, Your grandmother saved my parents life.
I also met with a grandchild of somebody my grandfather had saved.
I love the idea that one humanitarian act then begets a whole other world of humanitarian acts.
Wow, goodness makes the world go round.
They were both incredibly organized and had the same compassion.
She was a very dynamic woman who, I think, hadnt had a career.
I thought Babi was as much of a hero as her son.
In your career, youve played both heroes and villains, like Bellatrix Lestrange.
Is there one thats more fun to play?
you’ve got the option to have fun playing baddies.
It depends what kind of baddie.
Somebody who just hadnt really grown up and was really naughty.
On that note, another Harry Potter alum, Miriam Margolyes, recently said thatHarry Potter was for children.
Would you agree with that?
I love that woman, and shes somebody who has a big inner child.
I think however old we are, weve got to keep that child alive.
A Harry Potter TV series is in the works.
Would you be open to taking part at all?
I dont think theyll come near me since Im in the original one, but never say never.
If they recast that role, is there another actor you think could embody the spirit of Bellatrix?
They should go in a completely different direction.
I didnt actually get Bellatrix from the novel, particularly.
There were lots of ingredients that I just infused in her, basically because I was really bored.
But maybe the next actor can go more with what she actually wrote.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
