February 16, 2003

From Sky News:

HELENA'S BABY JOY

Actress Helena Bonham Carter is expecting her first child.

The Planet of the Apes star is pregnant by 41-year-old Tim Burton, who directed the film. Bonham Carter, 36, met her boyfriend during filming of the sci-fi blockbuster.

"Helena and Tim are both rather eccentric but they make a great couple and they could not be happier about the pregnancy," a friend told the Mail on Sunday.

But the news could cause a few problems for producers of the new £6m  TV mini-series Henry VIII, which is due to start production next month: Henry VIII

The actress is due to play Anne Boleyn in her first television role for nine years. Her friend added: "Helena is ecstatic but it has completely thrown the production into chaos. "All her scenes are being rushed forward so she can film them before her bump starts to show."

Friends say Bonham Carter had long wanted to start a family. The couple divide their time between Bonham Carter's £1.2m home in London and Burton's £2m pad in Hollywood