Helena Bonham Carter defends JK Rowling and Johnny Depp

Helena Bonham Carter has spoken out in defense of her former collaborators JK Rowling and Johnny Depp.

Carter appeared as Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter film series based on the Rowling books.

She has appeared in seven films with Depp, five of which were directed by her former partner Tim Burton.

Rowling has become a polarizing figure in recent years thanks to her views on transgender rights, which have been accused of being transphobic by LGBT+ activists and organizations. The author has denied that she is transphobic.

Speak with The times In a new interview, Bonham Carter said: “It’s appalling, a lot of crap. I find [Rowling] was rushed. It was taken to the extreme, people’s powers of judgment. She has allowed her opinion, especially when she has suffered abuse.

“Everyone carries their own trauma story and makes their own minds up from that trauma and you have to respect where people are from and the pain they are in. You don’t have to agree on everything – that would be crazy and boring. She doesn’t mean it aggressively, she’s just saying something from her own experience.”

Depp, meanwhile, was embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, earlier this year.

That Pirates of the Caribbean Star had sued Heard, alleging that she defamed him in a 2018 comment about domestic violence published by the newspaper Washington Post. Depp claimed the piece implied he had abused her while the couple were married.

A jury eventually found that Heard had defamed Depp, and that Aquaman The actress was ordered to pay her ex-husband $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. However, the jury also ruled in favor of Heard’s counterclaim, noting that one of Depp’s attorneys had defamed her by calling her abuse allegations a “hoax.” Heard will appeal the decision.

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In conversation with The timesBonham Carter claimed the court ruling upheld Depp, who is also godfather to her children Billy Ray, 18, and Nell, 14.

“Oh, I think he totally confirmed himself,” she said. “I think he’s fine now. Absolutely OK.”

When asked if the defamation case was “#MeToo’s pendulum swinging back,” Bonham Carter replied, “My view is [Heard] climbed onto this pendulum. That’s the problem with these things – that people jump on the bandwagon because it’s the trend, and being the poster child for it.”

A British court had previously ruled in favor The sun after the newspaper described Depp as a “wife beater” and ruled the description was “essentially true”.

If you or someone you know has been affected by domestic violence, you can call the 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline operated by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 or visit their website here.