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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Ayeesha Walsh

Helena Bonham Carter, 56, admits she laughs at age gap controversy with boyfriend, 35

Helena Bonham Carter has admitted that she and boyfriend Rye Dag Holmboe see the funny side to reactions to their age gap.

The Hollywood star has been dating Rye, 35, since they met at a wedding in 2018, with the romance regularly facing scrutiny for their 21-year age difference.

Helena, 56, had opened up about her relationship with the art historian in a new chat where she admitted her frustration at people judging them - but that they do see the funny side.

The Enola Holmes star played down their differing years as she admitted feeling that it's personality and not a number that defines you.

Helena and Rye have a 21 year age gap (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Talking in a profile for The Times she said: “I like that it’s constantly news that he’s younger than me. And what’s hilarious is that I keep getting older, but to the tabloids, he remains 33. He’s almost like Benjamin Button.”

Helena then went on to describe her beau as an "ageless old soul in a young body," and that “people aren’t necessarily their chronological age”.

The Harry Potter star also referenced her past relationships as she admitted feeling that Rye is "ageless" whereas people she has been with in the past "aren’t necessarily their age, maturity wise."

She then explained they laugh at the way people focus on their age gap adding: “His eyesight is going, so we say I’m siphoning off his youth at night.”

Helena says that age is irrelevant when you consider a personality (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Harper's Bazaar)
Helena called Rye 'ageless' as she opened up about their romance (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The actress admitted her admiration for men who were looking past the age-gap barrier when she was asked her opinion on 76-year-old Cher's recently confirmed relationship with 36-year-old music producer Alexander Edwards.

She praised men for "appreciating different kinds of beauty and finding other things sexy" and stressed the importance of having fun together by stressing “collagen is not the only form of sexiness, there’s character, fun, mischief and humour,” and that “as long as you’ve got the laughter, the intimacy will be there.”

In the chat, Helena also confirmed feeling that Johnny Depp - the godfather to her children - was “vindicated” after winning his high profile defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard.

Helena previously dated globally famous actor Sir Kenneth Brannagh for five years between 1994 - 1999.

She was then in a relationship with American director Tim Burton from 2001 until 2014 when they announced they were separating.

Despite their split the former couple remained amicable and live next door to each other in London's Belsize Park.

Helena already owned her property, with Tim later buying the neighbouring property and they adjoined the pair.

The couple share two children together - son Billy Raymond Burton, 19, and daughter Nell Burton, 14.

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