Actress Helena Bonham Carter, 60, has found an "unexpected magic" in her relationship with art historian Rye Dag Holmboe, 38, describing their connection as a "happy accident." The couple, who have been together since 2018, met at a mutual friend's wedding that neither almost attended.
Bonham Carter, known for her roles in films like "Sweeney Todd" and "Alice in Wonderland," has stated that she will never marry. She explained in a December interview that she cannot make an "unhealthy" promise of forever, as she doesn't believe such a commitment is realistic.
"I mean, we're not meant to be forever," she said. "And I've never actually gotten married because I can't say those [words], I can't honestly make that promise because I just don't think it's a healthy one."
The actress described her separation from her long-term partner, director Tim Burton, as "transformative" and "cruel." After a period of grieving, she found new love with Holmboe, whom she met five years after her split from Burton.
Bonham Carter has spoken about the 21-year age gap between herself and Holmboe, noting that "everybody ages at a different rate." She described him as an "old soul in a young body" and stated that he is "unbelievably mature," adding that he "isn't" frightened of older women.
The couple made their relationship public the year after they met. Bonham Carter and Burton, who directed her in several films including "Planet of the Apes," "Big Fish," and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," were together for 13 years and have two children, Billy, 22, and Nell, 18. Their separation was announced amicably in 2014. Following their split, Burton began dating Italian actress Monica Bellucci in 2022, though they reportedly separated in autumn 2025.