Helena Bonham Carter got Princess Margaret's 'blessing' for 'The Crown' from beyond the grave

Proof that she's definitely the Mayor of Spookytown.
 By 
Rachel Thompson
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

If you were in any doubt of the fact that Helena Bonham Carter is the Mayor of Spookytown, this story will leave you in absolutely no doubt whatsoever.

The English actor told the Cheltenham literary festival that part of her preparation for the role of Princess Margaret in Season 3 of Netflix's The Crown involved contacting the princess from beyond the grave.

In addition to reading biographies, interviewing ladies-in-waiting, friends, and relatives, Bonham Carter also consulted a psychic, as well as an astrologer and graphologist.

Per the Guardian, the star said the psychic informed her that Princess Margaret said she "was glad it was me."

"She said, 'You’re better than the other actress.'"

"My main thing when you play someone who is real, you kind of want their blessing because you have a responsibility," said Bonham Carter.

The psychic's purported conversation with Princess Margaret reportedly proffered some insights into the princess' views on Netflix's casting.

"So I asked her, 'Are you OK with me playing you?' and she said, 'You’re better than the other actress,' ... that they were thinking of. They will not admit who it was. It was me and somebody else," she added. "That made me think maybe she is here, because that is a classic Margaret thing to say. She was really good at complimenting you and putting you down at the same time."

Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on on Feb. 9 2002 at the age of 71.

Mashable Image
Princess Margaret pictured in the 1940s in London. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

"Then she said, ‘But you’re going to have to brush up and be more groomed and neater,’" Bonham Carter continued. "Then she said, 'Get the smoking right. I smoked in a very particular way. Remember that — this is a big note — the cigarette holder was as much a weapon for expression as it was for smoking.'"

The Crown Season 3 hits Netflix from Nov. 17, 2019.

Recommended deals for you

HBO Max — top pick for premium content

Disney+ — best for families

Hulu — popular choice for originals

Peacock — low-cost choice for live sport

Products available for purchase through affiliate links. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Features Editor and author Rachel Thompson
Rachel Thompson
Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more. Rachel is the author of two non-fiction books, both published by Penguin Random House. Her second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Why everyone has an opinion about King Princess’s sexuality
king princess in sunglasses

Amazon has the Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar on sale for $10 off
a person plays with the lego disney advent calendar

The Elf on the Shelf just teamed up with Disney — where to shop Harry Potter and Mickey Mouse collabs
Elf on the Shelf Disney collection

How ENHYPEN's vampire universe grew far beyond K-pop
The K-pop group ENHYPEN and their DARK MOON animated counterparts

Spotify is bringing a Ringer video podcast to Twitch. Here's why.
An Apple iPhone 11 smartphone with the Twitch video streaming app logo on screen, taken on January 27, 2020

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for November 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

Zelda Switch 2 restock: Live restock updates at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy (Nov. 3)
Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2

NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 4, 2026
NYT Connections logo.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone