Bonham Carter would 'divorce' Burton

Helen Bonham Carter has revealed that she intended to "divorce" long-term partner Tim Burton if he did not cast her in his new film.

Bonham Carter auditioned against 40 other actresses for the role of Mrs Lovett in Burton's latest project Sweeny Todd.

The eccentric actress is not actually married to the US director, but the pair have a three-year-old son together, Billy-Ray Burton,

She said: "I auditioned for my role - although I'd have divorced Tim if I hadn't got it. In fact, we're not even married, but I'd have still divorced him.

"We had no talk of it at home, because until he'd seen every other actress, Tim wouldn't say anything. And then when I knew I had the part, I thought, 'Oh my God we've got to work together', which is also stressful.

"It's complicated leaving your personal life at home when you've got to work."

Sweeny Todd is currently being filmed at Pinewood studios and also stars Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron Cohen.