Helena Bonham Carter: UK can keep its identity within EU

Actress Helena Bonham Carter has voiced her support for the Remain campaign, saying she believes Britain can keep its 'sense of identity' within the European Union (EU).

The British star said her familys European history had influenced her thinking ahead of the 23 June referendum. Picture: PA

The British star said her family’s European history had influenced her thinking ahead of the 23 June referendum, after she signed an open letter backing a Remain vote with dozens of famous figures.

“Generally I want us to stay in,” she said. “I’m European so much in my blood. My mother’s half French, half Spanish. I feel European but I also feel we can be British and be part of Europe, without it impinging on our sense of identity.”

The signatories, who also included Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Patrick Stewart, Bill Nighy and 
Keira Knightley, said that being part of the EU “bolsters Britain’s leading role on the world stage” and warned that Brexit would leave the country “an outsider shouting from the wings”.

Bonham Carter had previously joined more than 200 public figures in signing a letter which called for Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom in 2014.

Speaking ahead of the release of family fantasy film Alice Through The Looking Glass later this month, Bonham Carter – who turns 50 on Thursday – also said she was “bored” with feeling ashamed of getting older.