The name Helena shows up across film sets, concert stages, runways, and editing rooms, attached to artists who have shaped pop culture in strikingly different ways. From multi-award-winning actors to chart-topping singers and boundary-pushing directors and DJs, these Helenas have built bodies of work that travel far beyond their home countries.
Below is a friendly tour through well-known Helenas in acting, music, fashion, and filmmaking. You’ll find signature roles, hit songs, acclaimed documentaries, and other milestones that make each person easy to place—plus a few projects to add to your watchlist or playlist.
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is a British actor known for range and longevity, starring in prestige dramas, fantasy franchises, and biographical projects. She earned major awards recognition for roles like the spirited Lucy Honeychurch in ‘A Room with a View’, the enigmatic Marla Singer in ‘Fight Club’, and the sharp-tongued Princess Margaret in ‘The Crown’. Audiences also know her from the ‘Harry Potter’ series as Bellatrix Lestrange, where she balanced theatrical flair with precise character work.
Beyond acting, she has narrated documentaries and voiced animated films, including standout turns in ‘The Corpse Bride’ and ‘Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit’. Her collaborations with directors such as Tim Burton and Tom Hooper produced memorable performances in ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ and ‘The King’s Speech’. She continues to appear in British television and international cinema, often anchoring ensemble casts.
Helena Christensen
Helena Christensen is a Danish supermodel and photographer who became a global name during the 1990s supermodel era. She appeared on numerous magazine covers, walked major runways, and featured prominently in music videos, including a widely seen appearance in ‘Wicked Game’. Her commercial work ranged from couture houses to mass-market campaigns, helping define the look of a fashion decade.
Christensen later established herself behind the camera, shooting portraits and editorial spreads published in fashion and culture outlets. She has curated exhibitions of her photography and collaborated with brands on creative direction. In addition to creative work, she supports philanthropic initiatives tied to breast cancer awareness and disaster relief through campaigns and limited-edition projects.
Helena Paparizou
Helena Paparizou is a Greek-Swedish pop singer who broke out as half of the duo Antique before launching a solo career. She gained international attention for a winning performance at Eurovision with the song ‘My Number One’, which boosted her profile across Europe. Her albums and singles have charted in Greece and Sweden, blending laïko-influenced pop with contemporary dance sounds.
Paparizou has served as a coach and judge on music television formats, mentoring contestants and performing live on broadcast stages. Her collaborations include duets with regional stars and remixes with club producers, and she regularly headlines festivals and arena shows. She also records Greek-language ballads and uptempo tracks, keeping a foothold in both radio and television.
Helena Zengel
Helena Zengel is a German actor who gained global recognition at a young age. She delivered a breakout performance in ‘System Crasher’, portraying a child navigating institutions and care systems. That role led to an English-language debut opposite Tom Hanks in ‘News of the World’, where she played an orphan traveling across post-war America.
Zengel continues to work in European and international productions, moving between arthouse projects and mainstream releases. She has earned nominations and awards from film academies and critics’ groups, appearing at major festivals. Casting directors frequently cite her ability to handle demanding roles that require emotional precision and subtlety.
Helena Howard
Helena Howard is an American actor whose debut in ‘Madeline’s Madeline’ drew attention from festivals and critics for its intensity and improvisational craft. She has since appeared in television series like ‘The Wilds’ and independent features, balancing genre projects with character-driven narratives. Her training includes theater and movement work, which informs her on-screen performances.
Howard’s filmography spans streaming platforms and indie distributors, giving her visibility across different audiences. She collaborates with directors who favor experimental approaches, and she has participated in projects that explore identity, performance, and psychological themes. Her work often premieres at festivals before wider digital release.
Helena Mattsson
Helena Mattsson is a Swedish actor who built a career in the United States across film and television. She appeared in shows such as ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘Nikita’, and ‘American Horror Story’, along with roles in action and thriller features. Casting often places her in multilingual or international parts due to her Scandinavian background and accent range.
In addition to on-camera roles, Mattsson has contributed to voice work and short-form projects. She balances guest appearances on network and cable series with independent films that play on the festival circuit. Her credits include recurring arcs that extend over multiple seasons, strengthening her footprint in American television.
Helena Rojo
Helena Rojo is a Mexican actor with a substantial career in telenovelas and cinema. She starred in popular series such as ‘El Privilegio de Amar’, ‘Mundo de Fieras’, and ‘Cuna de lobos’, becoming a familiar face to Spanish-speaking audiences. Her film roles include collaborations with respected directors in Mexican and Latin American cinema.
Rojo has received recognition from television and film institutions in Mexico for lifetime achievement and specific performances. She has also worked in theater, appearing in plays that tour nationally. Her presence across formats—TV, film, and stage—has made her a reference point in classic and contemporary telenovela history.
Helena Třeštíková
Helena Třeštíková is a Czech documentary filmmaker known for long-term observational projects. Her films, including ‘René’, ‘Katka’, and ‘Marcela’, follow subjects over many years, capturing social change and personal transformation through patient, longitudinal storytelling. These documentaries have screened at major festivals and won awards for their unique method.
Třeštíková has taught film and contributed to cultural policy discussions in the Czech Republic. Her work often involves extensive archival organization and legal frameworks to protect participants over extended filming periods. She continues to release new chapters and follow-ups that return to previous subjects, building a rare multi-decade documentary archive.
Helena Wittmann
Helena Wittmann is a German filmmaker and visual artist known for immersive, experimental cinema. Her film ‘Drift’ explores human connection to the ocean through long takes and carefully composed images, while ‘Human Flowers of Flesh’ continues maritime themes with a focus on movement and landscape. Her shorts and installations have screened at international festivals and galleries.
Wittmann often collaborates with sound designers and cinematographers to build sensory experiences that foreground texture and rhythm. She teaches and presents masterclasses on image and sound, and her films are distributed through art-house circuits and museum programs. Restoration and exhibition projects have placed her work alongside contemporary avant-garde cinema.
Share your favorite Helena—and the project that made you a fan—in the comments!