Tim Burton emerged from the quiet suburbs of Burbank to become one of Hollywood’s most distinctive visual storytellers. Born in 1958, Burton took his childhood sense of being an outsider and transformed it into a career built around films that celebrate the misunderstood and the macabre. Movies like “Edward Scissorhands,” “Beetlejuice,” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are instantly recognizable for their mix of gothic whimsy and bittersweet sensibility – a style that’s captivated fans for decades.
Burton’s love of dark fairy tales isn’t just reserved for the screen. In many ways, his own life, particularly his romantic relationships, echoes the themes of longing and connection found in his work. While he’s usually private about his personal life, Burton’s long-term relationships – often with his collaborators – have occasionally made headlines and influenced his creative choices behind the camera.
Burton’s romantic history first drew public attention in the early ‘90s, when he began dating model and actress Lisa Marie Smith. The two met in 1991, and Smith soon appeared in several of his films, including “Ed Wood,” “Mars Attacks!,” and “Sleepy Hollow.” They were together for nearly a decade before parting ways in 2001, around the time Burton started working with Helena Bonham Carter on “Planet of the Apes.”
Burton and Bonham Carter never married, but their relationship became one of Hollywood’s most artistically fertile partnerships. For 13 years, they lived in separate but adjoining houses in London, raising their two children, Billy and Nell, while Bonham Carter starred in seven Burton films, such as “Sweeney Todd” and “Alice in Wonderland.” Their unconventional setup and close creative bond fascinated fans almost as much as their eventual breakup in 2014, which came as a genuine surprise to many.
“It took me a while to really get used to the idea of being single again,” Burton told The Guardian in a rare interview after their split. “When you’re with someone that long, they become part of your creative DNA.”
Recently, Burton has been spotted with Italian actress Monica Bellucci, sparking rumors of a new romance after the pair were seen together at several film festivals in 2022. True to form, the famously private director hasn’t confirmed anything publicly.
Burton’s name has also appeared in other rumors over the years, including speculation about a brief romance with Winona Ryder during the making of “Edward Scissorhands,” as well as whispers about his close friendship with Johnny Depp. But those involved have always denied there was anything more than professional respect and camaraderie at play.
Themes of outsiders longing for acceptance and connection run through almost all of Burton’s films, reflecting, perhaps, his own approach to love and partnerships. He’s formed deep creative bonds with people who truly understand his eccentric viewpoint. As Bonham Carter once put it, “Tim sees the world in a completely different way. That’s what makes him special as a filmmaker and as a person. It’s what drew me to him.”
Through all his relationships, Burton has maintained a sense of mutual respect and lasting connection with his former partners. He and Bonham Carter continue to co-parent, even spending holidays together as a family despite no longer being a couple. The pattern suggests he values these relationships not just for their romance, but for the deep creative and emotional ties they forge.
Now in his sixties, Burton remains devoted to his craft, recently earning new acclaim with his Netflix series “Wednesday.” Reflecting on love and creativity in a 2019 interview, he said, “I’ve learned that creativity and connection go hand in hand. Sometimes those connections are romantic, sometimes they’re friendships, but they all feed the work.”
Past Relationships
Monica Bellucci
Eva Green
Helena Bonham Carter
Lisa Marie
Lena Gieseke
For a filmmaker whose stories never quite end with traditional happy endings, it makes sense that Burton’s approach to love is layered – reflecting all the complexity, tenderness, and bittersweetness his movies have always celebrated.