Helena is not a natural exhibitionist yet, for some reason, her father's illness drove her to pursue acting. Perhaps a sudden realisation of his mortality made her want to impress him quickly. She remembers thinking about becoming an actress when she was 5, and later wanting to be Kate Jackson from Charlie's Angels. She also recalls a visit from a family friend, a glamorous actress, and how impressed she was that both her brothers (and her father) were noticeably attracted to the woman. Attending South Hampstead School For Girls, Helena took a leaf from a schoolmate's book and, using money she'd won in a national poetry competition, got herself an agent and placed a photo of herself in a casting directory. Work would finally come in 1982, when she was 16 - though she had already begun to perform on stage. Now attending Westminster School, she got a part as Juliet in an ad for stereos. Then came a real break. Accompanying a schoolfriend who needed moral support, she went to an audition in Nothing Hill. This was for A Pattern Of Roses, based on KM Peyton's 1972 novel and to be financed by Channel 4. Spotting Helena, the producers decided she would make an excellent Edwardian ghost and hired her - once they'd convinced her father that it wouldn't interfere with her exams. As a side-note, Helena was not a union member and, being as only one non-union actor could be used, another non-union hopeful was bumped off the bill. His name was Hugh Grant (learning little from the experience, he'd later also get dropped from Mel Gibson vehicle The Bounty). Though still at school, Helena persisted with acting and, when a picture of her in the Tatler was spotted by renowned director Trevor Nunn, she found herself cast in Lady Jane. Helena's looks and natural reserve and enthusiasm served her well - she was excellent. This led to a terrifying test, as she was cast as Lucy Honeychurch in EM Forster's A Room With A View and, having hardly learned to act at all, was matched with Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.