Sophie Bennett
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, also known as Sweeney Todd, is a fictional character who first appeared in the Victorian penny dreadful serial The String of Pearls in 1846-7. The story has been adapted for the stage and screen many times, with several actresses playing the role of Mrs Lovett, Todd's partner in crime. In the story, Mrs Lovett owns a pie shop and helps Todd dispose of his victims' bodies by baking them into her pies. The character has been portrayed by actresses including Helena Bonham Carter, Angela Lansbury, Nina Osegueda, and Joanna Lumley.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the story | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
| Year of first appearance | 1846-1847 |
| First appeared in | Victorian penny dreadful serial "The String of Pearls" |
| Character first introduced | 1785 |
| Character profession | Barber |
| Character trait | Murders his customers with a straight razor |
| Character's partner in crime | Mrs. Lovett |
| Mrs. Lovett's profession | Owner of a pie shop |
| Mrs. Lovett's pies made of | Human flesh |
| Character's alias | Benjamin Barker |
| Character's motive | Revenge for the rape and death of his wife |
| Awards won | Tony Award for Best Musical, Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical |
| Year the movie was released | 2007 |
| Director of the movie | Tim Burton |
| Actor who played Sweeney Todd in the movie | Johnny Depp |
| Actress who played Mrs. Lovett in the movie | Helena Bonham Carter |
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What You'll Learn
Who played Mrs Lovett?
The character of Mrs Lovett, the slatternly widow and pie shop owner, has been played by several actresses over the years. Here is a list of actresses who have portrayed Mrs Lovett in various adaptations of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street:
- Angela Lansbury played Mrs Lovett in the original Broadway production in 1979, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.
- Nina Osegueda played Mrs Lovett in a 2014 prog metal version of the musical, staged by Washington D.C.'s Landless Theatre Company.
- Joanna Lumley played Mrs Lovett in a 1998 made-for-television version, "The Tale of Sweeney Todd", broadcast by the Showtime network.
- Helena Bonham Carter played Mrs Lovett in the 2007 film adaptation of the musical.
- Julia McKenzie played Mrs Lovett in the 1993 revival at the National Theatre in London.
- Christine Baranski played Mrs Lovett in 1999 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, and in 2002 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
- Patti LuPone played Mrs Lovett in several productions, including London in 2000, San Francisco in 2001, and the 2005 Broadway revival in New York City.
- Lea Salonga played Mrs Lovett in 2019 at the Theatre at Solaire in Manila and the Sands Theatre in Singapore.
- Bryonha Marie played Mrs Lovett in 2023 at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.
- Annaleigh Ashford played Mrs Lovett in the 2023 Broadway revival in New York City.
- Sutton Foster played Mrs Lovett in the Broadway revival in 2024, replacing Annaleigh Ashford.
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What was her relationship with Todd?
In the 2007 film adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Helena Bonham Carter plays Mrs. Lovett, the owner of a meat pie shop in London. Mrs. Lovett is Sweeney Todd's (Johnny Depp) amorous accomplice.
In the film, Todd, a barber, murders his customers with a straight razor and gives their corpses to Mrs. Lovett, who bakes their flesh into meat pies. Mrs. Lovett and Todd sing about their plan to "serve anyone" and "not discriminate great from small". They also sing about how "life is for the alive", and how they will "keep living it".
Mrs. Lovett is initially frightened when Todd enters her shop, mistaking him for a ghost. She offers him a room above her shop, which she says people think is haunted. Todd and Mrs. Lovett conspire to kill Pirelli, a barber and snake oil salesman, singing about how "people seem to love" his miracle elixir.
In one scene, Todd throws Mrs. Lovett into an oven. Mrs. Lovett survives and later sings about how she "won't commit sins of the flesh", implying that she and Todd are in a sexual relationship.
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What was her role in the plot?
In the 2007 film adaptation of the musical, *Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street*, Helena Bonham Carter plays Mrs. Lovett, the owner of a meat pie shop on Fleet Street. In the film, Mrs. Lovett is Sweeney Todd's amorous accomplice, and she bakes the corpses of Todd's victims into meat pies.
Mrs. Lovett is first introduced when Todd enters her pie shop on Fleet Street. She laments the scarcity of meat and customers, singing "Worst Pies in London". When Todd asks about the empty upstairs apartment, Mrs. Lovett reveals that its former tenant, Benjamin Barker (Todd's former identity), was transported for life based on false charges by Judge Turpin, who then raped Barker's wife. This scene establishes Mrs. Lovett's knowledge of the corrupt Judge Turpin and sets the stage for Todd's quest for revenge.
As the film progresses, Mrs. Lovett becomes enamored with Todd and eagerly participates in his murderous scheme. She provides Todd with razors and assists in disposing of the bodies, singing "It's priest. Have a little priest". Their partnership is a twisted romance, with Lovett singing about her desire for Todd and her willingness to aid in his vengeance.
Bonham Carter's portrayal of Mrs. Lovett received critical acclaim. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress and won the Best Actress award at the 2007 Evening Standard British Film Awards and the 2009 Empire Awards. Her performance brought focused fury to the musical nightmare, showcasing her range as a talented and versatile actor.
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Who played the Beggar Woman?
The character of the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is portrayed by Laura Michelle Kelly in the 2007 film adaptation. In the play, the character has been played by several actresses, including Merle Louise, Ruthie Ann Miles, Rosemary Ashe, Julie Orlando, Audra McDonald, Rosalie Craig, Debra Byrne, and Nina Osegueda.
The Beggar Woman is a significant character in the story of Sweeney Todd, as she is revealed to be Lucy, the wife of Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeney Todd). After being sexually abused by Judge Turpin and attempting suicide, Lucy becomes a beggar, surviving on the streets of London. When Barker returns to London and adopts the identity of Sweeney Todd, he encounters the Beggar Woman but does not recognize her as his wife. This leads to a tragic turn of events, as he eventually kills her, realizing her true identity only after the fact.
The character of the Beggar Woman adds depth to the story by showcasing the tragic consequences of Judge Turpin's actions and the extent of Lucy's downfall. She also serves as a device to spread rumors about Todd and Mrs. Lovett's crimes, as she sings about the smoke rising from their shop chimneys.
The portrayal of the Beggar Woman by Laura Michelle Kelly in the 2007 film received positive reviews, with her performance capturing the character's tragic arc and descent into madness. The role has also been challenging and rewarding for actresses in the stage productions, allowing them to explore the complex emotions and motivations of the character.
Overall, the Beggar Woman is a pivotal character in the narrative of Sweeney Todd, and her portrayal across different adaptations has contributed to the enduring legacy of this Gothic musical tale.
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What was her role in the plot?
In the 2007 film adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Helena Bonham Carter plays Mrs. Nellie Lovett, the owner of a meat pie shop in London. Lovett becomes the accomplice of Sweeney Todd (played by Johnny Depp), a barber who murders his customers and gives their corpses to Lovett, who then bakes their flesh into meat pies.
Bonham Carter's portrayal of Mrs. Lovett has been described as "spectacular" and "scrumptiously conceived". Her performance received a nomination for the Golden Globe for Best Actress and won the Best Actress award at the 2007 Evening Standard British Film Awards and the 2009 Empire Awards.
The film is based on the 1979 musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, which in turn is based on the 1970 play by Christopher Bond. The character of Sweeney Todd first appeared in a Victorian penny dreadful titled The String of Pearls.
In the film, Todd returns to London to uncover his past and take revenge on Judge Turpin (played by Alan Rickman), who falsely imprisoned him and adopted his daughter, Johanna. Along the way, he meets Mrs. Lovett, and together they begin their life of crime.
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Frequently asked questions
Helena Bonham Carter played Mrs. Lovett in the 2007 film adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Dame Angela Lansbury played Mrs. Nellie Lovett in the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Nina Osegueda played Mrs. Lovett in the 2014 prog metal version of Sweeney Todd.
Patti LuPone played Mrs. Lovett in the 2001 filmed concert version of Sondheim's musical.
Mrs. Lovett is Sweeney Todd's partner in crime. She owns a pie shop and bakes her customers' flesh into meat pies.
