Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd), has been chosen to play this role as he is great at quirky/crazy characters. The New York Times reviewer said Depp's voice is "harsh and thin, but amazingly forceful". Although his voice is not strong, he has perfect pitch and his way of singing is crucial to the portrayal of the character Sweeney Todd.
Sweeney Todd as a character, has a vacant, sad exterior that hides murderous revengeful rage. His voice breaks with sadness whenever he begins to sing of his past and his face is always either expressionless or angry. Even in the scenes where Mrs. Lovett is dreaming of their future together. The only times he is happy and laughing is in thoughts of his past life. He always seems to have a preoccupied blank, pale-faced expression, leaving you to wonder what he is thinking. He has very dark rings around his eyes, possibly to show sleepless nights. And his hair is wild and untamed in contrast to how it was in the past.
Helena Bonham Carter is also quite a quirky role player and has appeared with Johnny Depp in the movie "Alice in Wonderland" both playing crazy characters well suited to their real personalities. Her role as Mrs. Lovett, is well suited to her. Her wild hair, pale face, and blackened eyes show that she has had a hard life, selling pies that don't really sell in squalid conditions. Mrs. Lovett as a character is quite unrealistic as she is always dreaming of a better life. There is a huge contrast between her ideal lifestyle and what her life really is. Being socially deprived, Mrs. Lovett expresses strange behaviour in Todd's presence. She comes across as demanding, making Todd eat a pie she made, knowing that her pies are "the worst pies in London". Since no one talks to her, or even comes near her shop as they know she is not 'normal', she is surprised that Todd has anything to do with her. Therefore she gets quite giddy around him causing her to plan her future with him later on in the movie.
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