(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Helena Bonham Carter was offended when she was asked to play Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.

The oft-filmed Charles Dickens novel is being re-booted by Mike Newell.

And Helena balked when the director first approached her about playing the jilted spinster.

"My first reaction was Jesus, am I that old?!" she told Cover Media at the BFI London Film Festival.

The pair eventually came to an agreement when she realised the character was only 56 still ten years her senior.

Helena eventually buckled, admitting she was too intrigued by the character.

"I couldn't not do it," she said. "I mean the dress, for one. She's a bit sick as well and I love sick people. Not everyone wants to play her, but she's definitely up my street," the actress said.

Helena stars alongside Jeremy Irvine (Pip), Holliday Grainger (Estella) and Ralph Fiennes (Magwitch) in the forthcoming adaptation. (C) Cover Media