Making a splash: Helena Bonham Carter braves the Los Angeles rain for pre-Oscars bash

By Daily Mail Reporter
It wasn't the ideal way to make a dignified exit two days before the Oscars.

But Helena Bonham Carter took the Los Angeles wet weather in her stride this afternoon as she left a party at the British Consulate.
A large black umbrella was held over the 44-year-old star as she made her way out of the soiree to honour the British Oscar nominees.

Under my umbrella: Helena Bonham Carter needs some support as she steps into the rain for an event in Los Angeles tonight

But it seemed nothing could dampen her spirits, as she continued to smile as she strolled out of the event.
Well known for her eclectic fashion sense, Helena appeared to have toned it down a little bit, sticking to a black dress with a black jacket and shoes.
However there were signs of the star's more familiar eccentricity, as she teamed a large black bow in her hair and her calf length gown looked slightly creased.

Black tie: The Oscar nominated British actress has mainly stuck to black dresses at formal events recently

Formal wear: The actress has recently stuck to black dresses on the red carpet, such as her Bafta gown

The actress has recently been sticking more to black on the red carpet, arriving in a floor length long sleeved gown at the Bafta Awards.
She is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as the Queen Mother in The King's Speech, which is also in the running for Best Picture.


The star recently said that her Oscar outfit would 'probably be a catastrophe.

'I can suddenly go off piste, but we'll wait and see,' she told reporters at the Oscar nominees luncheon.
'And quite frankly, as my boyfriend [director Tim Burton] knows, it's right up to the last minute it can go wrong at any time.'

However, the star, who famously wore mismatched shoes at the Golden Globes, recently said she doesn't just 'throw any old thing on' for her red carpet appearances.
'I dress the way I want to, not for anyone else,' she told Grazia. 'But I do put a lot of thought into it, especially for red carpets,'
But she will probably leave it until the last minute to decide what she'll wear on Sunday.

'I have no idea ... yet,' she said.  'I have a few options, but I haven't made my mind up. It's a work in progress.'

Rained off: The star kept her black ensemble dry from the wet weather with an oversize matching umbrella