HELENA Bonham Carter used a psychic to try to contact late Crossroads legend Noele Gordon as she prepared to play her in a new biopic.
The superstitious actress, 56, also used an astrologer to research the star — who played motel boss Meg Mortimer for 17 years.
A TV insider: “She is a dedicated actress who believes that getting a deep understanding of every character she plays - even if that means turning to the supernatural world for help.
“Whether Helena is playing a senior royal or a soap actress, she will go to extreme lengths in her research, and wants to ensure she will be giving a performance her character would approve of.
“In the case of her latest project, she’s using tried and tested methods which have helped her previously.”
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Helena previously used a medium in a bid to speak to Princess Margaret, who she played in Netflix’s The Crown.
Noele — who died aged 65 in 1985 — was in 3,521 episodes of the Birmingham-based soap as it drew in 15million viewers a night, and became one of TV’s most powerful women.
Her brutal sacking by resentful male bosses in 1981 is the focus of drama series Nolly, released tomorrow on ITVX.
Representatives of Helena declined to comment.