It's a girl! Helena Bonham Carter welcomes second child

Actress Helena Bonham Carter and her director partner Tim Burton have received an early Christmas present - their second child.

The couple have had a daughter, born late on Saturday, to join big brother, four-year-old Billy.

The actress's spokeswoman, Karon Maskill said: "They are absolutely delighted they have a daughter."

Mother figure: Helena Bonham Carter has given birth to a baby girl

"It's a lovely Christmas present for the family."

Bonham Carter, 41, received a Golden Globe nomination last week for her role as a ghoulish baker in Burton's musical adaptation "Sweeney Todd," which opens in limited release on Friday. Burton, 49, was also nominated.

She revealed in the latest issue of Playboy that she became pregnant midway during the production, causing continuity problems since the film was not shot in sequence.

"I start off with huge breasts, and then I walk upstairs and suddenly I've got tangerines again," she said. "It's melons to tangerines."

Miss Bonham Carter met Burton - her partner of six years - during the filming of Planet of the Apes, which he directed.

The couple's relationship is less then conventional. They live in separate homes in North London - connected by a secret adjoining corridor.

Looking swell: Helena first showed off her bump during a seaside holiday in Italy earlier this year

Baby joy: it is the second child for Helena and Tim Burton, who also have a four-year-old son