Helena Bonham Carter loved chilli hair in Lone Ranger

Helena Bonham Carter loved becoming a red-head for 'The Lone Ranger'.

The 46-year-old actress has traded her brunette locks for a 'chilli-pepper red' to play brothel madame Red Harrington in the upcoming western.

Although she's played many flame-haired characters during her career, Helena has never gone this red before but she loved her shocking tresses.

Speaking to the USA Today newspaper, Helena said: 'I've always wanted to have that kind of fake-looking red hair, I've never gone this red before. It's couldn't be redder, chilli-pepper red.'

Helena is playing the wild red head alongside Armie Hammer, who plays the titular hero, and Johnny Depp as his Native American sidekick Tonto.

It wasn't just the new hairstyle she had to get used to - she also had to learn to walk with a peg-leg which conceals a gun.

She said: 'It has a double-barrel shotgun in it. It's a prop like I've never had before. That should be next month's poster, the leg. It's beautiful. So my bottom half is even more interesting. Any woman who runs her own business in the wild, wild West has to be a pretty strong character.'

It appears Helena may be getting used to her new hair style and has expressed her love for the literary character Pippi Longstocking, who is famous for her ginger locks.

She said: 'I have always wanted to play Pippi Longstocking. Maybe I will play her all grown-up. I would love that.'

'The Lone Ranger' opens in cinemas in July 2013.