Helena Bonham Carter has told of her wild encounter with a bear on the set of new film The Young And Prodigious TS Spivet.

The Oscar-nominated actress stars in the new adventure film from Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The 3D film tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who runs away from home and travels across America hiding on a freight train.

Helena plays his scientist mother in the film, which was shot in the remote Canadian Rockies in Alberta.

The actress said: "I loved Alberta, the house was built [on location] and there was nothing around.

"And one time ... a baby bear came and ate the remains of our lunch.

"It was so beautiful. Alberta was spectacular, there's no one there. Canada is so singularly beautiful. It was great - like a holiday."

But she added: "The Ramada Inn in Pincher Creek wasn't so beautiful."

The 48-year-old actress revealed she ate McDonald's from the fast food restaurant next to their hotel in the small town.

Helena said: "We went to Walmart a lot. There was basically the Ramada Inn where we were, and then there was Walmart. So we went to McDonald's, and sometimes we had roast chicken.

"We cooked quite well actually. We made it our home. It was very nice, we had a great time."

French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet was not so enamoured with the small town.

He revealed: "It was a real rodeo place. It was full of real cowboys.

"And one of them asked a member of the crew 'I hope you won't make f****t movie like Brokeback Mountain.' Can you believe it?!"

The Young And Prodigious TS Spivet is out on June 13.