Helen Quilley

Helen Quilley is a fictional character who appears in the 1998 film Sliding Doors. She serves as the protagonist of the film. This character is portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow.
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== Throughout Sliding Doors ==
There are two parallel storylines, one in which Helen catches a train and the other in which she misses it. These alternate timelines depict how Helen's life unfolds based on this pivotal moment.
In the timeline where Helen boards the train, she eventually strikes up a conversation with James, a man who retrieves her dropped earring in the lift. This encounter leads to a romantic relationship between Helen and James, offering her emotional support and encouragement to start her own small PR firm. However, their relationship becomes complicated when Helen discovers that James is married, though he explains that he is separated and soon to be divorced.
In the alternate timeline where Helen misses the train, her life takes a different turn. She faces delays, including an attempted mugging, which results in a hospital visit. She remains oblivious to her boyfriend Gerry's infidelity with his ex-girlfriend, Lydia. Helen eventually discovers she is pregnant but keeps it a secret from Gerry. Her life becomes further entangled when Lydia reveals her affair with Gerry and her own pregnancy, leading to a traumatic fall down the stairs.
Both timelines converge when Helen experiences a fall and is taken to the hospital, resulting in the loss of her baby. The film explores the contrasting outcomes of these two timelines, one where Helen dies and the other where she recovers and encounters James again, ending on a hopeful note.
== Appearances ==
*Sliding Doors (1998)
Category:Characters
Category:Sliding Doors characters
Category:Characters portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow