In Tim Burton’s 1998 film Sleepy Hollow, who plays Lady Van Tassel?

Miranda Richardson plays Lady Van Tassel in Tim Burton’s 1998 film Sleepy Hollow.

Lady Van Tassel is a central figure in the film’s mystery surrounding the Headless Horseman. Richardson’s character initially appears to be a respectable member of the Sleepy Hollow community, but the story gradually reveals her connection to the supernatural events and the town’s violent past.

Richardson was an established British actor known for both dramatic and comic roles. Her performance gives Lady Van Tassel a polished public manner while preserving the character’s menace. The cast also includes Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane and Christina Ricci as Katrina Van Tassel.

A common mix-up is confusing Miranda Richardson with Helena Bonham Carter, another frequent Burton collaborator. Bonham Carter did not appear in Sleepy Hollow; Richardson played Lady Van Tassel.