Good news this morning as CBBC Newsround can confirm some casting news for the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" film. Actress Helen McCrory will play the part of Narcissa Malfoy, the wife of Death Eater Lucius Malfoy. Newsround reminds us that Ms McCrory "was originally cast as Bellatrix Lestrange in the fifth Potter movie, but couldn't play the part because she was expecting a baby."
Also, the site reports that an"announcement on who will play young Tom Riddle and Lavender Brown is expected very soon."
Helen McCrory has appeared in "Anna Karenina" for PBS, as well as The Count of Monte Cristo, and was most recently seen in the hit films "The Queen," and "Becoming Jane," which also co-starred Julie Walters (Molly Weasley) and Dame Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall).UPDATE: You can now see some additional photos of Helen McCrory here in our galleries.
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is currently in production and will be released in theaters November 21, 2008.
Oh, I am so happy about this. I loved helena bonham carters protrayal of bellatrix… its so great though that she gets to have her harry potter role after having to walk away from harry potter for the good of her unborn child.
its so great to have good news, this, and the good news about the lexicon book being delayed.
I am really pleased to hear that Helen will finally be in a Harry Potter film. I was thrilled to see her originally cast as Bellatrix in Order of the Phoenix…I thought the casting was perfect, only to be disappointed by news of her having to drop out due to her pregnancy. If anyone is unfamiliar with her work, see Iolanthe’s post above. I agree completely with Iolanthe’s comments. Helen was really excellent in that film, and I don’t think we’ll be disappointed in her protrayal of Narcissa.
I think she would have made a good Bellatrix, even though I wanted Helena, which we did finally get :D But, I would have went with an actress who was actually blonde. Like Jolie Richardson.
Wow, this is nothing like how I picture Narcissa. I picture her rail thin with very pointy features. I’ve never seen her acting so hopefully she will portray the character well enought that it won’t matter that she doesn’t look like my Narcissa.
Posted by Hufflepuff Lady on November 09, 2007, 04:13 PM
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Not sure who she is, don’t care, Spinners End is IN—WHOO-HOOOOOO!! Made my weekend.
I had always cherished a hope for Cate Blanchett, but I’m sure this actress will be just wonderful. I’m glad she is making it into the series since she had to turn down Bellatrix.
She was also in “Charles: The Power and the passion” (I think I’ve got that title right) with the luscious Christian Coulson, who they SHOULD be announcing will appear in “HBP.” (If there were any justice in the world and if the WB/Yates really gave a crap what the fans wanted). Anyway, McCrory as Barbara Villiers seduces Coulson as the Duke of Monmouth in “Charles” and its worth seeing for that alone!
She’s not a beauty, and in particular, I pictured Narcissa as having a patrician nose for some reason, but she’s an excellent actor.
With an hour of make-up, hair, wardrobe and a dash of movie magic she’ll be looking like Narcissa before you know it. I mean, look how well they made Isaacs look like Lucius?
Such a lousy choice! Lazy casting. I can totally see through this – they told her they’d cast her for ANY female HP role because she missed out on Bellatrix being pregnant. Horrible casting decision. Looks nothing like the classic, fine featured beauty that Narcissa is in the books.
Relax about the hair people. They will change it. As mentioned before Jason I. is a brunette and Emma is a blonde and Natalie Tena does not have naturally purple hair…just breathe and everything will be fine.
I’m so pleased. I was so horrified when I heard she couldn’t be Bellatrix, even though she would have justified the part so well. I’m glad that there will be some resemblance between the sisters too, and you can’t underestimate movie magic, even if she doesn’t look like Cissa now you wait until the trailers start coming. I’m so excited, this is more exciting than anything else I’ve come to expect from the HP-verse. HBP and DH really let down my expectations, but if Helen is going to be in the final two films, I’m going to be a happy crumple-horned snorkack.
YAY! YAY! YAY! MY Bellatrix finally has a sister and I like others have been waiting and waiting forever it seems for this anouncment! This definetely made my day- and pretty soon we will find out Lavender and young Tom Riddle- They heard my prayers!-( all Modesty aside it was more like complaints ) Ha ha!
"A few of you need to read [i]Wanderings with Werewolves[/i] more carefully -- I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples -- though I wouldn't say no to a large bottle of Ogden's
Sofia, Emma doesn’t start filming until December.