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.
I object to this casting as well, if only because she’s rather too old for the part, but I’m sure I’ll certainly change my mind when all is said and done and the costumed pics start leaking out. xo
She is a fantastic actress but she is nothing like I imagined Narcissa. Someone softer like Naomi Watts or someone of the same general appearance would have been better suited, in my opinion.
Is there any way that this decision could be reconsidered? fandom power or something? I know! I know! we haven’t seen her in action yet! but I don’t really want to see her in action… she looks like an old maid. lol ever shallow c’est moi. gah.
:( I expect i’m taking this particularly badly because I had high hopes for Narcissa’s look in particular.
Harumph. If we had any “fandom power,” Christian Coulson would be back in his rightful place as Tom Riddle!
I agree that McCrory isn’t what you picture for Narcissa (N. Watts is closer), but she was very good in “Charles.” She has a superb speaking voice which should account for something.
I think it is funny that the whole Malfoy family are brunettes turned blonde. Not exactly how I pictured Narcissa to look like but she’s a great actress. I saw her in Charles II and she was awesome in it. Though I was rooting for Joely Richardson to be Narcissa for a while already. I guess I can live with it. Helen would have been so much better as Merope though.
Madeleine, I mentioned Cate Blanchett, she will always be the Narcissa in my head when I read the books, but yes, Tilda Swinton would have been fantastic too! Good idea.
I hear everyone’s concerns, I’m just grateful Spinner’s End is in. I truly believed they would cut it. I’m sure the makeup/hair/costume magic will work out. Look what they do for Alan Rickman and yes, Jason Issacs.
On to Lavender Brown, I have never had a clear picture in my head. What does everyone think she looks like?
Oh Christian, how I miss your murderously glinting eyes… I’ll get you for that one WB!
also, that picture of Helen on the CBBC site is not good… I want to say that maybe thats a bad pic of her. but I can’t seem to find any Narcissa-ish ones.
Really, I can’t see any ‘natural’ resemblances to Narcissa… She ought to be blond, with weightless features, in one word Bellatrix’s opposite (in so many senses…). Definitely she’s not the one!
I’d settle for Rosie O’Donnell as Narcissa if only they’d bring back Christian. “Murderously glinting” is right!
Katie, I picture Lavender as the girl who is helping support Won Won in GOF in the scene where Ron tells Harry he asked Fleur to the Yule Ball…Maybe they’ll cast her?
Oh, dear. Helen is really a great actress but not AT ALL what I pictured for Narcissa, unfortunately. Hopefully her performance will be so good that I won’t even notice this :)
Appearance wise, she’ll look like Narcissa (blond hair, etc.) And the reason she’ll look ‘fuller’ (i.e. curvy) is in comparison to her whithered sister Bellatrix (HBC).
In terms of performance, I suggest people look at one film and TV series
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) – she plays the wife of a Judge, and is a rich socialite. PERFECT for public Narcissa
Frankenstein (2007, UK TV) – a biological researcher who acts immorally AND illegally to save the life of her son (For DH and Spinner’s End, this is just right).
Neither Naomi Watts or Joely Richardson have the right balance – you sympathise with them, but you can’t hate them.
Not the Narcissa I thought [at first} they would have chosen but there is a resemblance to Bellatrix and with a change of hair colour and make up we will have the cissy we know from the books. WB have yet to make an error in who they choose for the Harry Potter films I’m sure she will be excellent.
Ahh, I too wanted Naomi… She would’ve been a great pair with HBC (they both pull off the crazed look rather well). OTOH I can’t get the vision of her juggling for King Kong out of my head. LOL re: Tilda Swinton. She can’t be Narcissa – haven’t you been paying attention, people? Hair color is important! ;}
"[Harry's] not a child!" said Sirius impatiently.[br]"He's not an adult either!" said Mrs. Weasley, the color rising in her cheeks. "He's not [i]James,[/i] Sirius!"[br]"I'm perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly," said Sirius coldly.
I object to this casting as well, if only because she’s rather too old for the part, but I’m sure I’ll certainly change my mind when all is said and done and the costumed pics start leaking out. xo