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"Half-Blood Prince" Casting News: Helen McCrory will Play Narcissa Malfoy

HBP Film
Posted by: Sue
November 09, 2007, 01:26 PM

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.

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143 Comments

Liln

But madsci, I don’t want to hate Narcissa. I largely sympathize with her already…

Posted by Liln on November 09, 2007, 09:34 PM report to moderator
Fredweasleysgurl

I think she looks like Narcissa but needs blonde hair

Posted by Fredweasleysgurl on November 09, 2007, 10:07 PM report to moderator
Minisha

Did anybody else imagine her with really big eyes. Helen Mcrory’s almond shaped ones are nice, but not what I imagined…

Posted by Minisha on November 09, 2007, 10:21 PM report to moderator
fishscale

Darn, I really did think they’d use her for Andromeda, because she looks a little older now and her face is quite… friendly. And I’d kinda got my heart set on Joely Richardson. However, she’s a great actress, she looks like Helena (if not particularly like Tom Felton), and I can’t wait for the pictures of her blonde.

And yay for Spinner’s End! That may be one of my fave chapters in the entire series!

Posted by fishscale on November 09, 2007, 10:40 PM report to moderator
CrayfordDresden

Dudes! Most of the adult cast have wigs or some sort of hairpiece ect.

In comparison to how they look in real life(even the some of the kids’) the actors look so different to the chracters.

Posted by CrayfordDresden on November 09, 2007, 11:00 PM report to moderator
harrylover

WOW! That is great! Although, she has brown hair not blond. I wonder if they will change it in the movie??!!

Posted by harrylover on November 09, 2007, 11:18 PM report to moderator
jonpotter

what happened to naomi watts? this actress may be able to act the part but she’s NOT HOT ENOUGH.

Posted by jonpotter on November 09, 2007, 11:34 PM report to moderator
coocanet

doesn’t look like Narcissa AT ALL. Not even if they dye her hair blonde. Narcissa is suppose to look much more… fesh, pretty, and younger looking then Bellatrix since she wasn’t in Azkaban for many years. I can see why they wanted her for Bellatrix though. She looks like she could definitely be bellatrix. But I’m satisfied with helena as Bellatrix too.

Posted by coocanet on November 09, 2007, 11:38 PM report to moderator
Bonnie Radcliffe

She was cast as Bellatrix?? O_O It’s funny, because I didn’t know that and now when I have seen her picture I just thought that she would have been great as Bellatrix!! XD

At last they’re going to say who’s Lavender!! ^ It’s the first time they inform they are going to announce something soon!! ^_ I can’t wait!!

Posted by Bonnie Radcliffe on November 09, 2007, 11:48 PM report to moderator
Bonnie Radcliffe

I think she’s good as Narcissa, but I pictured her prettier.

Posted by Bonnie Radcliffe on November 09, 2007, 11:49 PM report to moderator
Michelle

UH! I hate her as Narcissa! Not happy with the casting whatsoever. Helena Bonham Carters is PERFECT for Bellatrix though. PERFECT. She was exactly how I pictured her, but Helen doesn’t seem right. She doesn’t seem to have that sensuous grandeur to her. She also seems to be a bit old for the part.AND before anyone harasses me, I realize Narcissa isn’t in her 20s, but to me she’s always had this ageless quality to her. Helen doesn’t seem to be a good fit, however I will say she was fantastic in The Queen as well as Becoming Jane.

Posted by Michelle on November 10, 2007, 12:12 AM report to moderator
kamion

not pleased,

well not pleased anymore. when she was cast as Bellatrix and backed out because being pregnant I hoped she would return as Narcissa.

but later on I saw her acting in the BBC production James II, the power and the passion as Barbara Villiers, countess Castlemaine and thought her too old and too puffy in her face for being Narcissa.

Althrough she would perform a perfect sneer as was long the only characteristic of Narcissa.

btw… did love Shirley Herderson as Queen Catherine de Braganza, a lot of actors also seen in HP movies were in it.

Posted by kamion on November 10, 2007, 12:24 AM report to moderator
Kendra

squee Awesome! She is perfect for Narcissa she even has the pointed face I can’t wait to see her in HBP!

Posted by Kendra on November 10, 2007, 12:31 AM report to moderator
Matthew

That’s great casting news, and they’re not leaving her out of the HP universe. She and Helena Bonham Carter do look similar, so the sisterly bond will hopefully feel authentic. I hope she doesn’t get pregnant AGAIN before shooting starts in spring 2008 for the “Spinner’s End” scene (she’ll have enough time to lose the baby weight) and gets replaced by another actress.

BTW, isn’t it coincidental that both HBC and HMC are expecting kids and that both are expecting their second child? Freaky…

Posted by Matthew on November 10, 2007, 01:01 AM report to moderator
Asriel

This is the worst possible choice for Narcissa ever. Except, of course, for the fact that Helen McCrory is a very good actress. I know they wanted her to play Bellatrix (although personally I think Helena Bonham-Carter kicks her arse any day) and I guess this is their way of finally getting her involved, but in what universe could anyone possibly consider the same actress for the parts of both Bellatriz and Narcissa Malfoy? The mere fact that McCrory was up for Bellatriz should eliminate any thoughts of her playing Narcissa. Yes, they’re sisters, but the similarities end there! and that is a fundamental part of both characters! Honestly! This SUCKS.

Posted by Asriel on November 10, 2007, 01:03 AM report to moderator
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