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.
A lot of people here seem to be pulling what Narcissa ‘should’ look like out of their backsides. Or, more probably, straight out of fan fiction, because her features aren’t explicity described in the books. The main thing is her blonde hair, and that can be changed. She was described as being attractive, if she didn’t look like she was sniffing something funny all the time. That’s in the eye of the beholder, and doesn’t mean she should have supermodel/wax dolly looks. Most of the other descriptions of Narcissa are based on her expressions.
Poor Helen. ‘not beautiful enough’, ‘not pretty enough’. What a rude thing to say. And please: Too old for the role? Are you kidding? Helen is 39. That is the age Narcissa is in. shakes head Can´t people just wait and see how she turns out in the role? All other ‘mistakes’ WB has made with the movies so far, casting certainly has not been one of them. Not for one single role. So I trust them with this and look forward very much to Spinner´s End.
She is not how I pictured Narcissa at all, even if she did have blond hair, and blue eyes. I would be happier if they casted Naomi Watts (and I was so against them casting her.)
Oh well, I am hoping for a miracle.
Posted by jessicalestrange on November 10, 2007, 04:32 PM
report to moderator
Here are some better pics (and more current as well) of Helen. People generally look much better depending on how flattering the makeup in the role is. And generally better in real life. Besides, you better have your trip together as an actress if you are going to play a scene with Alan Rickman and HBC! Not for amateurs.
It’s now been about 24 hours since I learned of the casting, and I find I’m already completely acclimatised to it.
For the past few films, there’s been at least one character for whom I’ve thought, ‘Oh, they must cast this person!’ And then they didn’t, and I sulked for a few days. Then I wound up accepting and enjoying the chosen actors anyway.
Well well well…for all of you who “screamed” she is not beautiful enough to be Narcissa – go and have a look at the Galleries which Leaky has up-dated! Yes – that gorgeous Lady in the green dress is going to be our “Narcissa”! Still some complaints ;-)
I confess, I’m disappointed. I have been wracking my brains with who I’d have liked to see play Cissy but have yet to come up with anyone really. However, she’s not really Cissy either, not in my mind. Maybe for me though, Cissy became something like … Maris on Fraiser. You hear about her all the time but she’s been so built up that actually seeing her on camera would most certainly be a let down because no one would fit the part just right.
She’ll make a great baddie, not all can play the villain well. I don’t know that I’d call her beautiful, but she has compelling features that seem to shift with each role. Some hair dye and contacts are easy enough fixes; her acting itself needs no improvement.
A lot of people here seem to be pulling what Narcissa ‘should’ look like out of their backsides. Or, more probably, straight out of fan fiction, because her features aren’t explicity described in the books. The main thing is her blonde hair, and that can be changed. She was described as being attractive, if she didn’t look like she was sniffing something funny all the time. That’s in the eye of the beholder, and doesn’t mean she should have supermodel/wax dolly looks. Most of the other descriptions of Narcissa are based on her expressions.