Imelda Staunton is Latest "Potter" Teacher

[NoDayButToday]

Imelda Staunton is Latest "Potter" Teacher

Fri Feb 03, 1:19 AM ET


Imelda Staunton, the Oscar-nominated star of "Vera Drake," has been cast as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in the fifth Harry Potter picture, which begins principal photography Monday.

English TV veteran David Yates will direct Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" from an adaptation by playwright Michael Goldenberg.

The teacher is a key character in the Harry Potter series, and a new one is introduced in each book. Staunton's character is named Dolores Umbridge.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their respective roles as teen wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Other additions to the cast include George Harris ("The Interpreter") as Kingsley Shacklebolt, Helen McCrory ("Casanova") as Bellatrix Lestrange, Natalia Tena ("Mrs. Henderson Presents") as Nymphadora Tonks and Kathryn Hunter ("All or Nothing") as Mrs. Figg. Newcomer Evanna Lynch beat more than 15,000 hopefuls at an open casting call to win the role of Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw student who becomes an important ally to Harry Potter.

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