Oscar-winner Helena Bonham Carter is the newest thespian to join the cast of the upcoming film version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The actress will be stepping into the role of Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius Black’s cousin and a Death Eater, who is one of Lord Voldemort’s followers.

Bonham Carter is no fantasy to acting in fantasy worlds, having appeared in several of Tim Burton's films, including The Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Big Fish. She has also appeared in films as varied as Planet of the Apes and Fight Club

She is one of several new faces to bring to life the characters of author J.K. Rowling's popular series about the boy wizard. She joins Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge; George Harris as Kingsley Shacklebolt; Natalia Tena as Nymphadora Tonks; Kathryn Hunter as Mrs. Figg; and 14-year-old actress Evanna Lynch, who plays the hotly contested role of Luna Lovegood. You can read more about those castings here.

This fifth film adaptation of the Harry Potter novel series is being directed by award-winning British filmmaker David Yates. A tentative release date has been scheduled by Warner Bros. for July 2007.

What do you think of Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange? Talk about it on our message boards.

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