IMELDA STAUNTON - STAUNTON TO PLAY EVIL PROFESSOR

British actress IMELDA STAUNTON will play the part of PROFESSOR DOLORES UMBRIDGE in HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.

The fifth book in JK ROWLING saga sees Professor Umbridge come to Hogwarts to spy on Headmaster ALBUS DUMBLEDORE and to torture HARRY POTTER.

The VERA DRAKE star will have to turn herself into the evil Professor, described in the book as "a short squat woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to a toad".

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix will start filming early in the new year (2006) and will be directed by DAVID YATES.