BILL NIGHY - NIGHY'S FIVE-YEAR WAIT FOR POTTER PART

NIGHY'S FIVE-YEAR WAIT FOR POTTER PART

Actor BILL NIGHY has confirmed he is joining the cast of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - after five years of trying to land a role in the wizard franchise.
The British star will portray the Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour for the final two movies in the series, which has featured acclaimed actors such as Alan Rickman, Sir Michael Gambon and Helena Bonham Carter since the first film in 2001.
Nighy was delighted to get the part - as he has persistently pestered his longterm pal, Harry Potter director David Yates, for a role in the hit project.
He says, "I was with him (Yates) when he got the job a couple of years ago and I said, 'Oh, well maybe now I won't be the only English actor who's not in Harry Potter' - that was like five years ago. Anyway, I finally made it under the wire.
"We may have talked about it before, but he's one of the most gifted directors I've ever worked with. He's a quiet genius, David Yates. I'm delighted and very pleased I'm going to be in Harry Potter, but I'm doubly pleased because it's with David."
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will hit cinemas in two parts, with the first half of the story due in 2010.