After a few weeks of rumours, HP Page reports that Oscar nominated actress Imelda Staunton finally confirmed on ITV's "This Morning" program that she will have the part of Professor Dolores Umbridge in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", the fifth film in the series which begins shooting early next year.

Staunton scored an Academy nom for her work in Mike Leigh's acclaimed 2004 abortion drama "Vera Drake". She's also appeared in such films as "Shakespeare in Love", "Blackball", "Crush" and "Much Ado About Nothing". Her TV credits include some highly acclaimed BBC shows and mini-series such as "The Singing Detective", "Cambridge Spies", "David Copperfield" and "Fingersmith" and "Murder".

Umbridge is the fifth book's major new character and has been dubbed the most 'hated character' in the series as she essentially acts like an evil dictator - rising in power week by week whilst installing an increasingly oppressive regime of control over the students and teachers at Hogwarts. Much of the book is devoted to detailling her cruel treatment of others and the various Hogwarts residents attempts to secretly rebel.

Thanks to 'Dijares'