The Golden Compass (film) - Cast

Cast

• Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter, the main antagonist of the film, an influential woman who takes an interest in Lyra (and later admits that she is Lyra's mother). Kidman was author Philip Pullman's preferred choice for the role ten years before production of the film, and despite initially rejecting the offer to star as she did not want to play a villain, she signed on after receiving a personal letter from Pullman.
• Sam Elliott as Lee Scoresby, a Texan aeronaut who comes to Lyra's aid. Pullman has singled out Elliott's performance as one the film got "just right".
• Eva Green as Serafina Pekkala, a witch queen. In, an interview, Green has described her character and her looks: "I wanted to look a bit like from the Waterhouse painting. You know, quite pre-Raphaelite. And also she's barefoot, quite ethereal, and the material's quite translucent and see-through, because witches don't feel the cold. If they were going to wear heavy clothing it would prevent them from sensing the world around them. They're very close to nature."
• Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra Belacqua, who embarks on a voyage to battle the forces of evil and rescue her best friend. New Line Cinema announced 12-year-old Richards' casting in June 2006. She had attended an open audition after watching a stage production of His Dark Materials, and was picked from 10,000 girls who auditioned, for what was her first acting role.
• Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel, Lyra's strict and mysterious adventurer uncle (later revealed to be her father). In July 2006, it was reported that Paul Bettany was in talks to play the role.
• Ian McKellen as the voice of Iorek Byrnison, a panserbjørn (armored bear) who becomes Lyra's friend and comrade. Nonso Anozie had recorded lines for the part of Iorek Byrnison, but was replaced by McKellen at a late stage as New Line wanted a bigger name in the role. New Line president of production Toby Emmerich admitted he "never thought Anozie sounded like Iorek" and while he initially trusted director Weitz's casting decision, he "never stopped thinking that this guy didn't sound right." The recasting was against Weitz's wishes, though he later said "if you're going to have anyone recast in your movie, you're happy it's Ian McKellen."
• Ian McShane as the voice of Ragnar Sturlusson, king of the panserbjørner. Ragnar's name in the book was Iofur Raknison, but the name was changed to prevent confusion between him and Iorek. However, in the German language version of the film, the dialogue retains the name 'Iofur Raknison', whilst the subtitles reflect the change.
• Freddie Highmore as the voice of Pantalaimon, Lyra's dæmon. Pan was originally to be voiced by an older actor, but they called in Highmore instead, as it would be more of an intimate relationship if Pan and Lyra were the same age, and also would underscore the contrast between Lyra's relationship with him versus her relationships with older male characters such as Lord Asriel, Lee Scoresby, and Iorek.
• Kathy Bates as the voice of Hester, Lee Scoresby's jackrabbit dæmon.
• Kristin Scott Thomas as the voice of Stelmaria, Lord Asriel's dæmon.
• Ben Walker as Roger Parslow, Lyra's best friend, who is kidnapped and taken north.
• Jim Carter as John Faa, the king of the Gyptians.
• Tom Courtenay as Farder Coram, Gyptian second-in-command and advisor to John Faa.
• Christopher Lee as the Magisterium's first high councilor. Lee's casting was also at New Line's behest, rather than that of Chris Weitz.
• Edward de Souza as the Magisterium's second high councilor.
• Simon McBurney as Fra Pavel
• Jack Shepherd as master of Jordan College.
• Magda Szubanski as Mrs. Lonsdale
• Derek Jacobi as the Magisterial emissary.
• Clare Higgins as Ma Costa, member of a Gyptian family that aids Lyra.