<Li> Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier (The Great Danton) / Lord Caldlow, an aristocratic magician . After reading the script, Jackman expressed interest in playing the part . Christopher Nolan discovered Jackman's interest, and after meeting him saw that Jackman possessed the qualities of stage showmanship that Nolan was looking for in the role of Angier . Nolan explained that Angier had a "wonderful understanding of the interaction between a performer and a live audience", a quality he believed that Jackman had . Nolan said that Jackman "has the great depth as an actor that hasn't really been explored . People haven't had the chance to really see what he can do as an actor, and this is a character that would let him do that ." Jackman based his portrayal of Angier on 1950s - era American magician Channing Pollock . Jackman also portrays Gerald Root, an alcoholic double used for Angier's New Transported Man . </Li> <Li> Christian Bale as Alfred Borden (The Professor) / Fallon, a working class magician . Christian Bale expressed interest in playing the part and was cast after Jackman . Although Nolan had previously cast Bale as Batman in Batman Begins, he did not consider Bale for the part of Borden until Bale contacted him about the script . Nolan said that Bale was "exactly right" for the part of Borden and that it was "unthinkable" for anyone else to play the part . Nolan suggested that the actors should not read the original novel, but Bale ignored his advice . </Li> <Li> Michael Caine as John Cutter, the stage engineer (ingenieur) who works with Angier and Borden . Caine had previously collaborated with Nolan and Bale in Batman Begins . Nolan said that even though it felt like the character of Cutter was written for Caine, it was not . Nolan noted that the character was written "before I'd ever met" Caine . Caine describes Cutter as "a teacher, a father and a guide to Angier". Caine, in trying to create Cutter's nuanced portrait, altered his voice and posture . Nolan later said that "Michael Caine's character really becomes something of the heart of the film . He has a wonderful warmth and emotion to him that draws you into the story and allows you to have a point of view on these characters without judging them too harshly ." </Li> <Li> Piper Perabo as Julia McCullough, Milton the Magician's assistant and Angier's wife . </Li>

Who played the little girl in the prestige