Eva Birthistle, Nathalie Press, Emily Holmes and Jodhi May have joined the cast of the Rembrandt biopic, Nightwatching.

The film, from Peter Greenaway, sets out to shed new light on the painter's life through a fresh reading of his 1642 painting Night Watch; it stars Martin Freeman as Rembrandt. Variety reports Birthistle will play Rembrandt's wife, while May and Holmes play the painter's mistresses; Press also features in the cast, which was unveiled at Wednesday's launch in a room full of Rembrandt masterpieces at London's National Gallery.

Nightwatching will begin shooting soon in Poland and Wales; a May 2007 has been scheduled.