After the very talented Helen McCrory passed away following a secret battle with cancer aged 52, her husband, actor Damian Lewis has shared how brave and strong Helen was in the time leading up to her untimely death.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Damian said: “She has exhorted us to be courageous and not afraid. As she said repeatedly to the children: ‘Don’t be sad, because even though I’m about to snuff it, I’ve lived the life I wanted to.’”
“She said to us from her bed: ‘I want Daddy to have girlfriends, lots of them, you must all love again, love isn’t possessive, but you know, Damian, try at least to get through the funeral without snogging someone,’” he said.
In the final months of her life, Helen swore her friends to secrecy about her cancer diagnosis as she didn't want her charitable work or acting work overshadowed by her illness. That's why when Damian shared the very sad news of his wife's passing on Twitter, it sent fans into shock.
His heartbreaking message read: 'I'm heartbroken to announce that after an heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family. She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.'
The news sparked hundreds of messages from fans, including some of Helen's famous co-stars and friends.
Her Peaky Blinders co-star, Cillian Murphy said: “I am broken-hearted to lose such a dear friend. Helen was a beautiful, caring, funny, compassionate human being. She was also a gifted actor — fearless and magnificent. She elevated and made humane every scene, every character she played. It was a privilege to have worked with this brilliant woman, to have shared so many laughs over the years. I will dearly miss my pal. My love and thoughts are with Damian and her family.”
Helen leaves behind her husband Damian as well as their two children, Manon and Gulliver. We had the pleasure of interviewing Helen back in 2019, where she told us more about the legacy she wanted to leave for her children in the form of her charity work.
“My work as Patron with the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation. It’s a small charity which offers after school and holiday arts clubs to disadvantaged children in inner cities. Picasso famously said that every child is an artist and we are passionate about ensuring that every child is given a chance to connect with and to express their inner artist in a time when funding for education is such that the arts are squeezed out of the mainstream curriculum in favour of more traditionally “academic” subjects. All young people need positive outlets for their energy, and the arts can help children flourish in ways other subjects cannot.”
“We also try and get kids into youth clubs and work with those who have been excluded from school. I also do some work for The Prince’s Trust. Now I’m older, more established in my career and have a bit of clout, it’s about giving something back. I am in a privileged position where I can use my name to help support this amazing foundation. I’d like to think my children will be proud of this. When you become a parent, you do think, ‘What kind of person will I be for my children?’ Your whole self changes when you consider about the next generation. You don’t want your kids looking at you and thinking you’re an idiot. It becomes more serious because if you do act like an idiot, the likelihood is that your children will be idiots, too. I also hope my legacy will be that my children don’t find me too embarrassing!”
Helen McCrory's famous acting roles
Harry Potter
Who could forget Helen as Narcissa Malfoy in the final three Harry Potter films? Her role as Draco's very protective mother saw her and her son leave before the final battle at the end of the film.
Peaky Blinders
We all loved Helen as the family matriarch, Polly Gray or Aunt Polly as she was more commonly referred to in Peaky Blinders, which she starred in from 2013 - 2019.
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