British actress Helen McCrory has died after a battle with cancer at the age of 52, according to her husband Damian Lewis.
On Friday, Lewis said on Twitter, “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,” he added. “God we loved 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.”
Helen was one of Britain’s most respected actors, who made her mark by playing a formidable and sometimes fearsome role.
She played the matriarch of a crime family on Peaky Blinders and the scheming Voldemort ally Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies.
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight said, “Helen was one of the great actors of her generation. She was so powerful and controlled and this is so sad.”
Cillian Murphy, who played Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, said he was “broken-hearted to lose such a dear friend,” describing McCrory as “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,” Murphy said, adding it was “a privilege to have worked with this brilliant woman… I will dearly miss my pal.”
BBC director of drama Piers Wenger said, “Helen was one of the finest actresses this country will ever see.” McCrory married Homeland star Lewis in 2007 and they had two children. In 2020, the couple raised more than £1 million to provide NHS workers with meals from high street restaurants during the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic, according to BBC.
