Writing in the Guardian, Mendes said he had asked McCrory to play the role of Sonya, but she had other ideas. She also played Madame Kali in Penny Dreadfulfrom 2014 to 2015, Cherie Blair (wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair) in 2006's The Queen and 2010's The Special Relationship, Mrs. Radcliffe in 2007's Becoming Jane, and Clair Dowar, Home Secretary of the U.K., in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall. She also appeared in dramas including Quiz, Penny Dreadful and James Bond flick, Skyfall. https://t.co/qEW4DDBppd. If youve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing uscelebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page wed love to hear from you. McCrory's husband, actor Damian Lewis, announced on Friday that she had died of cancer at age 52. Forever my Narcissa Malfoy. Helen McCrory will be remembered not just for her remarkable stage and screen performances, but also for her selflessness and generosity, Matt Lucas said. Cause of death [INSIGHT] Helen McCrory death: Late Peaky Blinders' star love at first unveiled [ANALYSIS] Helen McCrory died aged 52 after a heroic battle with cancer (Image: getty) According to reports, Helen died peacefully in her home after a battle with cancer, which she kept extremely private. McCrorythen joked back to her: Ive got children.. She was also a gifted actor fearless and magnificent. "It doesn't make sense. ", And while Helen will be featured in the final series, thanks to creator Steven Knight, her absence was still felt immensely. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Netflix gets rights to Brit gangster drama Peaky Blinders, From the Archives: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is well-crafted but sometimes hard to endure, Stars, fans, brave the rain for London premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Photographer Delaney George turns the lens on femininity: Black women are fine art, A take on Jesus Revolution from one who was there, defending Rowling and more. McCrory was one of Britain's most respected actors, making her mark by playing a succession of formidable and sometimes fearsome women. As he told the magazine, "It wasn't a very pleasant shooting experience. Helen McCrory was born on 17 August 1968 and died on 16 April 2021. RIP . 'How dare he!' "When you live in the public spotlight you have to find the space to protect the things that are just for you. She appeared alongside Lewis to discuss their work with the Princes Trust. She elevated and made humane every scene, every character she played, Murphy said. She and Damian were the motor driving FeedNHS, working tirelessly during the pandemic to raise millions for others. A mighty talent, with always a hint of mischief. Heartbreaking.. Actor Helen McCrory, who was fiercely proud of being an artist, according to her husband Damian Lewis. She was so powerful and controlled and this is so sad.. Peaky Blinders actor Helen McCrory has died at the age of 52, her husband Damian Lewis has confirmed. pic.twitter.com/Eo2dmviKik, Oh Damian, Im so sorry. Really lovely company. "Helen wanted to be very private about her illness and I understand why," she said. She also worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Almeida and the Donmar Warehouse, and earned rave reviews for her role in Uncle Vanya in London and New York in 2002 and 2003. She provided the voice of Stelmaria, Lord Asriel's snow leopard daemon, in the recent BBC One TV series His Dark Materials, and the show's Twitter account called her "uniquely talented". God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. The world has just lost some of its sparkle . In their tributes, J.K. Rowling and Cillian Murphy both offered their condolences to Helens husband and their two children. Onstage, McCrorys roles included the vengeful Greek heroine Medea at the National Theatre in 2014. Helen McCrory will be remembered not just for her remarkable stage and screen performances, but also for her selflessness and generosity. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.". She blazed so brightly. George Segal, Who Plays Pops on 'The Goldbergs,' Passed Away at 87 Years Old, Jessica Walter Died at Age 80, but the Spirit of Lucille Bluth Lives on Here's a Look at Some of Her Best Moments, Rapper DMX Died at the Age of 50, Surrounded by Friends and Family. Get the drama behind the scenes. Michael Sheen said: So funny, so passionate, so smart and one of the greatest actors of our time. Helen McCrory poses after she was awarded an OBE by Britain's Queen Elizabeth at an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London November 7, 2017. Posting on Twitter, Richard Coles wrote: Very sorry to hear of the death of Helen McCrory, such a brilliant actor; heartfelt condolences to Damian Lewis, their children, and all who loved her. Actor Ben Willbond added: Heartbroken at the news that Helen McCrory has died. Impossible to process the mighty Helen McCrory has passed. They later married in 2007, and share children Manon and Gulliver together. And certainly that was, it was for her and her family and her very closest friends.". She played the matriarch of a crime family on Peaky Blinders and the scheming Voldemort ally Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies. She said McCrory's charity work and commitment to her family had defined her last few years of life, with her not wanting people to focus on her illness. Sending you & your family much love xxx, How terribly sad that weve lost Helen McCrory so young. She and Damian were the motor driving FeedNHS, working tirelessly during the pandemic to raise millions for others. The actress, "My deepest condolences to her family, especially her husband and children.". McCrory and Lewis, star of the TV series Homeland and Billions, married in 2007 and had two children. ", Alongside a photo of McCrory, actress Dame Helen Mirren wrote on Instagram: "A great actress and a great person. She was a wonderful actor and a very dear friend; Harry Potter fans will miss her very much., Jo Malone said: @lewis_damian I am beyond saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of Helen McCrory an amazing talented woman who gave so much , my sincere condolences to all of her beautiful family., Sue Perkins posted: I am so so sorry. "She elevated and made humane every scene, every character she played," Murphy said. Staff, Actors Helen McCrory, left, and Damian Lewis appear at the premiere of "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood," in London on July 30, 2019. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.". Fearlessly," Lewis wrote on Twitter. Last year, the couple raised more than 1m to provide NHS workers with meals from high street restaurants during the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, co-star Cillian Murphy is sharing how her death was a devastating blow to the cast. Cause of death McCrory died of cancer at her home in London on 16 April 2021, aged 52. McCrory, who starred in the television show Peaky Blinders and the Harry Potter movies, has died. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Others remembered McCrory for her charity work, including on FeedNHS, a campaign to provide meals for frontline health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Benjamin Sherman Crothers (May 23, 1910 November 22, 1986),[1] known professionally The late star met Damian while they were performing Five Gold Rings together at Londons Almeida Theatre. A written finding is made regardless of whether an inquest is held or not. McCrory and Lewis, star of the TV series "Homeland" and "Billions," married in 2007 and had two children. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you., Damian Lewis (@lewis_damian) April 16, 2021, Condolences subsequently poured in from various quarters. Here is everything you need to know about it. In addition to her starring role in six seasons of Peaky Blinders, McCrory's filmography included high-profile projects such as her most recent: voicingStelmaria, Lord Asriel's (James McAvoy) snow leopard daemon, onHBO's His Dark Materials. Onstage, McCrorys roles included the vengeful Greek heroine Medea at the National Theatre in 2014. Helen was a beautiful supportive person to those of us who had the honour to know or work with her. "I still can't believe she's not here," he explained. Since news of her death was confirmed, her former co-stars have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late actress. McCrory was cast as the eponymous character in the 2000 miniseries Anna Karenina; Rose Fitzgerald in North Square; Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, in The Last King; Madame Kali in Penny Dreadful, and Dawn Ellison in Roadkill. Besides Peaky Blinders, she is arguably most known for portraying Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Cillian Murphy, who starred alongside her in the BBC drama, described her as "fearless and magnificent". She was 52 and had been suffering from cancer. She was so powerful and controlled and this is so sad. Lewis wrote,"I'm heartbroken to announce that after a 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. One of her most acclaimed performances was as Cherie Blair in The Queen and The Special Relationship. LONDON (AP) Thousands of Harry Potter fans braved rain and hail Tuesday to cheer the cast of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at its London premiere. What a tremendous loss., Were devastated to hear that Helen McCrory has died and will miss her terribly.Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this very sad time. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. But I think you approach it in different ways, and my approach is just to forge forward.. He said she was proudest of her work on stage. Polly is a certified accountant and serves as the second-in-command to Tommy and treasurer at the Shelby Company Limited. What a tremendous loss.. This has never happened to me before or since She was clearly already halfway to giving a superb performance, I simply had to get out of the way and let her complete the job. British actor Helen McCrory, who starred in the television show Peaky Blinders and the Harry Potter movies, has died, her husband said Friday. She also will be remembered by many as Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. Our thoughts are with HelenMcCrory's loved ones during this difficult time. Image Source: Whatsonstage. Their daughter Manon was born in September 2006 and their son Gulliver in November 2007. Damian Lewis, her husband, announced her passing on Twitter, writing that she had passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family. She was 52 ", McCrory also starred as a human rights lawyer dragged into international intrigue in the TV thriller "Fearless," played lawyer Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in the 2006 movie "The Queen," and had roles in Martin Scorsese's film "Hugo" and the James Bond thriller "Skyfall. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. 'That's so clever, darling.' Benjamin Sherman Crothers (May 23, 1910 November 22, 1986),[1] known professionally as Scatman Crothers, was an American actor and musician. The actress was perhaps best known for playing Aunt Polly, the matriarch of the Shelby clan, in all five series of hit BBC period gang drama Peaky Blinders from its start in 2013. At the same theater, she excelled as a woman caught between a dull husband and a feckless lover in Terence Rattigans The Deep Blue Sea in 2016. Helen just wasn't able to film that part of Polly's life before she died. More info. After their return, Tommy assumes leadership, and It remains a point of contention between them for most of the series. Helen was a beautiful, caring, funny, compassionate human being. Helen McCrory: engaging, enthralling, always magnetically watchable, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. I worked with Helen on stage and of course we were lucky enough to get her in Inside No 9. At the time, she was 52 years old. The actor, who died at age 52, had kept her cancer private and told her children shed lived the life she wanted. Every actor looks & looked up to Helen McCrory so brilliant and gripping and transformative and those who knew her as a friend really loved her. As well as her film and TV credits, she played seven lead roles at the National Theatre, whose boss Rufus Norris said: "With her incisive wit and ferocious intelligence, she was one of the most charismatic and distinctive performers.". She blazed so brightly. She was 52 and had been suffering from cancer. She played the matriarch of a crime family on "Peaky Blinders" and the scheming Voldemort ally Narcissa Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" movies. Helen McCrory: looking back at the life of the 'fearless' star video obituary, Her thunder would not be stolen: Damian Lewis speaks about loss of Helen McCrory, Helen McCrory swore friends to secrecy about cancer diagnosis, Helen McCrory, star of Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter, dies aged 52, Helen McCrory: How should a woman live her life?, TheDeep Blue Sea review Helen McCrory blazes in passionate revival, swore her friends to secrecy about the disease. She said to us from her bed: I want Daddy to have girlfriends, lots of them, you must all love again, love isnt possessive, but you know, Damian, try at least to get through the funeral without snogging someone, he said. I will dearly miss my pal. English actress Helen McCrory, known for her roles in the "Harry Potter" films and in the television series "Peaky Blinders," has died. From the first moment I met her when we were just kids it was obvious she was very special. Fearlessly. Love ya. Cillian Murphy, who plays the central role of gangland boss Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, set in the early 20th-century English underworld, said he was broken-hearted to lose such a dear friend.. Funny, generous, some wicked stories. I was in awe. By order of the Peaky Blinders Thoughts are with her loved ones x, I am shattered to hear this news . But she was magnificent. RIP.. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. Read More: Is Peaky Blinders Based on a True Story? Rest in peace., Lawrence Fox penned: How utterly heartbreaking. Netflix, under a deal with the Weinstein Co. and Endemol, has acquired the rights to the first two seasons of gritty British gangster drama Peaky Blinders., Cillian Murphy, who plays the central role of gangland boss Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, set in the early 20th century English underworld, said he was broken-hearted to lose such a dear friend.. The Homeland star posted: Im 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. Stars have paid tribute to Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter actress Helen McCrory who has died of cancer aged 52.