BIRMINGHAM: Actress Helen McCrory, known for her roles in Peaky Blinders and three Harry Potter films, has died of cancer at the age of 52, her husband said on Friday.
Her husband Damian Lewis said, he was “heartbroken”, and that she was a “beautiful and mighty woman. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you,” he tweeted. Harry Potter author JK Rowling led the tributes, writing that it was “simply heartbreaking news”.
— Damian Lewis (@lewis_damian) April 16, 2021
McCrory was also known for her long and acclaimed career on stage. Homeland star Lewis said she had died “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 family and friends,” he said. “She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God, we love her and we know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives.”
He wrote: “From the first moment I met her when we were just kids it was obvious she was very special. It was an honor to work with her and know her. Much love to Damian and her family. Heartbreaking.”
McCrory married Lewis in 2007 and they had two children. Last year, the couple raised more than £1 million ($NZ1.9m) to provide NHS workers with meals from high street restaurants during the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.
She earned rave reviews for her role in Uncle Vanya in London and New York in 2002 and 2003 and was nominated for two of the West End’s Olivier Awards for playing Rosalind in As You Like It in 2006, and for The Last of the Haussmans in 2013.
McCrory also formed the theatrical production company The Public with fellow actor and stage star Michael Sheen. On Friday, he said she was “so funny, so passionate, so smart and one of the greatest actors of our time”.
